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Colin knelt beside him, biting his own wrist and putting it to the fallen vampire’s mouth. Jericho met Colin’s eyes, torn between staying with Liam and fulfilling his oath. “I saw Gavin carry Alex into Liam’s office. Go. We have him.” Colin nodded toward Adam and Slade, who were headed their way.

The demon has Alex. Pressure built inside of him. The bond was incomplete. Instincts rose to the surface, impossible to ignore. It pulsed with a life of its own, urgent, demanding.Protect.

Jericho sprang to his feet. With a blast of speed, he bolted to the office. He flung open the door, the sweet scent of Alex’s blood hitting him like a tsunami.

His fangs slammed into his bottom lip, and hunger punched through his gut. He braced his hand against the doorframe, wood snapping in his grip. Reacting to the mere scent of her blood? When he’d been in control of his baser instincts for centuries? He was better than this.

Gavin stood in front of the sofa where Alex lay, clenched fists glowing, smoke rolling from his nostrils. The fire demon was braced for battle. To use her or defend her?

Either way, his interference would be his downfall.

Through gritted teeth, Jericho demanded, “Step aside.”

“Over my dead body. With the amount of blood she’s spilling, I’m not letting you anywhere near the girl. I swore to Liam I’d look after her when he wasn’t around, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“Seems you and I made a similar promise. Liam relinquished her bond to me. The longer you keep me from her, the longer she suffers.”

“Hell, you say.” Gavin gaped at him. He hesitated, lowering his glowing fists. “Very well. But one wrong move, and I’ll sear the flesh from your bones.”

Jericho didn’t waste time, brushing past the male to kneel at her side. Her blood-saturated T-shirt was ripped down the middle, leaving her in little more than a lacy black bra. “What did you do to her?” Jericho snarled.

“Pull your mind out of the fucking gutter, mate. Before you interrupted, I was about to cauterize her wounds. Can’t have her bleeding all over the place, drawing every blood-sucker for fifty miles.”

If Jericho had been a minute later, the demon would have caused her untold pain with his primitive methods. Despite Jericho’s hatred for her kind, he’d never see her tortured in that way.

The gunshot to her shoulder was through and through, clean exit. Another had grazed her ribs. Not fatal injuries, as long as he stopped the bleeding. He needed to complete the bonding ritual. As his Chosen, his blood would help her faster than any doctor could—just as Liam intended.

His hands curled into fists. Liam knew he didn’t want this and understood the reason. Still, he’d dared to ask, knowing Jericho would never deny him.

With his last remaining breath, Liam had saved Alex while damning Jericho to hell.

“What are you waiting for?” Gavin prodded. “Get on with the claiming and the healing.”

Ignoring the demon, Jericho brushed her tangled mane from her face and cupped her cheek. “Alex, look at me.” He gave her a little shake, and she answered with a soft whimper.

He tilted her head to the side, exposing the pale column of her neck. Liam’s brand was gone.

Now, she would have Jericho’s.

At the thought, primal urges stirred beneath his skin. The darkness inside of him demanded he claim her despite his misgivings.

Still, he hesitated. Not since he was a youngling had he questioned his control. He’d have to be careful.

He pressed his lips to her throat. Too cold. He needed to hurry. “Sanguis pro sanguine.” Striking hard and fast, he branded her. After one sip, he withdrew. That one taste confirmed his suspicions. Alex was far from human.

Mystical energy rushed through his body, filling him with Alex’s essence, promising this female would be his and his alone. His eyes slid closed, and a groan rose in his throat.Such decadence. Hunger raged, demanding he take more than the small amount he’d allowed himself.

No.

This was how her kind lured their prey. Drawing them into their web of lies and deceit. Jericho’s stomach plunged. And now she washisChosen.

Liam, what have you done?

He exhaled a disgusted breath. Regardless of what she was, the injured faerie still needed his blood. “Alex, wake up.” Her eyes darted, and she turned her head.

“Jericho?” she rasped, blinking slowly, gaze unfocused.

“Right here. I’ve got you.”