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Kade turned his attention to the demon and bared his ferocious canines as he growled. His tufted ears flicked back. The mane of fur on his neck and back thinned down his chest and shoulders and billowed in the wind. Wicked and dangerously fast, he lunged at the demon in a blink.

The last flicker of the White Lady’s face, wide-eyed and fearful, vanished. Left was the screeching demon, its head a cross between a snake and an insect.

Kade grabbed one of the pincher-claws and yanked it clean off. The cry of pain cut through Evelyn’s ears, and no doubt all of Callum heard the cry despite the distance.

Evelyn’s energy started to drain. Feeling feverish, she clutched her arm and saw black poison spreading through her veins. She pushed upward, reaching the walls of the cottage and keeping her sights on Kade.

Strength, the power of the Moon, and magic emitted from him. Her soul soared at his proximity, her essence tethered to his.

The demon used its one pincher against Kade, but he didn’t back down. He avoided it, dodging and rounding the other side, swiping with his claws. The demon used its long neck to swipe Kade off his hind legs. His werewolf form flew through the air, breaking the fog to reveal the edge of the cliffs yards away.

Evelyn lurched forward, calling out his name. Beads of sweat trickled down her temples, and her heart sank like a stone in her belly. Her pain didn’t matter. All she could think was that Kade needed her, and she had to do something. Fucking flames, Evelyn was Daughter of the Goddess, a witch gifted with flame. She could do something.

Kade rolled and stopped, hunching on all fours as he recovered. He snarled, baring his teeth ashe stared down the demon charging at him.

Determination filled her, and Evelyn’s magic awakened, her flame dancing at her fingertips. Despite her energy draining, her eyesight closing in around her, and the coldness in her toes, Evelyn brought forth her flame. She channeled every last bit of it, every essence of power in the tendrils of fire that coursed through her veins. All she could think about was that she needed to save Kade.

A sphere of flame formed in her hand, round and spinning. She channeled hope, belief, and something she felt deep in her soul into the sphere. Aster had been right. Her magic was nothing without her. Nothing without her thoughts, feelings, and soul.

Evelyn slunk up against the cottage, gaining balance and stability as she geared up to attack.

She unleashed her flame. It soared and barreled into the demon’s neck, exploding on contact. Debris and embers blinded its eyes.

Kade didn’t hesitate, launching at the demon and biting its neck. His claws dug in too, dragging the demon to the ground. Its six legs scampered and twitched, and it screeched to no avail. Kade’s grip didn’t falter. With one final bite and tug, he tore the neck clean in half. The demon’s head tipped and fell, rolling across the ground as its body slackened with a deafening thud.

Relief flooded through Evelyn. Kade was okay. The demon was dead.

Why did she feel so cold?

Black poison spread farther up her arm, the cut from the demon’s claw oozing black gunk. Fucking flames. Evelyn wanted to sleep, wanted to sigh and rest knowing Kade had come. He was here. Safe. He was safe.

“Evelyn!”

She blinked, mustering the energy to open her eyes, and found Kade rushing toward her. He’d shifted to his human form. Goddess, he ran stark naked, his bare tanned skin, muscles, everything visible—

She averted her gaze to meet his. Relief went through her again. That color, the kindness in them. Yet, she saw pain swimming there too. The same pain from three nights ago.

You’re a spoiled and selfish runaway witch who abandoned her people.

The White Lady’s words brought her back to the darkness.

You’re nothing without your flame.

Her tutor’s voice joined the chorus of doubt.

That’ll be you one day.

Her mother’s false hope brought Evelyn farther into the darkness. It beckoned her like a heavy blanket, tucking her in for a rest.

You fail and hurt the ones around you, don’t you?

Fucking flames, she needed to sleep, needed to fall away from the resounding doubt ricocheting in her mind.

“Evelyn!”

The cry was distant, but it reached deep within her. It tugged on her soul, her magic, begging for her to open her eyes. She tried, but she craved silence, a place where no doubt could reach.

She submitted to an oblivion of darkness.