Page 19 of A Demon’s Resolve (Demonic Tales and Adventures #3)

CHAPTER 19

Exhausted, Kian curled up on the dirt floor wishing he had the time to sleep, not that would have been possible, even if he had the time. The floor was mostly jagged rock, not exactly comfortable.

Now that he’d gained control of some of the power, Kian would swear electricity flowed through his veins, charging every cell in his body.

He would have thought those sensations would give Kian’s muscles the added energy to keep going, instead, they begged for rest as they screamed in agony. In fairness, the only respite he’d given them since waking up had been a brief moment of weakness when he’d let the tears flow.

Kian hated himself for needing to cry. The last thing he wanted was to give up, but admittedly the release had done wonders. It hadn’t hurt that he’d felt Alec with him. Kian wasn’t sure it had been real, but it didn’t matter, for it gave him the push needed to increase his abilities.

When he’d begun to test himself, Kian had only been able to start a small flame, dig up a tiny bit of dirt, or create a negligible breeze. All of which Kian had been able to increase with more effort, but never at the start of each session. After he’d given in to the hopelessness of the situation, Kian had dug deep and tried again.

When the wooden door had charred and an actual hole had appeared before the door instead of slight dip from the amount of dirt he’d moved, Kian pushed even harder. The improvement was astounding, well, at least Kian thought so. He had to hope it would be enough when the time came to fight Brant.

Kian wasn’t certain he’d be able to hold off Brant long enough until Alec could find him. It was why Kian pushed his palms against the ground rising up until he was sitting once more. Those doubts might still find their way into his mind, but Kian also knew there was no other choice but to fight Brant for as long as was needed.

The other option wasn’t something Kian was willing to consider. Giving himself another minute to rest by leaning against the cool stone wall, Kian willed the lethargy that continued to threaten to consume him, to leave.

Danara?

Nothing. Great. Kian had tried several times to call out to the old queen but she’d been stubbornly silent. Figures. Now that Kian wanted company, Danara was nowhere to be found.

Drawing up his knees, Kian buried his head against them trying to summon the strength needed to face Brant. It couldn’t be much longer before he came for Kian. He could only pray the longer it took, the more likely Alec would find them.

It wasn’t helping that his heart broke every time he thought about what Alec must be going through. Brant mentioned Alec was killing, which meant Alec wasn’t in control of his powers, all because of Kian. Ever since meeting Alec, he’d been able to feel Kian, so what was Brant doing to block it? Could Kian do something to help Alec find him?

Closing his eyes, Kian concentrated on Alec. Firm lips curling up into a smile while his emerald eyes sparkled with happiness immediately came to mind. Kian’s skin tingled as he imagined those calloused fingers brushing along his arm. A frisson of electricity shot through Kian, just like when Alec touched him.

Alec.

There was something almost tangible in the air causing Kian’s eyes to pop open. He’d half expected Alec to be there in front of him. When Alec wasn’t there, Kian called out to him again, praying he heard.

As if God was answering him, Alec was suddenly sitting right in front of him, emerald eyes pleading, for what, Kian didn’t know. Afraid Alec would disappear if he moved, Kian remained still even as his hand itched to reach out, but somehow Kian knew he wasn’t real.

“Alec?” he whispered.

That smile that melted Kian appeared and his heart sped up. Alec’s mouth moved but there was no sound. Vainly, Kian tried to read those firm lips but try as he might, Kian couldn’t make out anything until the end. ‘I love you,’ he mouthed.

“I love you, too,” Kian told him. Then, he was gone. Even though deep down Kian was afraid he was just hallucinating, Alec’s visit had given him the strength Kian needed to do whatever it took to be ready to face Brant.

Good thing, because a wave of evil pushed its way into the room before Kian even heard Brant coming. Fear gripped him in its claws even as Kian steeled himself for what was to come.

Slowly, he inhaled deeply, willing his heart to slow down so as not tip off how much Brant terrified Kian. It wasn’t easy to exert his will over his chaotic emotions. In the end, it was focusing on Alec, that he would come, which helped Kian the most. Opening his eyes, Kian waited for his captor.

He didn't, not even when Brant slammed the door against the wall. There was no way he’d allow the evil monster the satisfaction of finding him cowering. Although, the maniacal glee in Brant’s eyes nearly had him screaming for help. Only the knowledge it wouldn’t do any good kept his mouth shut.

That same look was in his eyes when he’d murdered Kian’s mother. Maybe he should have been more scared but something inside him grew stronger as he faced his mother’s killer.

He was no longer that scared little kid who’d hid in the closet. Kian’s expression didn’t give anything away as he sat there, staring up at the vicious killer. Stalking toward Kian, Brant’s large hands wrapped around his shoulders and yanked Kian to his feet.

Pain lanced through him at Brant’s rough treatment, but Kian pushed the desire to cry out from his mind. He didn’t have time for anything to distract from what he had to do. Brant dragged Kian behind him as he led Kian to a larger cavern with several large crystals around the edges.

He must have seen Kian’s curiosity for Brant chuckled darkly. “Those allow Alec to feel you as you die but keep everything hazy enough that he won’t be able to find you.”

Crap ! Never once had Kian considered that Alec might not be able to find him once Brant allowed him to feel the pain he planned to inflict. Now what? Trusting Alec and himself, Kian refused to give into the fear trying to claw its way out.

Kian stood there in the middle of the room with Brant circling around him. The monster actually licked his lips in anticipation. Revulsion caused Kian to shiver and Brant had the audacity to chuckle at his obvious discomfort.

Then, with no warning, his fist slammed into Kian’s abdomen. Searing agony ripped through him, even as he heard the crack of what was assumedly a rib.

Unable to breathe, Kian crumbled to the floor. There were several long moments when he felt death was going to be the outcome as his lungs refused to expand. Panic tore through Kian when his body took over and a small stream of air entered.

Thank God .

Even though Kian’s mind screamed for Alec for several moments, he knew if there was a way through this then he had to depend on himself. Several ragged breaths later, Kian worked to bring his brain back online in order to come up with a plan. But before he’d figured out what to do, Kian was lifted into the air, feet dangling, desperately trying to feel the ground.

Brant’s hand was wrapped around his neck, cutting off Kian’s ability to breathe once more. His hands clawed at Brant’s but if he was doing any damage there was no evidence of it. Tiny black dots started forming in Kian’s eyes. God, he was dying.

That maniacal grin was again there as Brant’s breath hitched with anticipation. “Time to die.”