Page 20 of A Demon’s Resolve (Demonic Tales and Adventures #3)

CHAPTER 20

There was no doubt in Alec’s mind that Kian hadn’t heard him when he tried again to connect with him, but somehow Alec was certain his mate had seen him. It gave him enough of finding Kian to not burn down everything around him. When he opened his eyes, Tarak was sitting next to him, his hand on Alec’s shoulder, fear in his eyes.

“What?” He held his breath, afraid of what Tarak would tell him.

“That is what I am asking you,” Tarak said. “For the last five minutes, the ground has been shaking, nothing catastrophic, but I was afraid you were losing control again.”

“Sorry.” He’d been so lost in the joy of seeing Kian that he hadn’t been paying any attention. “Kian saw me this time. I guess I let my control slip.” There were times he wasn’t sure he’d ever have that kind of discipline again when it came to his mate.

Tarak approached. “Alec.”

Alec held up his hand to stop him from giving another lecture. “I know I have to stay in control.” Exhaling loudly, his hands clenched slightly. “I didn’t even know all I could do until discovering my mate existed, okay?”

Quietly, his father said, “I was just going to say we will find him.” Those words were becoming a mantra Tarak said each time Alec was losing his damn mind. Walking away, Tarak went to talk to Trey and Samson.

Feeling like a jerk, Alec tried to concentrate on Kian’s face. Exhaustion had shone in those eyes, dulling the blue as it was obvious Kian could hardly stay awake. But Alec had also felt the determination to defeat Brant still inside him. Would he have the strength to fight off Brant when the time came? Alec hoped so, because even though he knew he’d find his mate, he was equally positive Brant planned for Alec to arrive a moment too late.

Turning to the other three, Alec called out, “Is everyone ready?” Not even waiting for an answer, Alec started off in directions his instincts told to go.

They had just started to make their way when pain ripped through him, forcing Alec to his knees. “Kian,” he screamed even as the ground shook beneath him.

Spots formed before his eyes, blinding him momentarily. His entire focus was on the one person who was his whole world.

“Alec.”

He heard someone screaming his name, but it wasn’t until a fist connected with his jaw that he was brought out of the hell of what Kian was enduring.

“Alec, snap out of it.” Tarak commanded in a voice that Alec used to believe was forged from steel. “What is happening?”

Alec wished he knew. No. That wasn’t true. More than anything at this moment, he hated that he could feel Kian desperate to pull in oxygen as agony spread throughout his abdomen, likely from being punched by Brant.

“Alec,” Tarak yelled again.

But it wasn’t until he felt Kian managed to drag in a breath that Alec had been able to speak. “Brant hit Kian.”

He gasped, his own hand going to his throat where undoubtedly Brant had his meaty hand around Kian’s neck. “He’s going to kill him,” Alec whispered in defeat as he realized he could feel it all, yet when his soul reached for his mate, he still couldn’t find him.

“Shouldn’t we go to him?” Trey asked.

Alec’s stood up, determined to save his mate. “That son of a bitch is still blocking Kian from me.”

“What?” Samson wore a confused look, not that Alec could blame him since he had no idea how Brant managed it. “But you can feel him. Shouldn’t that mean you can find Kian?”

Alec’s hands curled into fists as he desperately wanted to punch Brant in the face. “I don’t know how but I can feel everything he is…” Alec’s words were choked off at the panic that tore through Kian’s oxygen deprived body. “Fight, damn it. You are too strong to give up now.”

He hadn’t needed to speak the words aloud for Kian to hear him, but he had nonetheless. Alec nearly went to his knees once more when he felt precious air fill Kian’s lungs. He didn’t know how, but his mate had gotten out of Brant’s grasp.

Now he just needed to figure out how to find him. Turning to his father and friends, Alec asked, “Anyone have any ideas of how to find him?”

Samson scratched his head. “I thought you said he saw you when you reached out last time.”

Alec had no idea what Samson was getting at but he nodded.

His friend shrugged. “Seems to me, if Brant was completely blocking Kian then, yet you were able to see him now that he has at least some sort of opening between the two of you, you might be able to do the same thing to find Kian.”

Hope flared within Alec. He clapped a hand on Samson’s shoulder. “You’re a genius.”

Pink bloomed across Samson’s face. “Yeah, well, I just want to help,” he mumbled.

Alec didn’t waste any time. He knelt down right where he was and did everything he could to clear his mind and concentrate on his bond with Kian. It wasn’t easy as his mate was under attack, but Alec had to try. It might be the only way to save his life.

***

The sound of Alec’s voice in his mind did the one thing Kian hadn’t thought possible as the life was being literally choked out of him, it calmed him. The reminder that Alec believed in him hadn’t hurt.

Kian stilled in Brant’s grasp as he focused and let the new abilities rise to the surface. A shout of pain and Brant releasing his tight grip was all Kian needed to know it had worked. The sting of small pebbles digging into his skin when Brant had dropped Kian, barely registered as he took deep gulps of breath.

Still in danger, Kian rolled to his feet, smiling smugly at the rock he’d embedded in Brant’s bicep. It wasn’t exactly going to stop him for more than a moment as he dug the rock out, but at least Kian wasn’t dead.

Brant sneered at him. “Well, I admit I hadn’t expected you to be able to fight back, but that just makes it that more exciting.” His hand snaked out to grab Kian’s hair but Alec had taught him to use his smaller and more agile size to his benefit. At the last second, he darted out of Brant’s grasp.

By the rage on his face, Kian knew he had just pissed him off. Score one for him.

But that rage morphed into unbridled delight as if Brant relished the thought of being the predator and Kian the prey. Kian tried not to shudder at that thought, but he could tell by the way Brant’s grin turned even more sinister, Kian hadn’t hidden his revulsion well enough.

One thing was for certain, Kian needed to get out of there if Alec was going to find him. But how? Scanning the cave, Kian found the only exit. Unfortunately, there was no way he was going to beat Brant to it, not without a lot of luck.

When Brant was just out of reach, Kian used every bit of the control he’d been mastering and opened up a hole right underneath his feet. He took off running as Brant lost his balance. Kian’s arm went out, fingers just brushing the wood of door to escape when what he felt what was like a steel band encircled his waist, yanking him back.

“Not so fast.” Brant chuckled. “We wouldn’t want Alec to get here before the main event.”

This time, Kian couldn’t stop the shudder from going through him, especially at the sensation of being pinned to Brant’s body. He wanted to cry out in frustration.

How was he supposed to get away if Brant was faster and able use his powers better than Kian? Not even thinking about what he was doing, just letting instinct take over, his head snapped back into Brant’s chest. The moment Kian heard his quick intake of breath, he thought he’d gain his freedom but Brant’s arm didn’t loosen at all. Thankfully, Alec’s training had been intense and Kian had a lot more moves that had been drilled into him for months.

Slamming his foot down on Brant’s instep caused him to curse and loosen his grip just enough for Kian to duck under his arm. Ramming his elbow into Brant’s abdomen as hard as possible, it was Kian who cried out however, when his arm practically vibrated as his funny bone had hit those too hard muscles, but he refused to stop fighting.

Except, he didn’t only use what Alec had taught him, Kian also applied all he’d learned when he’d watched several demon training sessions. Kian may not be as advanced as Brant when it came to using their abilities, but he wasn’t about to go down without a fight either.

At the same time, he kicked Brant in the knee, Kian had hurled a rock through the air, this time catching him in the back of the head. Enraged, Brant roared loud enough to shake the ground beneath them.

It wasn’t easy staying upright but Kian raced for the door anyway. He screamed in frustration when Brant managed to appear before him, even though he was only a few feet from freedom.

The rage in his eyes caused Kian to mentally tell Alec how much he loved him, for it was in that moment Kian realized he wasn’t going to make it out of there alive. Not without Alec, and try as he might, Kian couldn’t get out of that room so Alec could find him.

Brant watched the play of emotions on Kian’s face and his anger died as the glee of his triumph returned. He knew Kian finally realized Brant was going to kill him.

But Brant’s smile fell as the ground beneath them shook. He stared at Kian in confusion for a brief moment. Kian had no idea what was happening. He had been able to do something like that but from the frown on Brant’s face, he didn’t know that.

A figure suddenly appeared to his right. Alec. Relief flooded Kian.

“No,” Brant yelled as he saw Alec sitting on the ground, glaring at him.

Kian’s relief was short lived as he realized Alec wasn’t really there. His lips moved, but no sound came. It wasn’t until Brant blasted Alec with fire that went right through the mirage to the far side of the room that Brant understood Alec wasn’t actually there.

Kian turned on his heel and tried to make it to the door again, but Brant was too quick. His hand locked around Kian’s neck as he cackled in Alec’s direction. “This is even better. Now you get to watch me kill him, brother. ” Brant spat the last word out as if he hated the fact they were related.

Alec’s mouth moved to form Kian’s name on what he assumed was a scream. The ground pitched violently as Alec’s emerald eyes blazed with fury.

Brant couldn’t stay on his feet while holding Kian up in the air. Kian hadn’t even taken a full breath when the ground beneath Brant’s feet opened wide, burying him.

Kian’s eyes widened in shock as he turned back to Alec, who was trying to tell him something. Without sound, it was hard to know what he was saying, but when the ground that held Brant started to shift, Kian figured out what Alec was telling him.

The earth wasn’t going to hold Brant for long. If Kian had any hope of Alec finding him, he had to get out of the cave.

Bolting to his feet, Kian ran to the door, this time he not only reached it, but was able to yank it open. The bright rays of the sun momentarily blinded him, but the inhuman bellow from inside the cave he’d just left didn’t give him time to adjust. Brant had gotten free.

Kian ran. With no clue where he was going, he prayed Alec would find him in time. Wind whipped all around. It was nearly impossible to remain standing as the earth started to quake once more.

Laughter swirled on the wind around Kian. He knew Brant was playing with him but Kian didn’t stop. Tears stung his eyes as the howling wind lashed against his face. Vision blurred, but he refused to give up.

A hand wrapped around his neck as Kian was jerked from behind, causing more tears to form as Brant slammed him against an unforgiving body. “Did you honestly think you could get away from me?” His breath against his ear made Kian cringe. “I don’t know how you got that powerful to cause all that but it won’t stop me. I will kill you,” he promised.

Refusing to back down, especially since he was out of the cave with the crystals – which Kian assumed was how Brant was blocking Kian and Alec’s connection – he just knew Alec would come for him.

As if answering his prayers, Alec suddenly materialized in front of Kian. For real, this time.

Even though Kian was trapped by Brant’s hold, he could feel Alec’s entire body hummed with unreleased energy of his dangerous emotions. The sight of him unlocked something dormant in Kian. He didn’t quite understand it but Brant no longer scared him.

The grip on his neck tightened as Brant taunted Alec. “Well, well, look who’s come to join the party.” Brant’s other hand reached around Kian’s abdomen. “I have to say I’m impressed you found us. Not that it matters. At least this way, I’ll get to watch your agony as I kill the human in front of you.”

Kian stood there listening to his words that should have terrified him, yet, suddenly, he felt fearless. With Alec by his side, Kian was indestructible. Mentally, he shook off the fanciful thoughts knowing Brant did have the ability to kill him if Kian wasn’t careful. Still, there was no doubt in Kian’s mind Brant would die.

With his arm binding Kian’s ribs, he struggled to take a breath but he found a way. Then he expelled it slowly. Searching inside for where that indestructible belief resided, Kian saw all the knowledge he needed. It probably shouldn’t have been possible but Kian could actually access the core of his power.

“Let Kian go, Brant, and face me like a man instead of the coward we know you are,” Alec taunted.

Brant’s hand pulled Kian’s head back against him, not giving him any room to move. With his arm around Kian’s waist, Brant had effectively trapped both his arms. But he still had his feet. With speed Kian still wasn’t used to, he stomped heavily on Brant’s instep.

It wasn’t as effective as he would have liked but that tight grip loosened a little. Using it, Kian slammed his head back hard. Pain exploded in the back of his head as he connected with Brant’s chin. Hearing his grunt of pain was satisfying.

The moment both hands that had been holding him slackened enough, he pulled out one arm just enough to jab it into Brant’s abdomen. Had he still been human, none of this would have mattered. It would have been like a gnat against an elephant. But Kian wasn’t human any longer.

Using Brant’s momentary confusion when he loosened his grip slightly, Kian instantly disappeared, reappearing next to Alec. “I did it,” he whispered in a mix of disbelief and pride.

Not taking his eyes off Brant, Alec proudly said, “Of course, you did. You’re too strong to let him win.”

Kian smiled over at Alec, amazed at how lucky he was to have someone like Alec by his side. Then, as if called for by his will alone, Alec’s sword was in his hands while the ground beneath them continued to tremble with his fury.