Page 115 of Demon's Heart

She smiled, as lovely and unassuming as she’d been in the salon. “That doesn’t matter.” She stepped closer and grabbed Ollie’s chin.

Ollie’s skin crawled. His gut urged him to run, but it wouldn’t help. She’d catch him. Magic him. Ollie had no hope against her.

With all his energy, he called down the bond.Help!

Pamala’s eyes glowed. “Where did the demons go?”

Ollie was overwhelmed with the urge to answer. He couldn’t fight it. “To the Realm of the Damned.”

Pamala’s eyes widened. “What did the Hounds do with Lillian and Maxwell?”

“Who?” Ollie’s pulse pounded and his whole body went cold and shaky. When Pamala had used this strange power on him before he’d been calm, happily compliant. Not this time. “Somebody help me!”

Pamala’s grip tightened on his chin. “Don’t speak unless I ask you a question. You must tell the truth. What happened to the demons stalking the shearwaters?”

“They were sent back to the Realm of the Damned.”

Pamala hissed and chills ran down Ollie’s spine. “Traitors. They’re as bad as Lucifer, imprisoning everyone like they’re the only ones who deserve to be free. No wonder they’re his dogs.”

It wasn’t true, but Ollie couldn’t speak to object.

How did Pamala know so much? How did she even know he was connected to the demons? She must have followed him from work, but he’d been invisible when flying to Rowan’s club with Dante.

“They obviously care about you, sending the birds to watch over you.” Pamala turned Ollie’s head from side to side like she was inspecting him. “Will they rescue you?”

“Yes,” Ollie said, trying and failing to add a plea not to do this.

“Then be a good little hostage and stay close. No talking, and don’t touch your phone.” She released his chin and strode down the alley. “Hurry, along.”

Ollie caught up against his will. His whole body tingled and his mind fogged as he fought to disobey.

Dante!He pushed jolts of anxiety and fear down the bond. But what if he distracted Dante, and something even worsehappened? He tried to rein it in. Ollie couldn’t get a good read on Dante, his own emotions overwhelming everything else.

Commotion came from the street ahead, footsteps hitting the pavement hard. Pamala stopped short, grabbing Ollie by the back of his shirt collar.

Two suited men appeared at the alley entrance. “Stop!” one shouted as they both dropped their fangs.

Pamala dragged Ollie forward, unconcerned, her eyes flaring. “Sleep,” she purred, and both vampires dropped to the alley floor.

Behind Ollie, a door crashed open. He couldn’t turn to see who it was. Light flared around him, and he shuddered, a sensation like cold air passing over him.

He lurched from Pamala’s grasp, suddenly free of her magical hold. “Help! She has mind control.”

Ollie spun away from Pamala, and Harper rushed toward him. Ollie ran and collided with his friend, almost going limp as Harper’s arms wrapped around him.

Nico pushed past, muttering something unintelligible, his hands glowing.

“Nico, wait!” Harper yelled.

Pamala growled. She swiped her arm in front of her, hand flicking in an upward motion, and Nico flew back, sailing past Ollie and Harper and crashing into the back of the alley.

“Don’t look in her eyes.” Harper pulled Ollie against him so his face was buried in his neck. “Fuck, I don’t know what spell Nico used to break her hypnosis.”

“You think you can avoid my stare and that will save you?” Pamala asked. “Like I have no other powers? You can’t stop me from taking Ollie. Two witches are nothing against me, so hand over your friend, and no one has to get hurt. Well, any more hurt.”

No sound came from the back of the alley. Was Nico okay?Ollie was desperate to look but couldn’t risk falling under Pamala’s spell.

Harper’s grip on Ollie tightened. “You’re a demon. What are you doing here?”