Page 18 of Howl Me to the Moon (Moonlight Siren Supernatural Cruises #2)
CHAPTER 18
PIPER
R ex came for me. My heart fluttered like the beat of dragonfly wings.
But now he charged for the demon, putting himself at risk.
The demon released me to turn his focus on Rex, and I tumbled to the floor. The demon roared as he cast a spell from his hands at Rex.
“No!” I screamed, while a bolt of panic seized me. Rex ducked to the side, evading the attack.
Marcel shrieked, “The paintings!”
Of course he’d worry more about them taking my main concern—Rex. Still, instinct kicked in and I quickly conjured a magical ward around us. It wasn’t a thoroughly protective one created in my haste and lack of additional elements, but it should provide a basic shield to protect us and many of the artworks for a short period.
Unfortunately, Rex had moved out of range as he soared once more for the demon. My lungs seized my breath as I watched him, every nerve fraying. The demon laughed and ascended a foot off the ground.
The way Rex parried in front of the demon was pure predator. Dead sexy as hell if he wasn’t in so much danger.
I tried to figure out a way to protect him, but he moved so fast.
His body rippled with magic and changed shape while fur sprouted over his skin. Before I could blink again, he’d shifted into a massive, silvery-gray wolf. Utterly magnificent. He growled at the demon, the sound resonating with fierce determination, and stared from glowing amber eyes.
Sloane groaned behind me. “Piper.” His voice sounded strained.
I turned to him and snapped, “What have you done?”
His eyes appeared dazed and a residual energy clung to him. “I—I—” He clamped his hand on either side of his head.
“You had the Armando painting all along,” Marcel accused, throwing a long finger in his face.
“No—I—I didn’t mean to…” He raised a shaky head toward the demon. “He—he forced me. He was inside my head…controlling me.”
Hell’s spells. Had the demon possessed him? That had to suck monster balls.
“The—the—painting!” Sloane’s eyes widened with fear. “He used it to open a portal.”
I turned slowly toward the painting, out of range of my magical ward and behind where Rex and the demon continued to fight, clashing with shouts and growls. The demon knocked Rex backward and he bounced off my shield with a thud. My heart ached for him. He should have been protected within, not so vulnerable outside of it—fighting a demon of all things. My ribs tightened over my lungs, smothering me with dread.
“How?” Marcel pressed.
Sloane met his gaze and then mine. “The demon.” His expression contorted with revulsion. “It manipulated me so he can come through.”
It all started to fall into devastating place. A portal. A demon possession. Rex noting Sloane’s scent being off. I’d thought it was just jealousy, but perhaps he’d noticed something else.
“We have to stop him.” Sloane’s voice dropped with urgency. “The power he seeks would be—epic. Catastrophic.”
My stomach dropped. Demons were notorious for seeking out power and wielding it to increase even more control over others. The more power they gained, the more chaos reigned. “How?”
He shook his head as if unsure. “Somehow force him back through the portal.”
How was once again a big question.
A loud crash turned our attention as Rex and the demon tumbled into a painting, breaking through the canvas. Marcel gasped.
“Rex,” I whispered, my heart panging madly. I’d do whatever I could to help him.
I turned to the others. “Let’s do it now.”
“Do what exactly?” Marcel asked.
I mashed my lips together while shaking my head. “Just—just—throw everything you have at him!”
It wasn’t a well-thought-out plan, but it was the only thing I could come up with under the pressure. Whether a witch, a vampire, and a fox shifter could do a damn thing to affect a demon would be tested now.
“Yes,” Marcel agreed with a solid nod.
I rolled on my toes as I contemplated what that entailed. We each had to draw on our strengths. Marcel had age-old vampire speed and persuasive abilities, and Sloane had shifter magic. I didn’t know the particulars of their magic but had to put faith in them while I focused on what I could do. “I’ll have to take down the ward.”
That was a major risk, leaving us vulnerable. But I’d rather be out there fighting with Rex than hiding behind a shield while he risked his life to protect me.
“Ready?” Sloane asked.
“Yes,” I replied quickly. “We have to hurry.”
The three of us came together in a circle and exchanged glances. I sucked in a shaky breath before I tapped into my magic within, connecting with the warm energy that flowed through me. Please don’t let this be a devastating mistake.
I stared at each of them. “On three.”