The Demon’s Pledge

Chapter 6

The Price of the Pact

I had that dream again.

I was moving through a forest of mirror branches that cut my skin when I scanned against them, leaves that broke underfoot. The air was thick with whispers, all saying my name.

When I got up, the scar on my wrist was scorching hot, the heat crawling up my arm toward my shoulder like molten metal. I sat up, panting, clasping it with my other hand.

That was when I took notice of the footsteps.

Adrian was standing at my bedside, shirtless, hair messy like he hadn't been asleep at all. His eyes clicked to my wrist, and something unintelligible passed across his face

He softly said It's starting

What's starting? My voice was unstable, and I despised it.

He didn't respond right away he just sat on the rim of the bed, his hand was all over my arm. The moment his skin touched mine, the burning reduced..

Relief made me dizzy. What was that?

The connection, he said, eyeing me carefully. It reacts when you're in trouble. Or when I am.

I scowled. You guess this was because you were in trouble?

He didn't look away. I am aware

The rest of the day was strange. I kept grabbing Adrian on his phone, talking in low, clipped tones, his utterance sharper than normal. Anytime I asked, he diverted.

By evening, I was nervous enough to stroll the penthouse again. That's when I found it, one of the biometric-locked doors was slightly open.

Inside was not a space, but a crypt. Black stone walls, shelves lined with artifacts daggers, vials of shimmering liquid, books bound in leather so old they appeared ready to granulate.

And in the center, on the way, was a golden mask designed like a snarling wolf.

The instant I strolled closer, the scar on my wrist began to pound again.

I wouldn't feel that if I were you, a voice said from behind me.

I turned to see Lucien bending against the doorway, clothed in black as ever, looking entirely too comfortable for someone.

Do you just appear in places you shouldn't? I questioned.

Only when I ought to. He nodded toward the mask. That's the Mask of Thalor. Whoever wears it can command shadow beasts. Dangerous even without the bond

My stomach pulled. And this is just sitting here?

It's not the only thing Adrians is hiding from you, Lucien said, moving closer. Tell me, Isla when the bond pulls you, do you sense him inside your head?

I swallowed. Sometimes. In dreams.

It wasn't a dream it was reality

Before I could reply, the temperature in the room seemed to decline. The air glowed faintly, like a heat wave but it was cold, too cold.

Then I saw it a wave of darkness gliding along the wall, too big to be a shadow, too fast to be human.

Lucien swore under his breath. He's coming.

Adrian? I asked.

No, Lucien said, eyes restraining. Something worse.

The shadow surged forward, and instinct made me move back. The mark on my wrist flashed white-hot, and before I could scream

Adrian was there.

One moment the room was empty, the next moment he was standing between me and the shadow, his hand lifted. That same black fire I'd seen in his eyes at the gala burst into existence, curling around him like a living thing.

The shadow hissedactually hissed and withdrew into the wall.

I couldn't move.

Adrian turned slowly, his expression hard. You shouldn't be in here.

Lucien's mouth curved faintly. You're welcome, by the way. She'd be dead if I hadn't

Get out, Adrian snapped.

Luciens's smirk widened, but he obeyed, disappearing into the corridor without another word.

When he left, Adrian confronted me fully. The bond will protect you. But every time it does, it takes something from you in recovery

My throat was closed Takes what?

His stare held mine, unflinching. You'll know very soon enough.

That evening, as I tried to doze off, I couldn't shake the feeling that the burning mark on my wrist wasn't just a tether.

It was a fuse