I could feel the people who’d left the pack. Imogene. Shannon.
Shannon sent an apology back, and opened up completely, giving me everything she had. Stopping Luciana was bigger than our petty differences.
Power poured through me—from every Were alive—until I thought it was too much. I was burning up, but I held it inside.
And then I felt Lucas. He had a lot of power, but through him—I could feel my cousin. Claudia’s ability seeped into me, amplifying all the magic I held. Multiplying it.
It was too much. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Close now!” I screamed the words, letting all the built-up power out in one huge blast.
An explosion hit and I was blasted back, slamming into one of the fallen pews.
The light was so bright, I couldn’t see. I squeezed my eyes shut.
The demons cried out as one, and then there was nothing but silence.
No more hissing. No more scuttling of nails. I could hear my own gasping breaths as I waited for something to happen.
Soft wisps brushed my face, and I opened my eyes.
It was raining ashes.
My heart raced as the last of the magic faded from my system, making every part of me—my skin, my teeth, my nails—tingle.
I sat up, and the pit was gone. The floor was there—blackened in a ragged circle—but the portal to hell had disappeared. The demons were gone. Dead. All of them.
A series of wolf howls broke the silence, and I started laughing.
I was so exhausted—my head was pounding, every muscle in my body ached, and that wasn’t the worst of it. My leg was both throbbing and on fire. I wasn’t sure I could put any weight on it. But every pain was worth it. The demons were back where they belonged. Luciana was dead. The portal was closed.
And Dastien and I were alive.
It was okay. I fell back against the ground, crying tears of relief.
Cherie. Dastien’s hand brushed against my forehead.
I grabbed him before he could pull away. You’re okay?
For once, I didn’t care that he was naked in a room of people. “I need to see your back.” He turned so I could see, but he looked mostly okay. There were little red marks on his back, but no bloody gouges. “What… How…”
He grinned, and my heart warmed. “I was hurt badly, but when you killed them, the wounds started healing. It was like the supernatural hurt disappeared, and I could heal like a Were should.”
My wounds hadn’t gone anywhere but I didn’t care. If that was the price I paid to stay out of hell, then I’d pay it. Gladly.
I jumped into his arms, and he laughed as he fell back to the ground. I’m okay. I promise, he said as he ran his hand down my back.
Cosette cleared her throat, and I shoved Dastien away. “Shift! There are people around!”
He chuckled, and then shifted. I knelt down beside him, and ran my hands through his fur.
That was how Agent Morgan found us. “You look okay, but it’s torn to shit in here.”
“We’re okay,” I said, even though I could barely believe it. “I think I might need some stitches and a gallon of holy water for my leg, but we’re okay.”
“That was some fight. Those things—they just disappeared.” Strands of her hair had torn free of her ponytail, and her dress shirt was half untucked. “You all did a great job. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but when we’re cleaned up a bit, you’ll have to share the secret to fighting those things.”
Horror filled me. I wasn’t going to be working with the police, let alone the FBI. With Luciana gone, there wouldn’t be any more demons showing up. I was hoping this would be my last battle for a while. “Have you talked to Donovan Murry? He’s super good at this stuff, and he’s a very powerful alpha. I can introduce you.”