“You’ve offered them humans—”
“Because I’m f**king tired of hiding in the shadows. The vampires wouldn’t take control, they were too scared of humans finding out the truth. But my demons— they’re not afraid of anything.”
The screams from the pit almost drowned out his words. “What are you sacrificing?”
Because, shit, this was a trap. For the wolves. For Jace. For—
“You.”
Then he lunged at her.
But Morgan was ready. She grabbed his arms, twisted, and tossed the traitor right over her shoulder. He hit the ground just feet away from the pit, and smoke bil owed out in a heavy burst.
He flew back to his feet. Smiled. “This wil be fun.” He licked his lips, tasting the blood that stained his mouth. “You’re the only pureblood around here. You’re the best sacrifice I can give them. I bet you’l be worth ten demons…”
He’d lost it. “And I bet it wil hurt when you fal into hel .”
That wiped the smile off his face. “Your wolf sure screamed when the demons took him.”
Dammit, that was the second time he’d said—her gaze darted to the pit. “Jace!”
Devon slammed into her, and they hit the earth. “Bitch, I’ve got wolf blood in me.
More than you. I drained that mutt.”
And he’d left Mike’s broken body behind. Another casualty.
Morgan kicked up, slamming her knee into his bal s. He jerked back. “You’ve got wolf blood,” she said, “but now you also have bal s in your throat.”
She jumped to her feet. “Jace!” Her scream broke through the night. He couldn’t be in that pit, he couldn’t…
Devon’s arms wrapped around her from behind. He squeezed so tight she lost her breath and her ribs burned…burned.
Snap.
Pain beat through her as her ribs broke.
“So tired of you…” Devon lifted her and carried her toward the pit. “Fucking a wolf
…
blending with humans…crying when you lost the light…”
She slammed her head back and heard the sweet crunch of bones when she broke his nose. Morgan clawed at his arms, slicing open his flesh as she fought him. His blood littered the ground as he took her to the pit.
“Let her go!”
Jace. His roar. Relief had her feeling light-headed. Or maybe that dizziness was from the pain.
Jace leapt forward. He was naked and blood poured from a gash on his cheeks.
His eyes glowed as he raised his claws and ran toward them.
Devon had her nearly over the pit. This was what she’d planned. To enter hel . To close the door from the inside out.
Only…wel , in the original plan, Jace had been the one to go through the doorway.
She was supposed to stay back and then pul him out.
I won’t sacrifice him.
The rules had indeed changed. Jace didn’t realize it. She did. If demons were al about sacrifice, then she’d give them a sacrifice al right.
But she wouldn’t give them Jace.
“Watch her burn, wolf!” Devon shouted. “Watch. Her. Burn!”
Morgan stopped fighting. Instead of slicing her nails against Devon, she twisted her hands and locked tight to him. Her gaze met Jace’s. He yel ed her name.
“Bring me back,” she whispered. Then Morgan heaved toward the pit, and she yanked Devon with her.
He tried to wrench back his arms, but she wouldn’t let go. His yel s fil ed her ears as he fought and twisted, but Morgan wouldn’t let go.
No more dead humans. No more tortured wolves. This was it.
They fel into the pit, and the screams from the demons drowned out her voice as she told them, “I’ve got a sacrifice for you, ass**les…”
The fire burned, blasting at her skin and she refused to cry out. Even when the demons reached for her.
***
Jace’s heart stopped when Morgan jumped into that fiery pit. “No!” Not her. She wasn’t supposed to go in. Not. Her. He flew forward, and his body slammed into the ground even as his arms snaked into that hole in a desperate bid to grab her.
He’d moved fast, faster than he’d ever moved in his life, and when he shoved his hands into that hot furnace, he touched…
Flames.
The fire lanced his skin, but he didn’t let go. He could feel a body in the middle of that wild heat. He could smel the acrid scent of burning flesh.
Morgan.
He didn’t let go. He pul ed even as he felt another force tugging his prize back down.
“No! You can’t have her!” He yel ed as the fire licked him.
His upper body fel into the pit as he struggled.
“Fuck, Jace!” Louis’s yel from behind him. Then suddenly Jace felt other hands on his body, trying to haul him back.
But he wasn’t going back without Morgan“Keep him!” He roared the words in the fire.
“Choke on him—but give her to me!”
A breath of flames blew against him and blisters immediately covered his flesh.
“Give her to me!” He bel owed.
“Pull him up!” Louis snarled at the same instant. “Get him out of there, now!”
They yanked him back, but he didn’t let go of the fiery prize he held. Be Morgan. Be
…
He broke from the pit and fire raced along his body. Louis shoved at him and Jace fel to the ground. He rol ed, battling the flames on him and— on her. Sweet f**k, he’d pul ed her out.
The others immediately joined him and battled the flames that covered her flesh.
Red, swol en, every inch of her body had felt the kiss of the fire. Should have been me.
Her eyes weren’t open. “Morgan?” Now, he was afraid to touch her. He didn’t want to hurt her, and he knew his touch would. She was injured so badly, even a breath on her skin would hurt.
His touch would pain her, but his blood wouldn’t. Jace lifted his hand to his mouth and bit his wrist. He tore with his teeth and put his hand over her mouth. “Princess, please…”
The blood trickled into her mouth. Her lips moved the faintest bit against his skin.
“Take more.” She could take everything if she needed it.
“Alpha.” Louis’s quiet voice had his head lifting. His friend stared at him with a tense face. “You’re weak, too. Let me help you.”
Jace shook his head. “No, she’s—”
“I know she’s yours, but she’s also pack.” Louis offered his bleeding wrist. “If the blood of one wolf makes her strong, how fast do you think she’l heal when she drinks from six?”