Page 109 of Burn of Obsidian

“Master, they’ve arrived,” the left one said, his blond hair darkening at the roots. “Just as you said.”

Gideon cocked his head, a smile spreading.

A creak, Jax turning his neck to find a door behind him opening. Roach appeared, her lips thinning when she noticed him, but he only paid her attention for a second before his heart clenched. Thea walked in behind, her eyes immediately drawn to his.

Fuck.

What was she doing?

Thea held her shoulders straight and head held high. She wore pale jeans and a light purple T-shirt, the outfit at odds to the dark room. Bandages wrapped around her hands, her natural hair pinned back in a high ponytail to reveal a cut along her forehead, surrounded by an ugly bruise.

“You have it?” Gideon asked, pushing Roach out of the way as if she didn’t even exist. He approached Thea, her chin jerking to keep his gaze. “Give it to me.”

“Jax goes free first.”

Gideon tensed, the muscles of his back rigid as he blocked Jax’s view. He heard a sharp cry and then Thea falling to the floor. Jax leapt to his feet, only to be yanked back by the chain looped around his collar. The manacles on his wrists strained, the metal creaking, weakening before the collar ignited, and the power surged through him until he crashed back to his knees. His muscles trembled, barely able to hold himself when he felt fingers tangle in his hair, forcing his head up.

“Stupid bitch,” Gideon growled as he knelt down beside Thea. He’d split her lip, and the rage that had pulsed through Jax’s body turned volcanic. “Do you really believe you have any say?”

“Touch her again, and I’ll kill you,” Jax snarled, his throat hoarse.

Gideon smirked over his shoulder. “Ah, so he does speak.”

“You said you wouldn’t hurt her,” Roach said, recoiling when Gideon settled his eyes on her.

“I say a lot of things.” Gideon dismissed Roach with an absent wave of his hand, a Skull escorting her back out the same door as before.

Thea closed her eyes when Gideon reached over to stroke along her cheek. “Please,” she whispered. “I’ve got your document; let him go.”

“Well, isn’t this a surprise.” Gideon’s fingers pinched her chin hard enough for her to grimace. “You love him; I can see it in your pathetic desperation. Isn’t it a shame that love is a weakness. It can make you do foolish, irrational things.”

Jax roared, straining against his manacles once more. He ignored the ache in his bones, and how his skin split and tore. The fingers in his hair tightened, and without thought Jax reached back and tangled the chain around the Daemon’s throat. With as much strength as he could gather, he pulled, the Daemon’s skin giving before the metal. No one stepped up to help, all watching before the collar ignited, causing violent spasms along his arms and forcing his grip to release.

Jax lurched forward, collapsing onto his palms as the dark haired Daemon staggered back. Bone was pale against red, his hands trying to control the damage. The wound wouldn’t kill him, but it would leave him vulnerable until he’d healed.

“Pitiful,” Gideon muttered, Thea still pinched between his fingers. The remaining Skull appeared at his side, hands sinking beneath Thea’s shirt. She struggled, nails clawing at Gideon’s arms before he knocked her back to the floor.

“Where is it?” he snarled, tearing at her shirt. The fabric ripped, revealing nowhere for the document to hide.

Thea jerked her head up, her gaze steady. “You’ll get it once you release him.”

Gideon bared his teeth, the thick black veins throbbing beneath his skin. Without looking away from her, he gestured to the side. “Nael, kill him.”

Jax braced for a blow, expected it as Nael, the blond haired Daemon crept forward, his grin frenzied.

“Wait!” Thea cried, voice trembling.

Gideon held his hand up, stopping Nael’s advances. “You have two options,” he said to her. “I’ll kill him, and then torture you until you provide what I want. Or you hand the page over now.”

Jax grunted, the collar seizing his muscles painfully. He met Thea’s wet gaze, the tears causing the copper specs to glisten. She was so fucking beautiful, and she didn’t know how he felt. How her colour had infiltrated his fractured darkness. And now, he’d never get to tell her.

‘I’m sorry,’ her lips read, her hand twisting in the air as she recalled the page, and Gideon took it as she was shoved to the floor.

Nael kicked out, knocking Jax to the side. “Master?” he asked, sending the other Daemon who’d passed out a disgruntled look.

“Go.” Gideon stared at the final document, the words moving and shifting across the page. “It’s taken me too long to hunt these down, and now I’ll finally be able to ignite the chalice.”

Leaving Thea on the hard floor, the Skull watching over her obediently, Gideon crossed the room and placed the third page on the lectern beside the others.

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