Page 55 of Demon of Dreams

“No.”

It was as simple as that. There were a million reasons why I couldn’t do it—wouldn’t do it—but I didn’t need to say them out loud. Isaac knew most of them already, and the others, I wouldn’t admit on my deathbed.

Still…Cory. That was his name. I’d never bothered to ask back in the gym. Hadn’t wanted to know. Now that I had a name to match the face, it would be even harder to get him out of my head.

“You’re the one best positioned to do it,” Isaac said. “You’re the only other incubus at the academy.”

“I’m not an incubus.”

“You may not have all your powers, but losing access to them doesn’t change what you are. And even without your powers, you have something that boy needs.”

“Bullshit. I can’t teach him anything.”

“Not even combat?” Isaac’s eyebrow was really getting a workout today.

“You know what I mean.”

“I know that incubi are incredibly rare. I know it’s especially uncommon to find one who hasn’t already been converted. And I know that unless that boy learns to control his powers, he’ll die. Even here.”

“Just put him in a trance,” I said stubbornly.

I knew as well as Isaac did that a trance was a terrible choice, if there were any other option. An incubus could subsist off of trances, but never do anything greater. And it tied the incubus to the trancecaster for life, something I couldn’t recommend. But still.

“Why would I do that, when he has the potential to be so much more? Todoso much more?”

It was a perfectly reasonable point, which only made me angrier.

“Teaching a half-human incubus to use a power innate to his being is difficult even for another incubus,” Isaac pointed out. “It’s a nigh impossible task for someone who doesn’t share that fundamental understanding. The need that exists inside.”

“And you don’t think my being powerless would make it just as impossible?”

“I think it’s worth a try.”

“How can I teach him to do something I can’t do myself?” I fumed.

“I’m not sure.” Isaac set the scroll down and held his hands up in the semblance of a shrug. “How could you? I’m truly asking.”

“And I’m telling you I can’t.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

I didn’t bother dignifying that with a response.

After a moment, Isaac sighed. “Don’t you care about what we’re doing here? About the mission? Cory could help us destroy Argus for good.”

“Don’t put that on me.”

“I’ll put whatever I want on you. You knew what you were getting into when you signed up.”

“Yeah. Being joined to you for the rest of my earthly existence. Tied to this place as long as you’re here, unable to go more than a week without running back to you like a dog.”

“And that’s the life to which you would condemn Cory?”

A growl built in the back of my throat. I hated that Isaac had made a reasonable point. Hated that the longer we talked, the more unreasonable I looked—and felt. I hated losing control.

“Aren’t we trying to help people?” I said. “For all we know, I’d fuck it up if I tried to teach him. Then your precious incubus would end up worse than I am. How would that help your mission?”

“Mymission?”

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