Page 127 of Soul Sucker

Vadim was closer, she could feel him now, but he was different, stronger, more powerful, moreOther. She had to fight, had to make sense of all this.

“Youmurderempaths.”

“No, I offer empaths an alternate way to leave this life with dignity and with their souls intact.” A flare of anger resonated through his happiness. Ella wasn’t sure if she was pleased about that or scared. She sensed he could hurt her very badly.

“Why are you trying to resist me, Miss Walsh? I’m offering you peace.”

“At a price.” Damn, creating an individual thought was like wading waist-high through molasses. She tried to cling to the chaos of Vadim shouting at her, telling her to let him in.Let him in where? “What do you gain out of it?”

A small frown marred his brow. “I only take what is offered freely.”

“I know that, but what do you do with it?” His expression gentled. “I use it for good.”

“Your own good?”

“Taking your pain is a gift to me. It enables me to increase my powers and help others. Eventually there will be no more empaths left—just me—and then Otherworld and the humans who tossed me aside as some kind of freak will come crawling back and beg for my help.”

Okay, even in her currently deluded state she knew this guy was seriously nuts.

There was a crashing sound and Vadim appeared in the now smashed doorway. He seemed to be speaking, but Ella couldn’t understand what he was saying. He also looked murderous. She unconsciously shifted closer to the Siren, or Geoffrey or the desk nerd, whatever he was called.

He stroked her arm. “It’s all right. You don’t have to take any notice of him. Do you have your gun on you?” She nodded and brought it out. The Siren smiled and Vadim went still, although she suspected he was still shouting at her in some realm. He loved shouting at her almost as much as he enjoyed being cryptic and mysterious. She imagined him moving over her, the taste of his skin, his sweat, his come…

“I can see that you are conflicted, Miss Walsh.” The Siren’s compassion washed over her and she shivered. “If you want him to go away, you can just shoot him.” Ella nodded and slowly stood up, the gun pointed at Vadim. If he just stopped shouting at her it would be so nice, so quiet, sopeaceful…

“Ella,don’t you damn well give up on me!” The power of Vadim, his rage entranced her and she held still. “Turn that gun around and shoot him.He’s trying to kill you.”

She rolled her eyes. “No, Morosov, you idiot, he’s trying to make me shootyou.”

Vadim’s hand shot out and she could’ve sworn she saw sparks. Puzzled she turned to look at the Siren who was trying to hide behind her.

“Ouch!” Ella squeaked as one of the sparks hit her shoulder. “That hurt!”

“Then get out of the damned way, and let me kill him!”

She heard that real time and turned helplessly toward the Siren. “I can’t get him out of my head. I’m sorry. He’ll never let me seek peace.”

The Siren gripped her hand and she almost staggered beneath the force of his rising power. “That’simpossible.”

“He’s my mate. I can’t help it.” Vadim’s magic surged through her like a tidal wave, displacing the Siren’s hold. It felt like a nuclear war was being fought inside her head. The gun wavered in her hand. “Stop it. I can’t kill my mate and be happy forevermore. I justcan’t.”

Vadim smiled at the Siren. “Are you listening? You can’t have her. She’s already mine.”

“No!”

Pain splintered across Ella’s skull and she closed her eyes.

“That can’t be correct. You’re not the right male for her,” the Siren shouted, his features distorted with rage. “Sheneedsme. She only just turned the consent form in. I defeatedyouin Russia! You weren’t chosen for her. You aren’t worthy!”

Vadim looked at Ella. “You turned in the form?”

She could barely manage a nod. “Morosov, he says he can give me peace, take away my burdens…”

“By killing you? By stealing everything that makes you special? Fuck that, Ella. We can do so much better together.”

She managed to look into his eyes. They glowed like blue sapphires. He looked all Fae, his power flowing over her, pushing at the Siren’s hold. Punching holes in her certainties, reminding her why she wanted to live and love and…

She turned the gun toward the Siren. “I want to kill you so badly right now.”

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