Page 79 of The Mating Fire
A storybook prince, Jared thought dimly. Damn, you really think she’s going to fall for Prince Charming? With all that ugly beneath?
Harper flicked a hand at the demon, and a strip of skin peeled back, showing his scaled cheek. “You look better in your real form, Saqra.”
The guise of Prince Charming faded, leaving the demon staring at her with black eyes. Saqra turned to Jared.
“Join me Harper Ashley, and join the forces of darkness or I shall kill him.”
Harper laughed. “Oh yeah? Well, fuck you and your bony ass.”
Dazed, Jared watched as Harper surged with dazzling blue light. She began tossing bolt after bolt of coldfire at the demon, who tried absorbing it, but the onslaught was too quick, too powerful. Saqra screeched and threw his hands before him, desperately trying to deflect the blows.
The blue fire kept sizzling through the air, landing on Saqra and melting his leathery wings, turning them to stubs, He keptscreaming and finally collapsed, moaning, to the ground, his chest heaving.
Only then did Harper cease her furious attack.
“Go to hell,” she snarled.
When the light subsided, Jared managed to stand upright, his chest heaving with exhaustion and pain. He staggered over to Saqra, giving one last vicious swipe across the demon’s flailing arms, severing them.
Gotcha. Try to take her powers now, you son of a bitch.
The amputated limbs writhed on the ground, as if trying still to fling out more power. Saqra’s screams of pain almost wrung pity from Jared.
Almost.
A voice spoke, grating and harsh, from below the earth. “You failed me, Saqra. You promised me a coldfire pyrokinetic to serve me. You know the consequences for failure.”
The screeching, weakened demon writhed in agony. Saqra and the lesser demons vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only eerie silence.
Gone. Son of a bitch was gone, yanked to the underworld by his master.Have a nice homecoming, you bastard.
Xavier and Caderyn vanished as well. Only then did Jared collapse to the ground. A scream echoed off the stone walls, cutting through the quiet.
Harper rushed over to him, a halo of brilliant blue energy ringing her body. Light versus the evil threading through the heated air. She was cool, blessedly cool energy, dispelling the burning, foul stench Saqra left behind.
Jared’s cracked lips formed a faint smile as he reached up to brush a trembling hand against her cheek.
“B-ony ass? Good o-one,” he joked, but his voice faded.
“Jared, why did you sacrifice yourself for me?” Tears spilled down her pale cheeks. One splashed on his forehead. It felt like a warm, sweet kiss from her mouth.
“Had to, my dear. You’re…worth saving.” He struggled to maintain consciousness.
Even if you don’t love me, I will always love you. I cannot bear to leave you, be separated from you for all eternity, but at least you will live and be safe.
“T-he world n-needs you, Harper A-ashley.”
“The world needs you as well, Jared.” More tears. Damn he hated seeing her cry.
“N-not an u-gly old d-demon like me. The w-world will g-get by without m-me.” Numbness, sweet numbness overrode the pain wracking him. He could barely feel his fingers as he brushed his knuckles over her damp cheek.
Strong arms cradled him, warm arms that had clung so sweetly to him in bed as they’d made love. “I won’t get by, Jared. I love you. Damnit, I love you! Stay with me! Please!”
Blue coldfire wreathed her body.
“Think of the good things, Jared. The love,” she whispered.
He gently touched her face. “Love you, Harper.”
