Page 55 of My Demon Desire
"Won't know until you try, right?"
I nod, moving to my dad on shaky legs, my heart feeling like its going to break in two any second.
"Please work, please." I lay my hands on his chest and focus all my power on healing him. Magic flares to life around us, flooding the forest, and when I pull away my hands, his eyes flutter open.
I stumble back, panting as the rush of power fades and I feel like I've just finished a triathlon.
My dad’s chest heaves then calms, the wound healing before my eyes, and he sits up with a smile. "Annalise."
"We'll talk later,” I promise, squeezing his hand, then I turn to Kaden with my heart beating frantically against my rib cage.
With everything I have in me, I pray this works. I lay my hands on his shoulder, pleading for the magic to work, and a light pulses around us.
But his skin is so cold and gray.
"Come on," I grit my teeth. "Work, damn it. Heal him." I have to.
He looks so much worse than the others and I'm scared my magic won't be enough. I hold his hands in mine, focusing every bit of energy I can find, and the birthmark flares once more. I wait for the same gold and silver tendrils that I had seen with the others, but nothing comes. Panic starts to rise in me, twisting my insides up in knots.
"Annalise, it's too late," Thorne says softly, but I shake my head, tears spilling down my cheeks.
"No, no." I push more magic into him. All of my hope lies in the human glamour he wore when the iron dagger hit him and bought him some time. I should've healed him first before anyone. I thought I had more time.
"Annalise," my dad says in a soft tone.
"No, no." I shake my head vigorously. "He's not gone. He can't be." I need all three of my dark fae. Reis is my faith as he believed in me. Thorne is my courage to fight. But Kaden, he is my hope. I need all three in my life and heart to be whole.
"Kaden, please, I don't want to be without you." I sob, grief wracking my body, as I push more energy into him. "I need all three of my guards, my kinsmen, my lovers by my side. I need you."
Even though exhaustion pulls at me, I don't stop. I will all of my magic to go into Kaden's body and heal him, to bring back his soul.
"Annalise," Reis says gently, touching my shoulder.
But I don't look at him. I can't. I don't stop, even when I feel like I'm going to pass out using too much energy. I will never stop.
Suddenly, I'm surrounded by a warm light that tickles up my arms. Somehow I know it's Kaden's soul, here with me, fighting to get back with me.
Then a glimmer of the silver and gold tendrils sink into him and a broken sob escapes me, but I don't let up the healing magic until I feel the slightest twitch in Kaden's finger against my palm. He looks up at me and I burst into tears of relief.
A bright light explodes around us, and Kaden draws in a shuddering breath. He opens his eyes and I can't help but launch myself at him, sobbing.
He wraps his arms around me, holding me close as I cry into his chest.
"You saved me," he murmurs, reaching up to cup my cheeks.
"It worked." Relief floods me, dousing the fear.
His skin returns to its normal tones and with a wink, he tries to shift into his monster form, but grimaces.
"Take it easy," I say, then tease. "I guess I can stand to have you in your human form a bit longer."
He grabs me in a fierce hug, kissing me and my heart swells with immeasurable joy.
"Thank you," he whispers with a lopsided grin and I can only smile in return, too overwhelmed by emotion to voice my own words.
"Guess I gotta get used to you being the ugly one in human form again." Thorne laughs and when I look, he resembles a tall, dark-haired Viking with bright blue eyes.
I gasp in surprise. "You both look handsome."
