Page 77 of Woven Souls

“That’s right, Willow. Let me help you unwind,” he whispers into my ear. His fingers dip into my core where they plunge deep and curl at just the right spot. Then he starts to finger fuck me with purpose. I know it won’t take me long. The excitement of being in this handsome man’s arms is enough to make my knees shake, but add being pressed against a wall with the risk of getting caught?

Fuckinghot.

Theo’s fingers work their magic. My toes curl, and my body shakes as I come undone. But Theo’s not done yet. He doesn’t stop finger fucking me until I’ve come two more times and my knees are too weak to keep me upright.

After that, I have no problem falling to sleep.

* * *

The next evening,Theo directs Kwil to pull into a secluded and heavily wooded campground.

After receiving the keys to the cabin where we’ll be staying, Kwil drives us through the winding dirt roads until we arrive at our destination. The wooden structure is tiny. According to the woman at the front desk, there is a bunk bed, a bathroom and a small refrigerator and microwave just inside. I don’t even know how it can house all of that given its size.

“Are you sure it’s okay to stay here with all these people around?” I climb out of the van and gaze around at the cabins, which are nearly on top of each other. There are large RVs and campers around the bend, and beyond them, according to the map, are spots solely for tents.

If we’re attacked here by demons, or if the Utikyie make an appearance, all these people are at risk.

“We’ll just stay for a few hours.”

Theo’s quiet reassurance puts me at ease. We exchange glances before he and Viktor head inside. Rather than join them, I walk around the van and look around us. The leaves on the tree are beginning to shed, and tonight the air is cooler, a sign that fall’s approaching. The soft sounds of laughter and music in the air should set my mind at ease, but for some reason an uneasiness causes my stomach to clench.

“I have first watch, Willow. I’ll make sure we’re safe,” Kwil assures me as he hops out of the van and pulls up his hood and face mask. “You should head inside. If you’re lucky, you can catch a shower before Theo takes up all the hot water.”

“I’ll go inside in a second. I need some fresh air.”

“Well, thenI’mgoing to beat Theo to the shower,” Jonah says and hurries inside.

As Kwil takes a step to disappear into the darkness, his hand on the hilt of his sword, I whisper, “Be careful.”

He turns his head to look back at me. The skin around his eyes crinkles. “I’ll be fine, Little Minx. Don’t stay out here too long.”

He melts away into the thick brush behind the cabin.

I stand there, feeling a bit lost and anxious. Again, my eyes search the darkness. Listening hard, I try to figure out what’s wrong. All I hear are the typical sounds of a campground: fires crackling softly, the rise and fall of conversation, crickets chirping, and soft music. Familiar and comforting sounds.

I circle the van once. When I’m sure I’m just being paranoid, I head towards the door to the cabin. My foot hits the short porch when my eyes land on what’s causing my apprehension. There, prowling between the two cabins, is a Sliver. This one hasn’t been around for a while. I can still tell it’s male, due to the size, build, and gait. One glance at his face and I shiver. It’s like someone smeared paint across his features, destroying whatever characteristics made him a person.

Without thinking, I step off the porch and round the cabin, glaring at the Sliver peering into our neighbor’s cabin. Stopping a few feet away, I brace my hands on my hips.

“Hey! Quit being a peeping Tom.”

The Sliver freezes. Its head turns slowly to face me.

“Yeah, I’m talking to you.”

I should have been ready for its attack. It is an evil force, after all. But I’m not. It springs towards me, arms outstretched, ready to grab me. When it hits me, I have just enough time to shield myself from a possession.

I’m thrown onto my back hard. My breath leaves me in a woosh as mulch and dirt flies up around me. The thing lets out a terrible screech as its fingers wrap around my neck. My power rushes through my veins and shoots outward, sending the creature flying. It lands on its stomach. As I scramble to my feet a whistle cuts through the night.

I know that whistle.

Shit. Kwil!

With my attention shifted, the Sliver takes advantage and lunges for me again. This time I don’t use my power fast enough. As it slams into me, it feels like I’ve hit a body of water going sixty miles an hour. At first, it’s a hard hit, in the next second it feels like I’m sinking. I can’t breathe. The Sliver wiggles its way into my body, trying to destroy my spirit in the process.

With no time to panic, I reach up with a shaky hand and grip the essence of the Sliver, already halfway into my body. The two of us struggle for supremacy. Thinking quickly, I let out a wave of power. It shoots through my pores. The Sliver can’t handle it. It begins to dissolve. I don’t know if they can feel pain or not, but it rears out of my body at once, ready to take flight.

“Willow!”

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