Page 125 of Lust

Wrath took up more space in her being, and the fury abated enough for Eddie to feel like she could breathe again.

“We’re going closer to the seal now,” Shade said, his palm pressing against her back. “It’s going to get worse the closer you get. You can sense Wrath within you. Give him the emotion.”

Shade at her back, Eddie stepped closer.

A red haze blanketed her vision, just as it had in the forest. Fury lashed through her blood. Her muscles swelled and blood pounded through her veins.

And Wrath funneled it from her.

He stood to her left. Sweat poured down his face, his eyes bulged, a vein beat in his temple, and the eyes locked on her were blood red.

He was doing this for her, and Eddie closed the distance to the seal.

Rage lashed at her. Even with Wrath’s help, she felt the need to wreak destruction boiling inside her, calling to her to rip and rend.

“Put your hands on the seal,” Shade murmured. “Feel it. Feel what needs to be done.”

Through the haze of punishing anger, she sensed the seal. It rang through her being like a gong was struck. The dissonance hit her like a body blow and pushed her back.

“Hold him!” Shade yelled.

Three demons attempted to contain Wrath as he writhed and fought against them. His wings were out, and his power buffeted the room. Rocks cracked and debris rained down around them. More demons piled on the thrashing hell prince.

Eddie stepped back to the seal. If she didn’t do this fast, the entire castle might come down around them. When she connected with the seal again, she homed in on the dissonance.

“What do I do?” Panic morphed into fury inside her.

“Concentrate, Eddie.” Shade bracketed her from behind, his body shielding her from Wrath’s wildly fluctuating power and the falling debris. “You are Nephilim. You have the power within you to do this. Let that power speak through you.”

Wrath roared, and demons went flying.

More demons threw themselves at him.

Wrath ripped into them like a bezerker. Still they kept coming, trying to contain him.

“Concentrate, Eddie,” Shade whispered. “He’s got this.”

The dismembered corpse of a demon crashed into the wall beside her.

“Eddie!” Shade raised his voice. “Stay focused.”

Focus. She tried to shut out the war happening around her.

“Find the part of you that is your mother,” Shade said. “Your hell prince side is already active; find your humanity.”

Find her fucking humanity? How the hell was she supposed to do that?

A memory popped into her mind. She was about eight, in the park with Dee. Dee was laughing while she fed the squirrels.

“They’re rats with tails, Eddie-girl.” Dee smiled at her.

“That’s it, Eddie,” Shade whispered. “Give it more.”

She was twelve now, and she and Dee were watching a scary movie. Dee’s arms around her made her feel safe and secure. Eddie felt again the delicious sensation of being scared, but knowing she was safe.

Wrath bellowed a sound of pure rage. An answering yell built in Eddie. A two-foot crack opened up across the ceiling.

“More, Eddie,” Shade shouted.

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