Dage turned his head. “Why? Why do they want you so badly?”
“Willa wants me.” Just the words burned down his throat. The fucking female demon had tried to seduce him more times than he could count, and he’d almost fallen into her trap. “Her brother probably just wants me dead.”
“If you screw this up, I’ll kill you myself—and no bringing the Degoller Stars,” Dage muttered. “Everyone else is arming themselves underground. We meet at the helicopters in ten minutes.” He turned and jogged toward the doorway. “Take a moment and say good-bye to loved ones. This is going to get ugly.”
Conn grabbed another gun and pierced Jase with a look. “Don’t make me regret backing your play. If you do screw up, Dage won’t get the chance to kill you before I do.” Without another word, he turned and ran into the night.
Jase swallowed. Two death threats in the span of a minute. Not a bad night, all in all. While he wanted to bring the decapitating stars, he understood Dage’s insistence on adhering to the treaty. Those stars killed vampires as easily as demons. He headed into the night, turning toward his home. What was left of it, anyway.
He found Brenna sitting on a bench overlooking the tumultuous sea. Moonlight glinted off her hair, bathing her like a goddess. The moment hurt. His chest ached.
“So you’re going to fight demons,” she said softly.
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “Do you think you’re ready?”
Hell, no. He’d never be ready. “Yes.”
She stood to face him, her head not reaching his chin. “If I asked you not to go?”
His mouth opened but no sound emerged.
She nodded. “That’s what I thought.”
“I have to go. It’s Garrett.” Surely she understood.
“Yes, I know.” She reached up and palmed his jaw.
Everything in him wanted to lean into her touch. To lose himself in her. So he remained still. “I’ll return by dawn.”
“You’ll save Garrett. I’m sure of it.” Her gray eyes glowed with an ethereal glimmer in the moonlight. For the first time, he saw the lineage of witches in her. Powerful, beautiful, feminine witches who harnessed the moon.
“I know.” He brushed a kiss on her nose.
She swallowed. “Will this obsession ever be over? Even after you find Garrett?” Her small shoulders steeled as if for a blow.
“No.” He frowned. “Not until the last one is dead. No more demons.”
“That’s what I thought,” she murmured and stepped back. “Stay safe, Jase.”
He hesitated and then nodded. “Moira is staying to help secure headquarters. You stick with her squad.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned and jogged around the house to the street. Something had just happened with Brenna, but he couldn’t figure it out. The words had felt like good-bye.
He shook his head, breaking into a full run toward the landing areas. There would be time to fix things with Brenna after he got Garrett back. A familiar rage welled up from his gut, and he ruthlessly shoved fury down. Anger wouldn’t help him now. He’d learned young that killing with cold efficiency kept him alive. That was what he needed now—because there was no doubt he’d kill tonight.
He reached the head helicopter and jumped in the back next to Conn. Dage piloted while Talen sat in the front. “Go,” he said, shutting the door.
The bird lifted into the air. Talen nodded for him to slip on earphones and waited until he complied. “Three copters, attack formation. You’re shield, Jase.”
Jase nodded.
“Kane and Amber are in helicopter two for shields.” Kane’s mate, Amber, had a natural ability to shield from demon attacks, and Kane had slowly learned the skill from her. “The last helicopter will come in from the sea, blasting as we land.”
Jase took a deep breath. As a plan, it was risky. But it was all they had. “Do we know Garrett is on location?”
“No.” Talen turned back toward the front windshield. “I also don’t like how we traced the message. Kane said the message was well secured, and he had to go through several servers, but still. Might be a trap.”
Jase leaned forward. If it was a trap, they were prepared. “The key to countering a demon attack is to let it in.” Which explained why he’d gone so nuts.
Talen turned his head. “Let it in?”
“Yes. Let the images in, let the pain in, and make it yours. If it’s yours, no matter how devastating, it can’t kill you. It can’t decapitate you. Enjoy the pain.” He’d give anything not to have to admit that.
Serious eyes filled with sorrow as Talen studied him before turning back to the night. He exhaled. “Fair enough.”
They flew low, hugging the treetops, the ocean glinting to the left. Jase closed his eyes, resting his head against the wall. What was up with Brenna? He was losing her, and part of him wondered if he’d ever had her. Their mating was unconventional, but he’d come to rely on her in the short time they’d been together.
Could she rely on him?
Her plan to head back to Ireland for the solstice didn’t sit well. He needed her close and safe on his continent. The witches couldn’t protect her like he could.
Within an hour, his head started to ache. His eyes slowly opened. “The pressure in the air has changed.”
“No shit,” Talen muttered.
“Don’t forget to let the pain in and ride it.” Jase leaned to look at the trees spinning by. How many demons were down there? Enough to affect the atmosphere just by existing. Anticipation slithered down his spine.
The helicopter set down in a darkened alley. Jase jumped out, sprinting into a fast jog behind Talen. They maneuvered through alleys, keeping to the shadows, until they reached a chain-link fence. He scaled it easily, landing quietly on the other side.
The industrial park was silent, but the thrum of power rode the wind.
“Heat signatures in Building 4A near the wharf,” Kane said through the earpieces.
Talen gave the go-ahead, and Jase sprang into action.
The demons hadn’t realized they’d been compromised, or the pain would have started.
He peered around an outbuilding at the innocuous warehouse and lifted his assault rifle. His finger itched with the need to fire. So he took several deep breaths, filling his lungs with the scent of salt and ocean.
Talen cut him a glance. “You okay?” he mouthed.
Jase nodded. His knees vibrated, wanting to run and attack.
“Everyone is in position. Fire in the hole,” Dage ordered from the other side of the building.
The night lit up with fire.
All four walls of the building exploded outward. They couldn’t risk harming Garrett, so the charges had been placed to open and not destroy.
A slam of energy hit Jase from the south. He grabbed Talen’s arm and pointed to a gray outbuilding that was big enough for one room. “In there,” he mouthed. Then he ducked low and ran toward the back.
Talen followed, guns in hand. The sounds of battle echoed behind them with shrieks of pain and gunfire. Smoke filled the air.
Reaching the back door, Jase nodded.
Talen yanked it open, and Jase darted inside.
Three men in full soldier uniforms stood in attack formation, guns out. Maps lined the walls, and a table in the center was full of battle plans. Debris, containers, and bricks were scattered throughout the space.
Jase dove to the side and rolled, coming up firing.
Talen did the same.
Jase hit one demon, while the other two ducked behind metal containers.
The breath in Jase’s lungs heated. He recognized one of the soldiers. A high-up officer in Suri’s army, the guy had helped torture Jase more than once. He growled low, rage sharpening his vision.