Chapter 28
The Demon
She was beginning to enjoy the touching. It was high time to get out of this body. Giving Sofia control, even for the short time she had the last couple of days, was taking everything the demon had as far as self-control went. She wanted to push Sofia out. Instead, they were slowly melding together. Only the mage's promise had kept her from destroying Sofia already.
And now. Soon. She would be free.
She hoped.
The mage's lack of confidence wasn't that concerning. She felt he probably had the answer. She was more worried about being able to leave Sofia's body intact once the bindings were broken.
She would hate to repay the kindness shown by Sofia's men by destroying their woman. She hadn't initially cared. Now she did. Another sign that it was past time to get out of here. She had enjoyed watching Doc and Nikolai handle the werewolf, and it would be interesting to find out what the repercussions would be. That did not mean she was going to stick around and find out.
The demon tried not to enjoy the mage's touch as he caressed Sofia's shoulder and pressed his cheek into her hair. As much as he liked the vampire, he was completely in love with Sofia. Some of it might have been the magic, some of it might have been the connection they had forged, but most of it was simply that he loved her.
The demon worried most about Ed. He would be completely crushed if anything happened to Sofia. He had chosen her, and her death might literally kill him. He loved her as if she were life itself.
Allan was more reserved, but no less in love with her. A deep river with unexplored depths. She could sense the intensity of his emotion every time he looked at her, and it was frightening to the demon, who wasn't used to experiencing those emotions at all. Let alone from several people.
And then there was Doc. Doc who quietly risked everything and calmly tried to take care of everyone. Sometimes he still acted shocked that Sofia wanted him, but he wasn't about to give her up without a fight, even if it meant sacrificing himself instead. The demon hoped it never came to that. Doc was the glue that held that pack together, though Sofia was slowly beginning to fill that role as well.
And what to do about Ash? The other demon believed that Doc and Nikolai would free him. He had spent so much time with her in Sofia's body, that she worried he was starting to fall for Sofia, too. Would the others accept him if he did? What would he do if they didn't? The demon knew Sofia wasn't completely aware she had spent the last month or so sleeping near Ash. They had taken over Doc's bedroom, probably unfairly. Ash had told her he wished to return home, but he had been on this plane for so long, she did not think he would be able to manage it if freed.
The truck slowed, and the demon watched from Sofia's eyes as Doc got out to see if there were any rooms available. The blast of cold air made everyone shiver. No one spoke while Doc was away. His eyes glinted with amusement when he returned.
"Last room." Doc held up a key when he was back in the warm truck. He put it in gear and drove them around to the back side of the hotel. "I wouldn't expect anything fancy, but we will be warm. The clerk was very surprised to see me." He laughed tiredly.
Star groaned. "Why did I go with you all again? I should have stayed with my car."
"You would have frozen," Nikolai replied.
They got out when Doc parked and hurried to the room.
They all wrinkled their noses. The room was probably clean enough, but clearly at one point, it had been a smoking room.
Nikolai muttered and waved his hands. A spray of dark blue sparkles swept the room for a moment, and everyone sighed in relief. "Now it is very clean. You could eat off floor." He looked at the floor. "I wouldn't recommend it, though."
Sofia shuddered in disgust, and the demon echoed that sentiment.
"So, now what?" Star asked uneasily.
The room itself was a standard two bed hotel room with brown carpet, outdated furnishings, and a small bathroom in the back, from what the demon could establish from Sofia's memories.
"Now you sit over there." Nikolai pointed to a chair. "You two keep an eye on things," he pointed at the werewolves, "and I will release a demon." Nikolai rubbed his hands together and managed to look confident and nervous at the same time.
"Seriously?" Star crossed her arms and glared.
Nikolai shook his head and gestured. Sofia's friend yelped as she slid backward into the chair and ropes appeared from nowhere to tie her down. "Just stop distracting me."
The demon noted he also cast a shield around their room, probably to block sound. He claimed he was used to using a lot of magic, but he had likely used a large amount on the way down from Colorado, and she hoped he wasn't wearing himself out before tackling the spell to release her.
"Doc," Nikolai said. "I need access to the demon's magic."
The demon wondered at Sofia's alarm, and a moment later, the memory surfaced of what demon blood had done to the vampire last time he'd tasted it. That also explained why Nikolai was willing to use so much magic. He expected to get a large boost from hers, and he didn't know what her blood would do to Doc.
The vampire didn't hesitate, just held out his hand to Sofia.
She put her hand in his and stepped closer.
"Doc," she whispered.
"Only way," he replied. "I'll be okay."
Sofia tilted her neck back, and the vampire lowered his lips to
