Dalton knew the instant Isabelle let go of the stranglehold she’d held on her demon side. He felt the surge of energy inside her exploding outward, and inched closer to give her the strength she needed to fight this battle.
But something else came with it-something he’d feared might happen but had hoped wouldn’t surface: the Sons of Darkness. As soon as Isabelle’s dark side was free, the demon world sucked him into a vortex that he couldn’t battle, dragging him down into hellish remembrances alongside Isabelle, bringing him face-to-face with memories he’d vowed to forget, but never could.
“We’ve missed you in our world, Dalton. So glad to see you again. We knew someday you would come back to us.”
The sound of Tase’s voice evoked his hundred years in hell, a place he never wanted to revisit. Tase’s laughter was a slap of reality, a change in the game. Cold realization washed over him. This was a trap, a means to trick Isabelle into dragging him into this, too. The Sons of Darkness wanted it all. Which meant he had to think fast, before he lost Isabelle-and himself-forever.
“Come closer,” Tase said. “Let’s discuss how this will play out.”
Tase approached, and the remembered heat, the melting flesh, the years of terror, all came rushing back. Dalton pushed aside the horror to focus on a strategy. The most important thing was getting Isabelle away from Tase, making sure they didn’t reclaim her. She might be tied to them, but with the exchange of blood she was also tied to him now. And he had to hold tight to that bond with her, hope it would be enough-along with Georgie’s magic-to pull her away.
“What’s going on here? Why has everything stopped?”
Dalton could hear Michael’s voice, but could do nothing to reach back into reality to answer. He could feel Isabelle but couldn’t see her. Tase and the Sons of Darkness he could see all too clearly. It was like being suspended in a black void. They only let him see and feel what they wanted him to.
And he really hated them having the upper hand.
“You cannot interfere,” Georgie said. “The Realm cannot help Dalton now.”
“Dalton?” Michael asked. “You mean Isabelle.”
“This is Dalton’s ordeal,” Georgie explained. “He must stand this test alone.”
Georgie knew. Had she always known that this was his trial by fire? Would have been nice if she’d let him in on it. He would like to have been a little more prepared.
“You knew about this?” Michael asked.
“It’s not my place to interfere in what will be,” Georgie said. “I can only see it through, just as you will. I can protect you all from the dark forces. Dalton walked through fire before, and came through it. Perhaps he will again. I will offer my strength to him to aid him in what will come. He can draw from that if he needs it.”
Dalton would need it. Because he already knew what he’d have to do. He couldn’t live with himself if he chose his life over the woman he loved. He’d give up everything to save Isabelle. The Sons of Darkness could win. They’d capture his soul once again and heaven would be out of his reach. As long as Isabelle was saved, he could live with that outcome.
“Dalton?” Isabelle squeezed his hand. “Why can’t I see you?”
“Oh, the lovers wish to reunite?” Tase’s voice teased. “Yes, you two need to see each other, to see what’s about to happen.”
In an instant, Dalton could see Isabelle as well as touch her. He could see everyone. He and Isabelle still stood in the circle of dirt, but now there was a ring of flame around them, and everyone else stood outside. Anger and concern etched their faces. Weapons were drawn, but he knew it would do no good. He couldn’t worry about them right now, anyway. There was too much at stake.
Isabelle flew into his arms and he held her tight, burying his face in her neck. He closed his eyes and breathed her in. “We don’t have much time.”
She refused to let him go. “The demon side of me is out. I’m fighting it.”
“Don’t,” he said, prying his body away from her tight hold on him. “You need to let me have that part of you.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
He tried a smile, needing to make certain he could reassure her. “I know you don’t. But you will. I’ll take care of it.”
“Ever the angelic one, aren’t you, Dalton? Making the supreme sacrifice for the one you love. You know it won’t help you. It won’t save Isabelle, either. We will have you both.”
Tase walked a circle around them. It was like being in the center of a bonfire. Dalton shored up his defenses, sending out cooling light to protect Isabelle and him. He would use whatever strength he had for however long he had it. Tase would have his fun soon enough. But not before Dalton freed Isabelle.
“What is he talking about?” Isabelle asked.
“It’s a game for him. He likes to mind-fuck. Don’t pay attention.” He held Isabelle’s face in the palm of his hands. “Focus only on me. On what I say, on what I ask you to do. Trust me.”
“Dalton, they’re using you.”
“I know.”
“You know they want you.”
“Yes.”
“We have to fight this.”
He shook his head, took her hands. “We can’t. There are limited choices here and I’ve already made mine.”
“Well, I haven’t made mine. I don’t want this. I refuse to let you give up your soul to save me. I won’t be used by them that way.”
He had nothing to say to her that hadn’t already been said, refused to let her argue with him about a decision he’d already made. It had been a long damn time since he’d summoned up his power, but he concentrated, pulling it forth to grab hold of the part of Isabelle that was dark. The evil hovered over her like a protective cloak, daring anyone to come near and snatch it away.
He dared back, coming toward it with light. The darkness reared back, fearing, cowering, but angered at the audacity of anyone challenging it. Isabelle blanched.
“Dalton, what are you doing?”
He didn’t answer, his concentration pouring into the task at hand. He threw a net of light against the darkness, then held on while it tried to break free. Sweat dripped down his body from the heat and the evil battling him.
“Dalton, please, don’t do this.”
He hated that she cried for him, but it wouldn’t deter him from doing what he had to do.
She moved into him, spread her arms around him, her lips hovering at his ear. “Let me go, Dalton. This is my chance to do something right. To save you. Please, do this for me.”
The demon inside her hated the words she spoke, fought in a mad struggle against the thought of perishing with her. It was all Dalton could do to keep the net of light surrounding it. He lifted one hand to stroke the softness of her cheek. “I love you enough to die for you.”
His strength began to ebb, but he was winning. He would win. He’d pull the darkness from her and take it with him to hell.
He felt it creeping closer to him now, embracing him, thinking it was going to overpower him. It probably would. And when it did, Tase would win and take him down. The Sons of Darkness would lose Isabelle, but they’d gain an angel, a much bigger prize.
“Oh, this is so touching,” Tase said. “The two of you so willing to sacrifice for the other. It rather makes me kind of ill.”
The heat from Tase overwhelmed Dalton. He struggled against it, forcing every ounce of light he possessed around Isabelle and himself.
“But Dalton, don’t you know I can have you both?” Tase moved now. Dalton felt Tase’s presence behind him. “I’ll take you first; then, when you’re gone, Isabelle won’t have the strength left to fight, and she’ll be ours.”
Dalton’s gaze shot to Isabelle.
“I’m not going to let that happen,” he said to her.
