Demon kissed: demon kissed

Chapter 29

His scar was glowing scarlet. I'd never seen it do that before, no matter what had happened. It unnerved me. My gaze shifted off of his face as I sat up. We were at his place, back in the same posh room. My jaw dropped as I looked at him for an explanation.

"We only have a minute," he said. "The others will be back. They brought you to me to bind you. Right now they are fighting over who can have you if I allow it." Seeing the startled expression on my face, he quickly added, "I won't let them have you. And I already told you that I have no desire to bind you. I want you the way you are, but I have to do something to protect you. Ivy," his sapphire eyes were wide, "I need to fake a demon kiss with you. That's the only way. They'll think I bound you and will leave you alone."

My forehead scrunched as I his words washed over me. "How do you fake a demon kiss?" I swallowed hard.

"I can't, really. I have to kiss you. It has to look real, but I'll only take the smallest piece of your soul. You have to writhe like I'm tearing all of it from you."

My stomach lurched at the thought. It was the one thing we'd tried so hard not to do. It was the one thing that would kill me. I stared at him, unblinking. Even if he wanted to save me, I didn't believe he could break the kiss. The bond would lock us together, and I didn't know if Collin had the will power to pull apart.

His blue eyes were rimmed in red, and remorse flowed from him knowing what he had to do. It was heavy, filled with regret. His voice brushed my mind again, I promise I'll protect you, Ivy. This is the only way.

The door opened and several Valefar came in. They were all speaking at once, and staking their claim for my soul. Jake argued that he found me; Nicole said she captured me, while some of the others said they lured me out into the open. They looked at me with ravenous eyes while they argued. Collin sat behind his desk listening and made no indication he had other intentions.

Finally, he cut off their words with a single gesture. They fell silent when he raised his hand. "You all want this Martis because you believe you've earned her. But, I believe there is more to it than that. Her scent is different—more powerful. She would make her master strong. I've made my decision." His lips curled into an evil smile. "I will bind her. She will be your gift to me."

The Valefars' rage was clearly written on their faces, but not one of them protested Collin's decision. They obediently began doing as he requested. Two Valefar grabbed my arms and pulled me onto Collin's desk. Jake produced the black chain he attacked me with earlier. Wildly I looked to Collin and started to try and fight my way out, but it was pointless. There were too many of them. The Brimstone chains bound me to his desk. I couldn't move. Collin stood over me. I could feel his attempt to control his lust, but the bond was making it difficult. It pulled on both of us ruthlessly, threatening to destroy everything. There was no choice for me. I had to let Collin kiss me or die at the hands of his Valefar. They wouldn't leave until they knew I was bound. Jealousy seethed from them as Collin smiled above me. My heart pounded in my chest as memories of Jake's kiss came to the front of my mind. A scream erupted from my throat. The terror made it impossible to silence.

Before I knew it, his lips landed softly on mine. My body arched in response. I tried to push him away. All the noise around me faded, sucked away as a small piece of my soul was slowly being stripped from me. I expected a rush of pain, but it was mild. It wasn't like Jake's at all. Tears streamed from my eyes, as the kiss continued. Desire shot through Collin, as he tried to repress his innate need. I wasn't sure he could stop, but I knew that he wanted to. He held his face above mine, breaking the kiss, holding my face between his palms blocking our lips from everyone else. It looked like he kissed me longer than he really did.

His skin was covered in sweat. His mind brushed mine, Repeat what I tell you. They'll think I bound you to me. They'll think you're mine.

His sapphire eyes were rimmed in red. He spoke loudly, but never took his eyes off of me. "Ivy Taylor, you are mine for all eternity." He prompted me to say words that made me cringe, but I said them anyway. My expression was blank, despite my racing heart. He removed the ruby ring from his pocket, sliding it back on my finger before anyone noticed. I didn't realize they'd taken it. Collin said a few more words. Then he turned and left the room. I followed two paces behind like he told me to, with my gaze to the floor, totally shocked that I was alive and still in possession of my soul. We walked away with eyes burning holes in our backs. I willed my feet to walk slowly, easing the tension out of my legs.

We're almost there. No one will hurt you now. They cannot touch you. His voice reassured in my mind.

We walked out into the night air and were surrounded by sod fields. A sliver of moon hung above us, too thin to light the ground. The Valefar remained inside. I guess when the boss walks off with a new slave no one follows.

"That was risky," I said, breathing in the night air. My voice trembled, as I wrapped my arms tightly around me.

Collin pulled me to him. "It was. And I'm sorry. It was the only way I could make sure they don't bother you again. I just hope the price wasn't too high." His fingers pushed away my bangs, revealing my mark. He studied it.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He threaded my comb back through my hair. "You lost some of you soul once already—when you were attacked. And I just took another piece. It was risky, because I didn't know how much soul you had left, not because I wasn't sure if I could stop. I would have never done that if I didn't think I could stop."

"My soul?" I asked, looking up at him. "It's turning into Swiss cheese, isn't it? What happens if it's totally gone? Will I even know if that happens?"

"I'm not sure how fast you'll know, but if you ever lose enough of your soul, the demon blood will overtake you, and you'll become fully Valefar." I cringed. I knew my soul was damaged, but I had no idea how much, or what I risked when he kissed me. I failed to realize pieces of it were actually missing.

We walked on, crossing the sod farm on foot, headed towards Collin's car. I was stunned into rare silence, as Collin maintained his master lead a few steps in front of me. Things were more precarious than I'd thought. As we approached Collin's car, two figures emerged from the darkness. Recognizing the threat, I ran at Collin.

"No!" I screamed, shoving Collin to the ground.