Selene made the decision for me.
Her body flexed beneath me and she began to fight back in earnest. Red sprang to life where it hadn’t been a moment ago. Pressure built on its own. This is it. I threw more power at her. Let’s try to stay awake after this one, I told my wolf. She didn’t have time to agree with me.
I heard Rourke yell something, but I was lost to the fight.
Selene vibrated beneath me like a tuning fork. I held on. I tossed my head back, fairly sure I was screaming. I gave one last pull on my power. Once it was all concentrated, I yanked it back to me like a spring. Selene’s immortal essence flexed once and began to break apart, shredding under the force of my power.
Selene’s rage filled the cavern, finally getting through to my senses. “No. No!” she screamed, her back bowed to me. “I will not die!”
“Too late,” I ground out of my rough vocal cords. I pulsed with energy as I gave one more internal squeeze. The remaining red exploded into nothing right as I squeezed her heart.
Selene’s body went limp beneath me.
My eyes snapped open.
I fell forward, gasping for breath.
Rourke hovered behind me. Fur coated his arms as they wrapped around me, easing me back up. I leaned against the weight of his chest, exhausted. We both glanced down at Selene’s immobile body. I spoke first. “Just to be sure, we should take her apart next. Leave the cross in. I just have to catch my breath.”
“Anything,” Rourke whispered into my ear. “I will do any goddamn thing you tell me to do. I thought I’d lost you for a second there. Your whole body glowed with eerie light. I thought Selene was killing you with another spell. I tried to pull you back, but I couldn’t move you. Not even an inch.” He shook his head. “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” I said truthfully. “But in the future, if I look like I’m glowing, it’s a safe bet not to mess with me.” My body had already morphed back to normal. I was getting good at snapping back to my human form quickly. It was becoming second nature.
I took a deep breath and turned to face Rourke.
He grabbed on to my face, his eyes searching. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, but I’m exhausted.”
His mouth covered mine deeply. I took him all in, my senses jumping for joy. I wanted to lick him, taste him, and feel him against me. My body burned for him. I pushed myself up against him. He growled with pleasure, his blond stubble tickling my chin as he kissed me.
I wanted to lose myself in him forever, but I couldn’t. I broke from him with supreme effort. “As much as I regret this, we have to get this over with.”
Rourke let me go reluctantly. He knew what was needed and moved me over, immediately kneeling by Selene’s head. “Do you want me to take it off? Her neck is damaged beyond repair, but her head is still attached.”
“I don’t know.” Her chest was open, and her neck was shredded. She wasn’t healing because the cross was still in her chest.
Rourke grabbed on to her head. “I’m not taking any chances. We take her head off and her heart out—whatever’s left of it.” But before he could do anything rocks began to shake from the walls. They rained down around us.
Instead of pulling Selene’s head off, Rourke jumped up with a roar and came at me, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me backward against him.
“What is it?” I yelled.
Sulfur poured into the room, making us all gag.
“Something’s coming,” he said. “Let’s go. The way Tyler came in is the back way. Head for the opening.” He herded me along.
“Do you know what it is for sure?” With the scent of sulfur, we knew it was coming from the Underworld.
“Whatever it is, it’s huge,” he said grimly.
“Jess,” Tyler said. “We’re right behind you. Go, go.”
Naomi gave a diminutive shriek as Danny wrapped his arm around her middle and picked her up. “You weren’t moving fast enough.” He’d changed back and was in his sheet once again. We all moved toward the opening. The only person who was missing was Ray. I had no idea what happened to him—if he had gotten out or if Eamon had indeed taken him.
The floor continued to shake, rocks tumbled, candles flickered, and the chandelier jumped. The power climbed quickly and it started to taste familiar. “Oh my God,” I gasped. “This is the same signature from the forest.”
An explosion ripped through the room, smashing Rourke and me into the wall, the others following, all of us tumbling into one another.
When the dust settled a single shape stood in front of us.
“Well, well, well. We finally meet.” A voice laced with sarcasm floated through the room. “I’ve heard so very much about you.”
27