Rage rolled over him. He wasn't some child to be lectured to about fate.
"Who the hell are you to say that? You're not a god, even though you pretend to be one with your vague-ass comments and spooky powers. You don't know the future any more than I do." Talon snarled at him. "If she dies, so help me, I'll kill you."
"Listen to me, Celt," he said sharply. "If you want to break Camulus's curse, the two of you have to confront him together tonight. This is the only shot you'll ever get to break free of him."
Talon didn't like any of this. Damn Ash for his secrecy. "Where are they?
"
"They're in a warehouse. If you'll calm down, I'll take you to it.
"The night is far from over, Talon. Look inside you and find the peace you used to have. If you don't find it, you've lost even before you start to fight.
"
Talon did it, but it was hard. Nearly impossible. But he had no choice. He had to rein himself in or he
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) would be useless to Sunshine.
When his head was clear, Acheron let him go.
"Maintain." The voice seemed to come from inside Talon's head.
Ash placed a hand on his shoulder.
One instant they were on Bourbon Street, the next they were outside a warehouse.
"What did you do?" Talon asked, wondering how many people had seen them vanish.
"I'm doing what I have to. Don't worry, no one saw us leave or arrive. I don't make those kinds of mistakes.
"
Talon hoped so.
Ash held the door open for him and Talon led the way into the building.
They were halfway through the main room when something akin to lightning flashed from upstairs.
Screams rent the air.
Talon lost his calm as he sprinted for the stairs with Ash hot on his heels.
They rushed through a door and were almost run over by Zarek who was covered in blood and carrying Sunshine in his arms.
"What the hell?" Talon asked, terrified by the sight. "What happened to her?
"
Before Zarek could answer, the door was blown from its frame.
"Run!" Zarek shouted.
No one had a chance. A swarm of hideous winged demons flew into the room. Talon cursed. He'd never seen anything like them. They were the color of rust and screeched like banshees as they flew at them.
They had three barbed tails that they wielded like whips.
Acheron held his hands up and blasted them with electrical energy. They recoiled, but kept coming.
"Get Sunshine out of here," Acheron ordered.
They headed back to the stairs only to find Daimons coming up from below.
Talon tossed two srads, taking out four of the creatures, but it didn't even slow them down. "We're surrounded."
Acheron spoke in a language Talon couldn't understand. The demons paused and flew around as if dazed by his order.
"It won't hold the demons for long," Ash shouted, his voice barely discernible over the ethereal flapping of wings and claps of thunder.
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Ash threw his hands up and the Daimons ran into what appeared to be an invisible barrier between them.
Talon led Zarek down the hallway, hoping to find another way out of the building.
He shoved open a door to a smaller room.
"I think she's dying." Zarek's voice sent an electric chill through him.
"She's not dying."
"Talon, I think she's dying," he repeated.
The demons forgotten, Talon took her from Zarek's arms and laid her carefully on the floor.
Her face was so pale that it shook him.
"Sunshine?" he breathed, his heart pounding. "Baby, can you look at me?"
She did, but instead of the vibrancy he was used to seeing, he saw pain and deep regret.
"You're free, Talon," she whispered. "I made him break the curse."
"What?"
"She traded her soul to Camulus so that he would set you free." Zarek curled his lip at him. "I told her not to do it, that it was a trick. She didn't listen and as soon as she agreed, the bastard blasted her."
Talon choked. "No!" he roared at both of them. "Sunshine, why?"
"He said he would kill you. I thought he would just take my soul, Talon. I didn't know he would do this.
I didn't know he couldn't take possession of my soul without killing me first."
Talon tore the medallion from Sunshine's neck. "Damn you, Morrigán," he shouted, throwing it against the wall. "How could you forsake her too?"
She pressed her cold hand to his lips, "Shh, baby. Don't say that. It's my fault.
"
"I told her there's always a catch. But she didn't ask the right questions.
"
Tears flowed down Talon's cheeks as he watched her struggle to breathe. Over and over in his mind he remembered every moment of their time together, both in this life and her previous one.
He saw Sunshine's bright, tender face the first time they had made love. Saw her wrestling for her easel with Beth.
Heard her singing "Puff the Magic Dragon" as she doodled.
He took her hands into his and kissed them, with their smell of paint, turpentine, and patchouli. Hands