Felicity gaped as the veins in Daire’s neck turned a shocking, sizzling red. He threw back his head, tightening the muscles along his jaw and elongating his jugular.
Pain rode the air around them. She glanced at Logan, her lungs seizing. “Go get your brothers.”
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you.”
“We’re fine. Go now.” She used her best mom voice. Logan faltered but then turned to do as she said.
She immediately pushed forward to straddle Daire’s legs. Her hands shook, but she pressed them to his furnace-hot cheeks. Her heart hurt to the point her ribs vibrated. “Listen to me, Daire Dunne.” She leaned in. “I finally found you, I love you, and I’m keeping you.” Risking the burn, she pressed a hard kiss to his scalding lips.
He shook his head, sweat pouring down his rugged face. Red cut into the whites of his eyes, and with the green created a Tim Burton distortion of Christmas. “Get off me, Cee Cee.”
“Never.” She lowered her chin, keeping his gaze. “You mated a demon, witch. So suck it up, use whatever power you can get from me, and fight this planekite.”
He blinked, and blood trickled from the corner of his right eye.
She pressed harder. This had to work. The man meant everything. “Listen to me. Planekite doesn’t hurt demons. You mated a demon and should be able to tap into my powers, such as they are. Close your eyes and imagine a cooling balm inside your veins and around your organs.” She would not lose him now. “I love you. Use that.”
His gaze softened. “I love you,” he whispered.
“Right back at you. Now concentrate.” She closed her eyes and tried to visualize every ounce of power she should’ve had in life going to him. To saving him. The walls around them were weak, and he had to beat the drug inside his veins. That was the one that mattered.
He began to shake, low mutterings escaping from his mouth in an ancient language she couldn’t interpret.
She kept in the moment, trying to help him. Instead of words, she tried to force a healing balm into his brain. Since she could hurt him just by communicating telepathically, why couldn’t she help him with images? They’d mated, and she could help him.
His face heated to the point that her palms burned, but she still held on. Smoke billowed up from his jeans. Blood flowed, already burned, from his ears.
Yet she held on.
Finally, with one final shudder, he fell back.
“Daire?” Panic clogged her throat as she followed him down, peering at his face.
He blinked open his eyes. Green and white with black pupils. Beautiful green. “Cee Cee.”
She smiled and fell flat on top of him, kissing him with everything inside her. The relief flowing through her nearly made her sway. He was all right.
He wrapped his bare arms around her, taking over the kiss, overwhelming her with sensation. One hand palmed her butt, rubbing her against him.
“Jesus,” came a low exclamation. “Get a room.”
She leaned back, and amusement bubbled up. Glancing over her shoulder, she took quick inventory of her three sons. “Everybody all right?”
Zane, a purple bruise across the right side of his face, winced. “Mom. Get up.”
She rolled her eyes and crawled off Daire to stand. “You okay?” she asked.
He accepted her outstretched hand and stood, wavering only for a moment. “I’m fine. Thanks to you.”
Logan snorted. “Could we get out of here, then?”
She cleared her throat. “Ah, would you all mind just staying here for a few moments? I have something to do.” Without waiting for an answer, she turned and started for the lift.
A chorus of male protests echoed behind her, so she turned to face her family. “I said I’ll be right back.”
Sam wiped blood off his arm. “What is happening right now?”
Logan shook his head. “She’s gone nuts.”
Zane poked at a hole in his wrist. “Mom?”
She glanced at Daire, who was watching her intently. “Well?” she asked.
His lips twitched. “I’m just guessing here, but I think your mom has plans one level down. Right?”