I growled again, and Bram cleared his throat.
“Right then, have you explained this is a multiple-step process and not a once-cure-all?” Bram settled a candle next to my mate’s ear.
I hovered over my mate, ready to pull her into my arms. “No, she didn’t. What do you mean, multiple steps?”
Tajah, undeterred by my rising anger, brushed my mate’s hair from her forehead, letting the hair hang down from the table. “Once a day until the demon is fully extracted. Imagine a piece of gum getting into your hair,” she explained. “At first, it is somewhat easy to get the gum out. As time goes on, more and more hair gets into the gum until it’s just a giant wad of hair stuck to it. Each time we do the spell, we are ripping away pieces of hair, just as we are ripping the demon away from her mind.
“This demon is embedded in her mind. It’s not supposed to keep its host alive this long, so its claws are deep.”
“Shit.” Hawke rubbed his chin.
Nadia kept her eyes on me, and mine were on hers. She was determined to get through this.
“Each extraction will be painful, more painful than the last. The dreams are more vivid, vibrant, violent. The last dream, he will panic and try his best to stay attached to you,” Tajah said.
I bring my mate’s wrist up to my lips and kiss it. “I wish I could do this for you.”
Nadia shook her head. “I’ll be fine. It’s almost over.”
My brave little bee.
It still did not settle the anger rising in my gut. It came from a unique part of me, fueling my anger and throwing gas among my flames. I wanted to let loose my animal and tear everything apart for her.
“The last will be the worst,” Tajah warned. “It will try to hold on to you, but it knows its end is near. It will try to take you with it, it will—”
Nadia’s outward appearance was calm, but a dam broke inside her, and I was about to go with her. She pushed the cloth aside and gripped my forearm, claws sinking into my skin.
“Enough!” she snarled, her voice echoing through the room like a thunderous roar. The sheer force of her anger reverberated, causing the bottles on the shelves to quiver and collide with a resounding clash. The metallic scent of fear hung heavy in the air as everyone instinctively took a step back, creating a cautious distance between themselves and her fury. Yet, I remained steadfast by her side, unable to tear my gaze away from her, captivated by the raw intensity and overwhelming desire that emanated from her. At that moment, a sense of undeniable pride welled up within me, intertwining with the electrifying atmosphere that surrounded us.
I could feel her bear rising.
“Just get it out! Enough talk, just… do it!” she panted, pounding her other fist on the table.
Gazing around the room, I found it filled with smirks and nods of approval.
I grunted and leaned forward, and kissed my mate on the lips. “You got this baby.”
Tajah didn’t motion me to stand back. Instead I stayed in the circle and kept my hands clasped around my mate’s that lay on her stomach. I held onto her tight, and the room grew darker as the sun set outside.
The candle’s light lowered still, and Tajah and Bram placed their hands on my mate’s head. They chanted, nearly silent, and my mate’s eyes closed, and she fell into a deep sleep.
We all watched with bated breath. My mate’s skin ran cold, and twitches and spasms in her body began. Her throat constricted, her eyes raced behind her eyelids, and I could feel a headache forming in my head.
I could feel her pain.
The chants grew louder and louder, the brightness of the room by the candles alone so bright even a lightbulb was beyond compare. As soon as they said the last incantation, my mate opened her mouth to scream, and all the lights went out with a roar of the wind, and we were left in darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Nadia
Itwasoneofthe several repeated dreams I’d had in the past. This one where I was alone in the dark, hearing the parents who raised me screaming out for me. The demon’s claws raked down my skin until it pulled away, howling in pain.
I woke up, my body covered in a sheen of sweat, the cool droplets trickling down my face. As I stirred, Bear’s strong arms wrapped around me, instantly pulling me away from the table. The sound of his racing heartbeat reverberated against my chest as he held me close, providing a comforting embrace. I felt a sense of security, grateful for his presence. Finally, a wave of relief washed over me, and I let out a slow, calming breath, knowing that the first of many exorcisms was now over.
That’s what this was, right? An exorcism?
They seemed more simple in a movie.
