Asher had waited until I’d finished my plate of food and used the washroom, and for Darian to join us before he’d called me over, the male looking way too eager for my liking. The demon was the largest of the four of them, with thick muscle covering his wide body, but somehow, he always seemed the least imposing. Well, except for the time when I’d touched his tail. I could still picture the fury and pain in his eyes when I’d held it in my hands, and a shudder went through me. That wasnota mistake I was going to make again anytime soon.
Short violet horns poked out of Asher’s shaggy coffee-colored hair, and his forked violet tail rested beside him, draped over the edge of the chair. I eyed the area beside him and thought about refusing, but I wanted to turn into a monster, didn’t I? Becoming a monster would make it so much easier to survive this brutal world.
Steeling myself, I dropped next to him, my ass sinking into the soft velvet. Immediately, Asher lifted his broad arm, draping it across the seat behind me, his huge body closing in on my personal space. I wiggled in my seat but pretended not to notice.
Lifting a hand, he held up a small clear bag holding a silver powder and gave me a mischievous smile. “Thought we could have some fun tonight.”
Fun? What the fuck does that mean?Frowning, I turned to Darian to find he was leaning forward on the settee across from us, an unreadable glint in his eyes. I thought of what the siren had said to me not too long ago:Kade doesn’t have to be your only ally.Given what he’d said, the fact he didn’t seem too concerned about what was happening right then gave me a small sense of comfort.
Kade had exited his room a short while ago, and when Asher had given him the message about him needing to meet Locke, he’d simply kissed me on the head and loaded himself up with weaponry before heading out the door. He didn’t seem worried at the idea of leaving me with Asher and Darian, but there was no way of knowing whether he knew what they had planned for me.
I stared back at the seemingly harmless powder Asher was holding, the bag dwarfed by the demon’s large hand. “How is this going to get me to change?” I asked dubiously.
“It’s Silver Sand,” Asher said as if he thought saying the name of the powder should have been enough information. After a pause, he elaborated, “The drug makes you lose your inhibitions. It loosens up your body and your mind.”
My face scrunched in disapproval. “So…you want to drug me? And how exactly is that going to help?”
Darian answered this time, his eloquent voice steady and almost clinical. “The drug raises your heartbeat. While your mind and body are relaxed, your internal systems go into overdrive. It might be just what your body needs to allow the change and turn into a monster.” Despite his even voice, I could tell he didn’t really think it would work, but it was clear he thought it was worth a shot.
I eyed the bag of Silver Sand, not liking my situation. Everything inside of me was telling me that taking the stuff was a bad idea. There was a plant back on my island that caused similar symptoms, and some of the villagers would chew the leaves so they could forget the world for a few hours. I’d been tempted to try it once, but I’d known I had to keep my head clear. That I had to keep training and pushing myself so that when it was time to find my sister, I was ready.
“Look, I don’t blame you for not wantin’ to take it, and no one is going to force you, but we’re runnin’ out of ideas here,” Asher said, obviously sensing my reluctance. “If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what will.”
Letting out a long breath through my nose, I peered at the demon and siren. I didn’t trust either of them, but I didn’t think they would try to kill me. Time was running out, and I knew this was likely my last chance to turn into a monster before Locke was going to put me through hell.
Squaring my shoulders, I sat up straighter. I mean, how bad could it be? “How long does it last?” I asked.
Asher rubbed his chin, thoughtful for a moment. “Depends on the dose.”
“Cryptic,” I said, giving him a level look.
“With the amount we’re thinking, you’ll be at our mercy for most of the night,” Darian said, his clever blue eyes watching me intently. “That’s what you really wanted to know, isn’t it, Raine lovely?”
I clenched my jaw. Itwaswhat I wanted to know but not what I wanted to hear. I’d be vulnerable around them for hours if I took the drug.I hated it. Hated the thought of giving them so much power over me, but it was worth it if it would help me turn into a monster.
“Fine,” I finally said. “But just remember that it’ll be easier for me to kick your ass when I turn into a monster. Don’t make me regret this.”
Asher let out a hearty chuckle, and Darian’s lips pulled into a smile as he leaned back, folding one leg over the other.
“Oh, we already know,” Darian said.
With that, Asher passed the small bag of silver powder to me, and I weighed it in my hand.
“We won’t let anything bad happen. You have my word,” Darian added, and I’d never seen his expression so sincere before. It almost had me believing him.
I looked at Asher, half expecting him to have a strange tool in his grasp. “How do I take it?” I asked.
“Swallow it and chase it down with this,” Darian said and reached across to grab a goblet of liquid I hadn’t noticed and slide it closer to me.
I nodded. Not letting myself hesitate any longer, I opened the bag and lifted it to my lips, tipping the entire contents into my mouth. The Silver Sand was grainy and tasteless on my tongue, but I choked it down. Asher lifted the goblet for me, and I grabbed it and gulped down the pink liquid I’d come to nickname “pink poison.”
When I’d finished swallowing, I wiped my mouth with my hand. “How long until it takes effect?” I didn’t feel any different aside from noticing the gritty taste that lingered on my tongue.
“Not long” was Asher’s response, and as he said it, the demon’s right leg brushed against mine. The small contact had my heart racing, the bond between us humming, and I frowned, unsure if the drug was already affecting me.
Pulling my focus away from his leg, I closed my eyes and tried to think only of my body and how I felt. Seconds passed, and I felt ridiculous sitting there while I knew Asher and Darian were staring at me. Nothing was happening.Maybe the drug doesn’t work on humans.The thought seemed farfetched, but it was worth hoping. I wanted to turn into a monster, but being at the complete mercy of the two monsters didn’t sound like a party. Neither did the idea of loosening up my mind.
Bored of waiting, I snapped my eyes open. “Well, this isn’t so bad,” I said with a triumphant smile before bursting into maniacal laughter. The room had begun to spin, and I leaned my head back, not caring that I was resting on Asher’s thick arm. A wave of pure happiness went through me as if someone had poured liquid sunlight into me, and it was warming me from the inside out.
