Free Bound by Blood by Cynthia Eden Page B

close the deal with them, I had to prove how much I’d be willing to sacrifice.” His eyes narrowed. “With demons, it’s all about the sacrifice. You have to offer them something, or the lazy assholes won’t do a thing.”
    “You’ve offered them humans—”
    “ Because I’m fucking tired of hiding in the shadows. The vampires wouldn’t take control, they were too scared of humans finding out the truth. But my demons— they’re not afraid of anything.”
    The screams from the pit almost drowned out his words. “What are you sacrificing?”
    Because, shit, this was a trap. For the wolves. For Jace. For—
    “ You.”
    Then he lunged at her.
    But Morgan was ready. She grabbed his arms, twisted, and tossed the traitor right over her shoulder. He hit the ground just feet away from the pit, and smoke billowed out in a heavy burst.
    He flew back to his feet. Smiled. “This will be fun.” He licked his lips, tasting the blood that stained his mouth. “You’re the only pureblood around here. You’re the best sacrifice I can give them. I bet you’ll be worth ten demons…”
    He’d lost it. “And I bet it will hurt when you fall into hell.”
    That wiped the smile off his face. “Your wolf sure screamed when the demons took him.”
    Dammit, that was the second time he’d said—her gaze darted to the pit. “ Jace!”
    Devon slammed into her, and they hit the earth. “Bitch, I’ve got wolf blood in me. More than you. I drained that mutt.”
    And he’d left Mike’s broken body behind. Another casualty.
    Morgan kicked up, slamming her knee into his balls. He jerked back. “You’ve got wolf blood,” she said, “but now you also have balls in your throat.”
    She jumped to her feet. “Jace!” Her scream broke through the night. He couldn’t be in that pit, he couldn’t…
    Devon’s arms wrapped around her from behind. He squeezed so tight she lost her breath and her ribs burned…burned.
    Snap.
    Pain beat through her as her ribs broke.
    “So tired of you…” Devon lifted her and carried her toward the pit. “Fucking a wolf…
    blending with humans…crying when you lost the light…”
    She slammed her head back and heard the sweet crunch of bones when she broke his nose. Morgan clawed at his arms, slicing open his flesh as she fought him. His blood littered the ground as he took her to the pit.
    “Let her go!”
    Jace. His roar. Relief had her feeling light-headed. Or maybe that dizziness was from the pain.
    Jace leapt forward. He was naked and blood poured from a gash on his cheeks. His eyes glowed as he raised his claws and ran toward them.
    Devon had her nearly over the pit. This was what she’d planned. To enter hell. To close the door from the inside out.
    Only…well, in the original plan, Jace had been the one to go through the doorway. She was supposed to stay back and then pull him out.
    I won’t sacrifice him.
    The rules had indeed changed. Jace didn’t realize it. She did. If demons were all about sacrifice, then she’d give them a sacrifice all right.
    But she wouldn’t give them Jace.
    “Watch her burn, wolf!” Devon shouted. “ Watch. Her. Burn!”
    Morgan stopped fighting. Instead of slicing her nails against Devon, she twisted her hands and locked tight to him. Her gaze met Jace’s. He yelled her name.
    “Bring me back,” she whispered. Then Morgan heaved toward the pit, and she yanked Devon with her.
    He tried to wrench back his arms, but she wouldn’t let go. His yells filled her ears as he fought and twisted, but Morgan wouldn’t let go.
    No more dead humans. No more tortured wolves. This was it.
    They fell into the pit, and the screams from the demons drowned out her voice as she told them, “I’ve got a sacrifice for you, assholes…”
    The fire burned, blasting at her skin and she refused to cry out. Even when the demons reached for her.
    ***
    Jace’s heart stopped when Morgan jumped into that fiery pit. “No!”
    Not her. She wasn’t supposed to go in.