Page 25 of Soul Redeemed

The bigger demon scrambled over top of him, but was thrown back by his scruff when Gavin nabbed hold of his shirt. A shirt that lasted about two seconds before it tore from Logan’s body, leaving Gavin to clutch nothing but threads.

“Logan! It’s time!” The blonde screamed once more, and everybody, including Calix, paused like mannequins. With heaving breaths and a hunched back, the blonde seemed to be struggling to stay upright as her knees made a slow bend toward the floor. In the next second, she collapsed, her eyes closed.

The room broke into a commotion.

“Calla! Calla!” Logan scrambled toward her, his hands trembling as they danced around her face like the demon wanted to touch her, but couldn’t.

The redhead fell to her knees beside him, setting her head to the blonde’s chest.

Slipping his hands beneath her arms, Logan lifted her upper half with little effort. “I have to get her to the bed!”

Gavin grabbed hold of her legs, and as both males lifted her off the floor, Calix lodged his fingers into his hair and paced. He paused for a moment to stop and examine the female, before his gaze swung to Ava.

“Calix’s bed!” The redhead backed away, allowing the males to carry the fallen female across the room. “Call Drechler! Her heartbeat is faint!”

With a nod, Gavin helped Logan set the female onto Calix’s bed, and tugged a phone from his pocket on his way toward the hallway.

Beside the bed, Logan knelt, clutching the female’s hand to his lips. All that strength. Virility. The steel that made Logan such a formidable demon withered under the weight of his obvious worry. Within seconds, he’d become broken. So broken, Ava could hardly believe she was staring at the same demon who’d held her pinned against the wall.

Sabelle carefully slipped a pillow beneath the female’s head, then one under her knees.

The housekeeper that Ava had come to know as Anna shuffled into the room. “Oh, dear!” She hobbled toward the bed, setting a gentle hand on Logan’s shoulder, as the demon’s body shook with a sob.

“Calla, baby. Come on. Wake up, baby. Don’t do this.” His hand trembled over her stomach, before he hesitated, drawing it back, still clutching her hand.

“I’ll get some fresh washcloths.”

“Are you okay?” Ava hardly registered Calix’s question beside her, and she lifted her gaze to the male standing over her.

“I-I-yes. I’m fine. How can I help?” She nodded toward the bodies scrambling around the blonde who lay motionless on the bed.

“I suspect if you go anywhere near her, Logan will …” Calix huffed and reached out a hand. “C’mon, we’ll wait downstairs. Sabelle’s a zshula. She’s pretty good with this stuff.”

“Sabelle?” Ava asked, pushing herself to a stand.

“Gavin’s mate. Redhead.” Fingers entwined, Calix led her out of the room, passing Gavin in the hallway.

Tucking his phone back into his pocket, he patted Calix on the shoulder. “Drechler’s on his way now.”

With a nod, Calix kept on, tugging Ava behind him, until they reached a smaller room lined with bookshelves and an array of books. He gestured for her to take a seat at the table that had books sat stacked at one end.

Calix shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I get it. Y’know? He’s … with Calla … it’s just that.” Setting both hands on his hips, he sniffed and brushed a thumb across his nose. “I saw his hands on you, and I snapped.”

“He thought I’d come for her.”

“All this time, he knew I was searching for you. He knew you’d end up back here eventually. He’s been waiting to get his hands on you.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Ava slouched in her chair, setting her gaze on the swirling patterns of wood that made up the smooth tabletop. “I betrayed all of you. Especially you, Calix. I made you question your love for me.”

“Why? Why did you do it?”

Fuck it. He deserved to know. Hell, they all deserved an explanation.

“If I hadn’t, I’d be in Stygius alongside my brother.” She drew in a breath, encouraged when he remained quiet, her mind searching for the right words with the opportunity to finally explain. “Years back, he cursed me. He died, I died. With as many stupid fucking things as he’s done over the years, I feared for my life every damn day. Then Calla came along. He wanted her more than anything. More than me. So, to save myself, I handed her over to him. It was selfish. Weak.” Ava lowered her gaze further and shook her head. “I’d have rather burned in Stygius than sit here wondering if you still love me. If you can ever forgive me. If you can ever trust me again. And I don’t want you to answer me, because in all honesty, your forgiveness hurts worse. It only serves to remind me how much of a piece of shit I am.”

“He wanted to take you under with him.”

“I was his painful reminder of who he used to be. Before he became bitter and hateful.” The tear blurring her vision slipped down Ava’s cheek and she quickly wiped it away. “I’m sorry, Calix. I’ve never been more sorry in my life.”