Page 85 of Soul Redeemed

“Are you certain this is safe?” Gavin asked.

“I’m certain all of you are safe, yes.” Thais’s attention snapped from Gavin to Calix. “The sooner we do this, the better her chances.”

“I’ll be no part of that.” Throwing his hands up in the air, Drechler made his way toward the door, stopping at Calix’s side. “I’m very sorry for your loss. But believe me when I tell you, what she’s offering comes with far too much risk. Would you have this poor woman’s final moments spent in agonizing pain?”

The question swirled inside his head, over and over, and brought to mind his own sister who’d suffered hellsfire for nothing.

“If it saved her.” Calix lifted his gaze to the surprised stare of the doctor he’d come to respect for so many years. Part of him felt shamed and selfish for such a confession, but he couldn’t deny the truth. He’d risk everything to save her.

“May the gods be merciful. And may her pain end quickly.” He shuffled past, glaring at Thais on his way out of the room.

“Calix, is this what you want for her?” Gavin’s voice held a somber tone as he approached from behind. “Either way, you have my support.”

“It is.” Calix could hardly speak past the tightness in his jaw, and his gaze fell on Thais once more. “What do you need?”

“Your brother. The one who commands hellsfire.”

*

Fuck, the nervous twist in Calix’s gut, as they waited for Ferno to enter the room, could’ve split him right in half. His slick palms slid across one another, as he sat rubbing his hands beside the bed, on which Ava hadn’t moved since Drechler had delivered the bad news.

Ferno had avoided females since the accident with Shey. Couldn’t even bear to look one in the eye, perhaps the only nick in the demon’s armor. It gave him a weakness, because gods knew, he was the most formidable of the brothers.

Asking him to do whatever Thais had in mind would be drudging every dark and agonizing demon from his bank of memories. He’d never agree to it. But if, by some miracle, he did and failed, it could very well throw him over the edge. If he didn’t take his own life, Calix would have to find the strength not to look at him with blame, or that alone would ensure his brother’s death.

“He’ll resist,” Gavin said beside him, toying with the cuff of his sleeves. “But if it’s successful, it might bring him back around. And if it’s not. We may need to have him locked away for a while, as he’ll be a danger, not only himself, but perhaps to anyone else he comes into contact with. My hope is that you’ve considered all possible outcomes, Calix.”

Gavin’s words only served to tighten the already-coiling knots in his stomach. “Do you think I would ask such a thing, if I had another choice?”

“No. I don’t. But I want you to be prepared. The very question could set him off.”

“I’m a ball of fucking nerves right now.” Gripping either side of his skull, Calix leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve never been so afraid of my brother in all the centuries I’ve known him.”

“Of him? Or for him?”

“Both.” Calix tipped his head back and shrugged. “Christ, I can’t even remember what he looks like without all that guilt weighing down on him.”

A tall silhouette took up the doorframe, and Ferno stepped inside, his eyes surveying the room. No doubt he wondered what the hell he’d been called in for.

“What is it?” The rasp in his voice upheld the same unfriendly vibe as his scars, tattoos—hell, his whole being.

Calix stood from the chair and took cautious steps toward his brother. “I need your help. And believe me when I say, I wouldn’t ask you this if I had another choice.” His throat went dry as cotton, and Calix cleared the lump that formed there. “Thing is, see. I don’t have much time to tell you all the reasons why you should. Because every second that ticks by is another that I lose the most important thing in my life.”

“Spit it out.” Ferno’s voice held little patience, only stoking the worry in Calix’s gut.

“I want …” Calix rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat a second time. Damn the tightness in his chest and rapid breaths that left him dizzy. “I need you to inject your hellsfire into Ava. To cleanse her and save her life.”

Ferno’s brows pinched to a frown, and the twitch of his jaw told Calix the male sat on the brink of losing his shit. “Is this a fucking joke?”

“I wish it was.” Tears got the best of Calix, and he stared back at his brother, clenching his jaw to keep from breaking. “I know you’d sooner take your own life than hurt your brothers. I know this, Ferno. Zayne knew it, too. This isn’t about Shey. I wouldn’t ask you to do this, if you weren’t the only chance I had.”

“No. And fuck off.” He spun around, only to be stalled by Gavin and Logan blocking his exit.

“Ferno. Please,” Gavin said. “I understand this isn’t easy for you. If I could take this pain, this guilt that you carry around your neck like a goddamn albatross, I would. I’d take it all. She doesn’t have much time.” Gavin crossed his arms over his chest and let his gaze fall away. “It could make things right again.”

“Move.” The wobble in Ferno’s voice told Calix the male could crack any moment, and it broke his heart to place his brother in such a painful position.

“No.” Gavin shook his head, leveling his gaze on the giant before him.