DemonicPersuasion by Kim Knox Page A

“It’s
not enough. Not with the resources he has. Dolon, I planned for. The Castor
Cartel, I didn’t.” He straightened, lifting his chin. “Do it.”
    Fade stared at him. “What?”
    “Athanasios can get us out. Make it so we can’t be found, right?”
Foster narrowed his eyes over her shoulder, focusing on the energy she couldn’t
see.
    “ I can make all of this go away. ”
    “Then…” Foster spread his arms, his palms out. “I agree.”
    “Foster…” He didn’t want this. Athanasios wanted it only for
his own survival. They hated each other. He couldn’t do this…for her. “You
don’t—”
    “Separately, we can’t protect you.” Foster’s smile was dark.
“Together? You’re ours.”
    “ Ready? ” Athanasios’ voice was tight, almost pained.
    Foster gave a slow nod and braced his body. His spine was
ramrod straight and his fingers curled into fists at his sides. He didn’t close
his eyes, but kept them fixed on the light screen. The data counted down,
marking the seconds now until the lead transport came into range. New
information flashed, identifying that the vehicle had powered up, ready for
firing.
    “ Your net will interfere with the merging. This will
hurt. ”
    A bitter smile pulled at Foster’s mouth. “Don’t say you
won’t enjoy my pain.”
    “ Should I begin our partnership with a lie? ”
    Foster snorted. “I’m ready.”
    “ Fade. ” Athanasios’ thought brushed her mind even as
his kiss touched her lips in a light breath of bitter-scented air. “ Stay
back. Don’t try to help him. Understood? ”
    She jerked a nod and knotted her fingers at her waist, her
feet taking her away from Foster. Her heart drummed. Her life kept on getting
stranger, but this hopefully was the last touch of bizarreness. Her gaze darted
to the screen and the flashed warning of the weapons ready to fire. If they
survived, of course.
    Foster’s sudden scream jolted into her stomach. His spine
arched and his knuckles strained. His face bloomed red, the tension in his jaw,
in his mouth running seams of thin, pressured white. He labored to breathe,
hard breaths that flared his nostrils. His eyes, still focused on the light
screen, leaked tears.
    He was suffering more pain…because of her. Fade pressed her
hand to her mouth, the other gripping her waist, holding herself against the
need to run. To hold him and promise that the pain could stop, that he didn’t
need to do this for her.
    His skin bubbled and a low, animal moan broke through his
clenched jaw. Something writhed under his skin, wrapping around muscle and
through bone. She could almost see the alien form that was merging with him, as
he had always seen Athanasios. Dark sinuous shapes, the hint of silver, of
claws and scales pushing deeper and deeper into his flesh.
    Apologies and promises shot through her thoughts over and
over, her legs liquid, her nerves stretched. Seconds ticked by. The screen flashed
that the transport had released its load, firing on the apartment. They had
shielding. She knew they had shielding. Still, she had to look to the windows.
    The impact slammed around the apartment, vibrating through
the walls and floor. Fade fell back onto the couch with a shriek, but Foster
only swayed. Athanasios moved within him, the push against Foster’s body less
obvious, but still a slow, inexorable twist of alien energy.
    On the screen the shield indicator flashed amber. One more
hit would obliterate them. What would happen after? How could a merged Foster
be any different? Already another transport had moved into range, its weaponry
almost fully charged as the first transport built up its reserves again. A
blast from either would destroy them. From both, it would take out half the
mountain complex.
    The second transport burned red, the first following it from
a deep orange. They were ready. Fade’s heart lodged in her throat. This was it.
The end. She should’ve known she could never outrun Dolon however hard she
tried.
    A