Page 28

Shiri

N ephilim. That’s what Malvolia had said the giant winged beast was, a demon monster determined to destroy the city. Malvolia and I hit the beast with our black trails of deadly smoke, but our magic wasn’t strong enough to kill him. Freya had blinded him in one eye, but he still had the other and was actively trying to break down the seawall, punching it with meaty fists while waves slammed into his back. He would only stop to rub the bloody eye that Freya had pecked, giving the mages time to regroup and hit him with more cannon fire, though the projectiles did little against a beast the size of ten dragons.

Just when I thought all hope was lost, a dragon’s roar rent the air. The clouds parted, revealing Radnor flying above the Nephilim with my sister, Helian, and Aurora on his back.

The dragon banked hard when the demon monster tried to hit him with a stream of fire. I quit fighting, too stunned to move while Radnor dodged the creature. My heart hit my stomach when the Nephilim jumped into the air, flying after Radnor. The dragon shot upward like a missile, then flipped and flew right after the giant.

“Look out!” I screamed when I saw a ball of fire racing up the Nephilim’s throat, though I knew they couldn’t hear me.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as a ball of white magic flew out of Tari’s hands, hitting the Nephilim in the face. Then the dragon vanished, and the giant fell into the water, standing there with a slackened jaw. Its wings fell off first, crumbling into the sea and turning to a scattering of dust on the surf. The giant threw back his head with a howl, though his cry was silenced when his head slid off his neck, crumbling into the sea next, the rest of his body turning to ash in the wind.

I clasped my hands together with an overjoyed cry of relief. Tari had done it! Cheers rose up among the ranks, and I sagged against Nikkos. But my relief was short-lived when Blaze let out a sharp whistle, pointing to the widening crack in the seawall as water began to pour out of it. Any moment, the wall would break, flooding the city.

Hearing my name, I spun around. Tari had appeared on the ramparts with her three mates and the children.

I ran to her, taking her in a fierce hug. “Thank you, sister.”

Blaze grabbed my shoulder, pulling us apart. “Sorry, but we don’t have time.” He pointed to the crack in the wall.

“Take me there,” Tari blurted.

Blaze swept her into his arms and flew her to the seawall.

Finn and Ash each held a child in their arms, watching Tari from the edge of the wall while Helian stood between them, surreptitiously casting wary looks at Malvolia.

Much to her credit, Malvolia didn’t so much as glance in Helian’s direction.

My breath hitched as I watched my sister grow a wall of vines as thick as a dozen dragon’s tails out of the ground. They snaked around each other, creeping up the wall until the flow of water slowed to a trickle.

The mages on the ramparts let out cheers. I caught my aunt’s stoic eye when Blaze flew Tari back to us.

Malvolia quickly bridged the distance between us, splaying a hand across her heart while bowing to Tari. “Thank you, Tarianya.”

My sister smoothed out wrinkles in her dress. “No need to thank me.” She motioned toward the rest of the Fae on the ramparts. “We all have one purpose now, regardless of our quarrels in the past.”

Malvolia flashed a tight smile. “Of course.”

Tari brushed past Malvolia, as if she were an aggravating grain of sand stuck in the sole of her shoe, then she quickly strode to the wyverns resting on the other end of the bridge. Both wyverns had been hit by the giant. Firemages had retrieved Enso from the water and Freya rested on the wall, whimpering while Enso licked water off her leathery face.

Tari knelt beside them, healing tears in their wings and cuts on their sides. Then she stood, wiping blood off her hands while showing no signs of fatigue. Strange. Normally, my sister would’ve needed to rest after this.

I hugged Tari again before pulling back and clutching her shoulders. “Sister, aren’t you tired?”

She tilted her head. “No. My magic is stronger now.” She nodded toward Helian while speaking to me through thought. The most amazing thing happened. Once Helian claimed his position as alpha, my magic magnified.

I had to remind myself to close my jaw. Helian did this?

She shrugged. It’s my only explanation.

That settled it. I needed Drae. I took her hand in mine. “I’m going to heal Drae now. Will you come with me?”

“Of course.” She flashed a dazzling smile, the magic flowing through her making my hand tingle with energy. “I’m here for you, sister.”

* * *

Shiri

N IKKOS AND BLAZE LIT the way through the dungeon hall, and Tari, Helian, Ash, and I followed, sloshing waist-deep through frigid water.

“This sucks dragon balls,” Helian grumbled.

“I wouldn’t know,” Tari teased. “I’ve never sucked dragon balls.”

Helian grumbled some more while the rest of us laughed at his expense.

We found Mephis plastered against his cell wall, his heels dug into the bricks in a futile attempt to escape the flood. I would’ve rejoiced in his misery if I didn’t fear that Drae could also feel the discomfort.

Snarling, the demon rattled his chains like a wounded animal. “Let me out of this cell!”

I flexed my fingers while sharing a look with my mates. “With pleasure.”

Mephis’s eyes widened, realization dawning that he was about to be sent back to hell. “That Nephilim was sent to destroy me,” he blurted. “The demon mistress knows you can’t destroy her without my help.”

I shrugged. “I don’t need you.”

“You do.” He rattled his chains, arching against the wall. “They’re terrified of me.”

Blaze laughed out loud. “You’re the only terrified one here.”

I cut Mephis a dark look. “You don’t seem so scary.”

His sibilant laughter was like a thousand demonic spiders racing across my spine. “Princess, you have no idea.”

Refusing to let him intimidate me, I clenched my fists, tension snaking its way across my skull. “I’m not frightened of you.”

“You should be.” He flashed a wicked grin, his glowing, red eyes reflecting the flames of hell. “If you banish me now, I’ll only come back through the portal in my demon form, and believe me, you will regret it.”

Blaze crossed his arms while leering at the demon. “Why didn’t you do that in the first place?”

“I wanted a Fae body. Fae can do things demons can’t do, like fuck.” The look he gave me made me want to crawl out of my own skin. “I have access to his memories of fucking you.” He slowly licked his lips while undressing me with his gaze. “Of your sweet, soft cunt.”

Nikkos and Blaze swore.

“Silence!” I boomed, my siren voice echoing off the walls. I’d had enough of the evil bastard. Besides, I wanted Drae back. Resolve stiffened my spine as I glared at the demon one last time. “Time to say goodbye.”

He shook like a wounded dragon when I recited the spell, refusing to back down, even as a violent wind whipped through the room, stirring up the water and shaking the walls. The portal opened, but the demon clung to his host with a snarl while never taking his eyes off me.

I repeated the spell again and again, my skin heating while Nikkos and Blaze held my hands. He would not win! I was resolved to get my mate back. The portal throbbed harder, opening wider, its fleshy throat aiming at Mephis until a dark shadow finally separated from Drae, sucked into the abyss with a screech.

The portal snapped shut in an instant, and Drae went limp, hanging from his chains like a discarded puppet. Overcome with fatigue, I hunched over, resting my hands on my knees while struggling to catch my breath.

Tari clasped her hands together with a cry of joy. “Excellent work, sister!”

“Someone, please unchain my mate.” I clutched Tari’s arm. “You may need to find his soul.”

She squeezed my arm, offering me a reassuring smile. “I’ll find him.”

Blaze and Ash worked on unchaining Drae from the wall. “We’ll take care of him, Shiri.”

“Good.” Despite the frigid water that had turned my legs numb, I wiped sweat from my brow, a wave of nausea washing through me. “I need to lie down.”

Nikkos swept me into his arms. “Don’t worry.” His eyes dazzled as he flashed his dimpled smile. “I’ve got you.”

When Nikkos flew me out of the dungeon and toward our suite of rooms, it felt like we’d escaped the bowels of hell. They carried Drae to the soft rug in the sitting room, and Nikkos laid me down beside him. I touched Drae’s head, alarmed that he was cold and clammy, his pallor as gray as a corpse.

I turned to Tari, my eyes welling with tears. Tari grabbed his wrist. “I feel a faint pulse. We must hurry.”

She sprinkled waxy flowers over him and then grabbed my hand, pressing it to his chest.

“What are we doing?” I asked.

She frowned. I don’t know , she answered through thought, but I feel like you need to do this with me. Close your eyes.

I did so, a strange sense of weightlessness washing through me as I was transported to a vast, cavernous space. I couldn’t see my hands in front of my face or even my sister, but I felt her presence nearby.

Tari , I called into the abyss.

I’m here , she answered, her voice echoing through the chasm. Call to Drae.

“Drae, my love!” I called into the void. “Come find me, please! I need you!”

I called to him for what seemed like an eternity, my voice faltering with each agonizing plea, until, finally, I spotted a pinprick of light in the distance, like a lone lantern in the heart of the Periculian Forest.

“Drae!” I cried, my voice urgent while I imagined reaching out a phantom hand. “Please! I’m here for you! Return to me, my love!”

The light pulsed brighter and brighter, growing as it moved toward us.

“Almost,” Tari whispered.

The light was almost upon us, pulsing warmth that radiated around me. “Drae!”

I sat up with a gasp, my chest heaving as I strained for breath, Drae’s name on my lips. I looked at my two hands in front of me, at the roaring hearth as Blaze sat on the floor beside me, his hand upon my knee. Nikkos rubbed my feet, blinking at me with tears in his eyes. I was shocked to see moonlight filtering in from the balcony doors. Moonlight? How long had I been asleep?

Tari sat up with a groan, and Ash lifted her into his arms, carrying her to the sofa. I snuggled in the crook of Drae’s arm, relieved to feel warmth radiating off him and a strong heartbeat. The color had returned to his cheeks, and his chest steadily rose and fell as he gently snored in his sleep. Somewhere in the distance, I heard the children laughing, and I smelled warm butter and spices. My stomach rumbled, and I knew I needed to eat, but I didn’t want to leave my mate. Not now. Not ever again.

* * *

Shiri

I STOOD ON THE BALCONY overlooking a peaceful garden while Freya and Enso soared overhead, their occasional squawks reminding me they were alive and well. A lot had happened since Tari had healed Drae. My mate had finally woken up long enough to eat two platters of food and wash up in the bathing room. He hadn’t spoken much, other than thanking Tari and me for saving him. His eyes were haunted, almost as if he’d brought the abyss back with him. He’d flown to our suspended nest and fallen back to sleep shortly after bathing, and I couldn’t help but feel deflated and disappointed at his distance, fearing he’d returned to us a stranger.

I had no one to talk to about my worry for Drae. Blaze and Nikkos were patrolling the ramparts. Tari and her family had returned to the dragons, but not before my amazing sister had hidden Cyrene with her magic. She’d cleverly concealed the half of the town with the castle and most of the homes, creating the illusion of another wall around the exposed half. Then she grew a huge garden by the stables to feed the displaced masses. Malvolia had evacuated the vulnerable citizens to the hidden part of the city, so when the demons finally struck, our army would have time to launch a counterattack.

Hopefully, it would work.

Shiri.

I gave a start at Drae’s plea in my head. Having no mates to fly me to the secluded swinging bed hanging from the ceiling, I climbed the rope ladder and crawled into bed beside Drae.

“I’m here.” I knelt beside him, pressing my palm to his forehead. “How do you feel, darling?”

He sat up against a pile of stacked pillows, his wings drooping like windless sails, his brow marred with concern. “Haunted.”

I lifted his hand to my lips, pleased when he didn’t pull away. “The demon is gone.” Even as I plastered a small smile on my face, I looked into a stranger’s eyes, worried that I might never get the old Drae back.

He frowned down at our joined hands. “The memories aren’t.”

I tenderly stroked the side of his face. “Do I need to get Tari to heal your soul?”

“She would have to wipe my memories to heal me.” He rubbed trembling hands down his legs. “And I never want to forget, lest the danger threaten us again.”

Oh, my poor, tattered heart. It wept for my mate. “Tari and I will wipe the world of these demons.” I did my best to infuse a note of positivity into my voice. “And then we will return to Abyssus, where you can recover.”

“Abyssus.” The name of his estate sounded like a foreign word coming from him. “I can hardly remember my home. It felt as if I was in the abyss for years.”

“It was only a few days,” I said, my chest aching at the lost look in his eyes. But I understood what he meant. It felt like Tari and I had been searching for his soul forever.

He flashed a pained smile. “I know, but it’s hard to put into words what I experienced.”

I took his hand in mine. “You don’t have to.”

He visibly swallowed, then pulled his hand away. “He wanted to banish my soul forever and make you his mate.”

The thought made me nauseated. I cupped his cheek, desperately searching his eyes for that familiar spark. “I would never let that happen.”

He nodded, turning his gaze to the moonlight spilling through the curtains. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

Guilt dripped off his words, and I felt even more terrible for him. How could he blame himself?

“You were, though.” Smiling softly, I clenched my fists in my lap, not wanting to smother him. “My memories of you kept me going.”

He heaved a sigh, the weariness in his eyes making him appear as though he’d aged ten years. “Lovemaking makes your magic stronger, doesn’t it?”

“It does.” I grimaced, looking away. “But you need to focus on your recovery.”

His fingers grazed my collarbone, and I was stunned by the clouds of desire swirling in his eyes. “I want to make love, but I don’t think I remember how.”

I threaded my fingers through his. I’d missed him so much and had been dreaming of this moment, but I wasn’t sure if this was the right time. “Drae, I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“Shiri.” He traced my bottom lip with his thumb, those clouds of desire in his eyes darkening to swirling storms. “I want you.” He leaned forward, his wings wrapping around us, shielding us in a cocoon of darkness, his voice echoing as if we were back in the abyss, making a shiver steal down my spine. “Please drive away my demons.” The plea in his voice was enough to shatter my heart.

“Not like this.” I pushed on his chest, forcing him to lie down. As much as I loved his wings around me, I didn’t want either of us feeling like we were trapped in the dark ever again.

He lay on his back, his wings flattened beneath him, his eyes reflecting adoration as he stared up at me like I held the moon and all the stars in my eyes. For a moment, I pretended he had never been lost to me, my brave mate who had risked his soul and fought off demons to protect me. He raised his hips, letting me pull off his trousers, his beautiful, big erection already hard for me. I slipped off my shift and then climbed on top of him, planting a tender kiss on his mouth while gently coaxing him to relax. I was very aware of his hard sex pressed against mine, though I made no attempt to mount him. Not yet, anyway. First, I needed him to know he was loved. I slowly broke the kiss, my lips trailing across his brow, then back to his lips before I brushed every inch of his skin with my hands and mouth, moving down his body until I reached his member.

He let out a groan, sinking into the mattress when I took him into my mouth, gently loving him with my lips and tongue, savoring his member as if it was ambrosia from heaven, stopping to catch my breath while massaging his tight sack.

He held a hand out to me, a dreamy look in his eyes. Ride me, darling , he called in my mind.

And so I mounted him, slowly sliding onto his thick cock until he filled every inch of me. Flattening my palms against his chest, I gyrated against him, the feeling of his cockhead striking my core too exquisite for words.

My breasts heaved as I rode him, my nipples pebbling in the cool night air. He latched on to them, flicking my nipples with his thumbs, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as I moved faster, my juices coating his cock with each thrust.

Cupping his cheek, I stared into his eyes. Drae , I called through thought. I missed you so much.

He squeezed my breasts harder. I missed you, my love.

As I ground my sex into his, I felt that lost connection, the frayed tether to our hearts strengthening. My heart soared. He might not be healed in one night, but I would get my Drae back.

I rode him harder, faster, kissing his palm and staring deeply into his eyes when he cupped my cheek. With each euphoric thrust, I came closer to orgasm, my sex swelling and spiraling toward release. I could tell by the tension around his eyes and mouth that he was close too.

Drae! I called through thought as I reached for that pinnacle. I’m going to come.

Come, my love , he coaxed, his whisper-soft voice a purr in my mind.

I stilled when it hit, trapped in euphoria’s web and unable to move, the orgasm gripping my spine as waves of pleasure rippled through me. He pumped into me three more times, stilling with a roar. I collapsed onto his chest as his cockhead throbbed inside me, bathing my tight sex in his seed.

He rolled me over with a groan, a ripple cascading across his wings. His dark, predatory gaze made me tremble with anticipation as his thick cock impaled me to the root.

I think I remember how to make love now. His voice was a deep rumble in my skull.

I dug my fingers into his shoulders while arching beneath him. Show me.

And so he did until we were both too tired and sated to be tormented by our personal demons.