Page 9

Blaze

S omething was wrong . Something was very wrong. Working as Malvolia’s spies for the past several years, my brothers and I knew the Caldarian coastline as well as Delfi’s forests. We’d been to just about every small town along the Western Shore. Though Skullgrove was farther from the shoreline and more decrepit than most towns, it still had all the necessities—a tavern, a blacksmith, farms, and livestock. Most importantly, people. Humans, mostly.

But this town was as empty as a crypt. No dogs barked, no roosters crowed. Not even a bird chirped. It was as if every living creature had been silenced.

Or eaten , my inner voice warned.

I flew above houses with skeletal roofs, realizing the thatch had been stripped, leaving behind empty frames. After seeing those demonic spiders capture Thorin, I knew of only one manner of creature that could strip a town to the bones.

Great Goddess, we were so hexed.

* * *

Ash

S TARING UP AT THE TALL ceiling, I lay with Tari sleeping in my arms and counted the candles in the large chandelier, grateful they’d all been snuffed, lest they drip wax onto our heads. Helian snored on her other side, and the children slept at the foot of the big feather mattress the servants had brought into the room. With so many thoughts clawing through my skull, I couldn’t sleep.

We had to leave this castle, and not just because I had a bad feeling about my twin being so far away, but I feared Malvolia and Tari would try to kill each other before long. Though I marveled at my mate’s strong magic, I knew she wouldn’t be as fast or cunning as the sorceress queen. If we stayed, we risked Tari’s life, and if we left, we risked all our lives with the threat of demons outside the city walls. And then there was the matter of Helian. He knew I was alpha, yet he’d pulled Tari out of my arms tonight and had his way with her first. I hadn’t said anything, because I didn’t want to upset Tari, but I would have words with Helian soon.

Sure, alpha wolves shared their mates, but betas also knew their place and waited their turn, unless they had permission from the alpha. Helian most likely didn’t know this, or else he didn’t care because he considered himself the alpha. He was the king regent of Caldaria and my older brother. Even though he’d already agreed to let me be alpha, I feared he’d try to challenge my position soon. Then what? We couldn’t risk upsetting the balance of our little family with so many external forces threatening us.

My nose wrinkled when a powerful stench hit me, and I snarled at the old hound curled up beside our bed, making loud, blubbery snorts in his sleep. He smelled like death warmed over. I had no idea the mutt’s age, but I doubted he was long for this world, for his insides were probably rotting. If the girls weren’t so attached to him, I’d suggest putting him down, though perhaps Tari could cure his ailments.

The mattress shifted, and I watched with curiosity as little Ember crawled off the bed and tiptoed toward the balcony. Where was she going? Had her friends called to her, or were darker forces at work? I gave a start when she quietly opened the door and slipped outside. No way in Hades was I letting her go outside alone. I slid Tari out of my arms and followed my daughter.

Cracking open the door, I watched my daughter wag a finger at the top of a potted plant.

“Stop talking that nonsense,” she scolded. “I told you he just needs a bath. He’d never hurt us.”

Who? What?

“Ember,” I whispered, slipping out the door and shutting it behind me. “Who are you talking to?”

She spun around with a gasp, her cheeks coloring. She had the same look in her eyes my brothers and I gave the cooks when we were caught stealing sweets from the kitchens. “My friends.”

I bent down beside her and took her hand. “What are they saying?”

She bit her lip and looked away. “I can’t say.”

I squeezed her hand, a sickening feeling twisting my gut when I recalled her words. Who had her friends said would hurt us? “Why?”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she let out a sob. “Because you’ll kill Wolfy!”

Dread iced over my limbs as my head snapped toward the balcony doors at the shadowy figure that stood on two bent legs, hovering over my sleeping family.

“Please don’t kill him, Papa!” Ember screamed.

I jumped up and shifted, bursting through the balcony doors with a roar. Helian hollered, leaping to his feet, his sword at the ready. Aurora and Tari were gone. I had no time to worry where they’d gone before the shadowy figure lunged for me with a howl. I ducked and spun, facing my enemy. Its face looked like Wolfy’s, though it reminded me of a demonic shifter, with claws twice the length of mine and a maw that dripped hot saliva that sizzled when it hit the floor.

“Wolfy, don’t kill my papa!” Ember cried from the doorway.

Ash, don’t let him infect you! Helian’s warning rang in my ears, but all I cared about was eliminating the threat to my family.

When the beast spun around, snarling at my child, I sprang onto his back, no care for my own safety while slicing and biting the creature that threatened Ember. I was vaguely aware of Helian ushering Ember outside. The beast tried to throw me off his back but then howled when he was hit by twin flames. Sweat dripping into my eyes, I blinked while trying desperately to hold back the demon when its jaws snapped at Drae.

“Stop!” a dark voice rang out, and I froze, compelled to obey.

The demon froze, too, whimpering when the voice told him to drop to his knees. We tumbled to the ground, and I landed hard on my side, registering the foul taste of the creature’s blood in my mouth. Blood. Demon blood. In my mouth. Goddess, help me.

“Demon, don’t move!” Shiri called. “Drae and Ash, you are free from my spell.”

Helian returned from outside, carrying a sobbing Ember. “Is everyone okay?” he asked.

“Not sure yet,” I answered, stumbling to my feet and wiping demon blood off my mouth with the back of my hand. Chest heaving, I snarled down at the creature who had threatened my family. He had that same disgusting smell and matted fur as Wolfy, though this demon was no harmless, mangy hound. He had a longer maw than me, with rows of razor-sharp teeth and blood red eyes. How had I been such a fool? How had I not recognized demon stench for what it was? And I’d foolishly bit the creature, which meant I could turn into a demon too. I tossed back my head and released a mournful howl.

“Stop howling!” Shiri cried as she took Ember from Helian.

I looked at her through misty eyes, my breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“Where’s Tari and Aurora?” Shiri asked, her voice softening.

I couldn’t answer, for I didn’t know, and my world was imploding.

As fire raced through my blood, I felt like my body no longer belonged to me. My eyes were windows into another world as I gaped at my family. Goddess, no!

Helian circled the room, his sword at the ready. “They were here a minute ago.”

Blood dripped from Drae’s neck as he bent down and picked up a Tau stone necklace. He rubbed the stone between his fingers. “Aurora teleported them.”

“Where?” Helian asked.

“Here!” Tari’s voice echoed from the other room.

I wanted to feel relieved when I saw her carrying Aurora, but I felt only agony. I’d failed them. I’d failed my family. Why had I bit the demon?

Shiri quickly crossed over to her sister, hugging her with the girls between them. She pulled back, examining them for wounds. “Where were you?”

“Aurora teleported me to the nursery,” Tari answered.

Shiri cupped Aurora’s cheek, smiling. “Good girl.”

Tears streamed down Aurora’s face. “I’m sorry I couldn’t reach Em.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Tari kissed the top of Aurora’s head while rocking her on her hip. “Em is safe.”

I gaped at my family, my limbs frozen in either shock or fear, or perhaps the demon had already taken over. I wanted to warn them to get away from me, but my throat closed, and my tongue felt like a huge, bloated fish. What was happening to me?

Aurora jutted a finger at the demon dog panting on the floor. “What happened to Wolfy?”

“He’s not feeling well, sweetheart,” Shiri said.

Helian nudged the creature with the tip of his sword. “What do we do with him?”

“We put him in the dungeon with the other demons,” Tari said, “and we heal him after we find the spell.”

Ember swiped tears from her eyes. “I don’t want Wolfy to go.”

“I know, darling,” Shiri cooed, drying her tears with the hem of her robe. “But it’s for his safety, as well as ours.”

Mouth dropping, Tari looked at me as if seeing me for the first time. “Ash, are you okay?”

I could only shake my head.

Helian nearly stumbled over Wolfy as he spun around, gaping at me. “He has blood on his mouth.”

Tari clutched her throat, letting out a strangled sob. “I think it’s Wolfy’s blood!”

I gave her a look as if to say I was sorry, but then I remembered we could still speak telepathically. I’m sorry, my love. Tell Shiri not to let me come near you.

Shiri pointed at me, her deep siren voice echoing across the walls. “Ash, do not move from that spot.”

Tari narrowed her eyes at Shiri, and I realized her sister must’ve heard our telepathic conversation.

Tears burned the backs of my eyes, and my legs felt like they were encrusted in ice as I nodded my understanding. I spoke again to my mate through thought, knowing her sister could hear. I won’t, Shiri. Thank you. I hung my head as the first tear fell. I’m sorry, Tari.

“Don’t be,” she blurted aloud, her voice thick with emotion. “You were defending us.”

But I shouldn’t have bit him, I wanted to say. I’d known better, and Helian had warned me. I’d let my animal instincts take over without care for my own safety. Now, Tari and the children would have one less protector. I peered up at Helian through blurry eyes. Guard our children and our mate well, brother.

Helian clasped a hand across his heart. “With my life.”

When Tari took a step toward me, Helian jerked her back. “No. We can’t go near him until he’s chained.”

The children sobbed and Tari’s cry rang out.

“Drae,” Shiri said on a hiss while staring at him like he was a wild animal. “What’s wrong?”

I looked at Drae in disbelief. Kindred , a dark voice whispered in my mind.

Shut up, you fucking demon! My inner-wolf roared, warning the others. Drae is demon possessed too!

Shiri cried out. Helian took Ember from her, and she stumbled toward Drae, extending a hand to him.

“Don’t touch him!” Helian warned while giving Shiri a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, but you know what you have to do.”

Shiri stopped as if she’d hit an invisible wall, her misty eyes fixed on the bloody bite mark on Drae’s neck. “Drae, do not move from that spot.”

Pain flashed in his eyes as he slowly nodded.

Fuck! Tari and Shiri only had Helian to protect them, all because I’d so foolishly bit the demon.

Two loud dragon roars sounded overhead, and about a dozen firemages burst into the room, burning the walls with their arcing flames.

“Put away your flames, firemages!” Shiri commanded. “I have taken care of the threat.”

Their fires instantly doused like a bucket of water to a lit match, and they parted, pressing against the walls when their queen entered the room in a flurry of black robes. “What happened?”

Shiri held up her hands in a defensive gesture. “I’ve got it handled, Aunt.”

Malvolia spun around, her eyes narrowing on me. Then she jumped back, snakes of smoke flying from her fingers when she glimpsed Drae’s eyes.

“Stop!” Shiri cried out, a heartbeat before Malvolia’s magic struck Drae.

Malvolia and her magic stilled. Shiri slowly approached Drae and Malvolia, her eyes widening when she saw the frozen trails of deadly smoke a breath away from Drae’s nose.

She motioned to six big firemages, whose gazes drifted from their frozen queen to us. “You there.” She pointed to Drae and then me. “Put Drae and Ash in the dungeon and chain them for our safety.” Then she nodded toward Wolfy. “The dog too.” Pausing, she sucked in a breath while curling her hands into claws. “But do not harm them!” She fixed Drae and me with a stony expression. “Do not bite or attack anyone.”

The demon inside me cried out in a fit of rage, but the beast couldn’t defy the siren’s call.

I tensed when the firemages latched on to my arms, binding me in chains before hauling me away. Tears blurred my eyes as I got one last look at my family. My daughters threw back their heads, howling to the ceiling, and Tari sobbed while Helian rubbed her back.

I’d failed them. I didn’t deserve to be alpha.

* * *

Tari

“A SH!” I SHIFTED AURORA on one hip and reached for my mate as the guards dragged him away in chains. I felt as if that demon had reached his claws into my chest and ripped out my heart as I turned to Helian with a plea. “I need to go with him.”

“No.” He grimaced as Ember clung to him. “We shouldn’t separate. I am the only protector left, and the dungeon is no place for children.”

“But what if they mistreat him? Look at what they did to Arabella!” How could I trust my mate in Queen Malvolia’s dungeon? I glared at the evil bitch, who was still frozen by Shiri’s spell. There was no mistaking the venom in her eyes as she glared back at me. I could only imagine her ordering her guards to mistreat my mate.

“I’ll go after them,” Shiri said.

She seemed so calm and collected, even after she’d lost Drae to demon possession, leaving her with no mates until her other two returned—if they returned. Resolve hardened my spine. If she could get through this, I would have no choice but to manage, too, especially when the children were depending on me. My mind and body felt numb as I slowly exhaled. “Sister, we need to find that book.”

“We’ll go at first light.” She grasped my hand, her siren infused into her voice. “Remain calm and take deep breaths.”

I nodded my understanding while swallowing back my emotions. “Shiri, are you going to be okay?”

She swiped tears from her eyes. “I guess I’ll have to be.” Then she turned to Malvolia. “I release you from my spell. Leave us, and know that if you ever use your black magic on our family again, I will make you walk off the tallest turret.”

Holy fuck! Helian’s curse echoed in my mind.

I swallowed back bile when Malvolia marched out of the room, back stiff and black magic leaching down her face. I had a feeling our aunt wouldn’t rest until we were all turned to dust.

Shiri left without a backward glance, her limbs even stiffer than Malvolia’s.

Cassandra ran into the room, chest heaving. “Why did I see the guards dragging away Ash and Drae?” She gaped at us. “I heard Ash cry out in my dream.”

“A demon infected them.” Helian set Ember down on the sofa as he faced his mother. “The guards are placing them in the dungeon for our safety.”

Cassandra fell onto the sofa beside Ember, clutching her throat. “How did this happen?”

I handed Aurora to Cassandra when she squirmed in my arms. “Wolfy was possessed.”

She looked at me as if I’d sprouted wings. “The dog?”

I grimaced. “Yes.”

The dragons roared outside again.

Goddesses, are you okay? Isa’s question rang in my mind.

Both dragons let out angry roars when Helian explained what happened.

Helian took my hand and led me to a chair opposite his mother and the girls. He fell into it, pulling me into his lap. “The smell,” he murmured while kissing my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I should’ve known.”

“We all should’ve known.” I hadn’t recognized his demon foul scent, probably because he’d also rolled in something dead, a common occurrence for Wolfy. But why hadn’t I seen a demon aura? Was it because his scraggly black fur concealed it? I also hadn’t seen red in his eyes, even in the sunlight. Did the demon figure out how to conceal it? I supposed it didn’t matter now, though I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. I rested my head on Helian’s chest, grateful I still had him. But for how long?

“Helian.” Cassandra’s voice rose and cracked. “Do you realize you’re all that stands between two white witches and the demon army?”

I sat up as a jolt of panic shot through me. He couldn’t keep us safe by himself. Besides, I didn’t want a demon to bite him too. Shiri and I would have to protect the children and all Faedom by ourselves.

I winced when the dragons’ roars shook the room, causing cups and plates to rattle on the buffet table.

Isa’s thought rang in my head. You are not alone, Goddess. Never forget you have us.

I shook my head. You need to focus on protecting Triss. As a mother, I knew how important it was for Isa to put her child’s safety first. After all, that’s why she’d been hiding on Fallax all this time.

Her dark growl rattled my bones. By protecting the white witches, I am protecting her. If you fall, all Faedom falls.

Wow. No pressure.

Ember climbed off the sofa and shuffled her feet toward us, her eyes downcast as if she’d been caught stealing extra tarts. She tugged on my skirts, looking up at me with glossy eyes. “Are Papa Ash and Uncle Drae going to die?”

“What?” I slipped off Helian’s lap and knelt beside her. “No, darling.” I took one of her hands in mine when she stuck a thumb in her mouth. “They won’t die. Auntie and I will save them.” I gave Helian a pleading look. “We need to unearth that book now. We can’t leave Ash and Drae with demons all night.”

Groaning, Helian sank back against the chair. “Tari, it will be okay. I lived a lot longer than one night with a demon inside me.”

Ember pulled her thumb out of her mouth, her bottom lip quivering. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I’m sorry, Uncle Helian.”

I squeezed her arm, my heart aching when a tear slid down her cheek. “Why are you sorry, child?”

More tears streamed down her face. “I didn’t listen to my friends when they warned me about Wolfy.”

The wheels in my mind came to a slow, grinding halt. Her friends? Did she mean that ghosts had known about the demon inside the dog? “Your friends warned you?”

She nodded before wiping her eyes. “I thought they were being jealous.”

I swallowed back bile, very aware that those friends were probably watching us even now. “Why would they be jealous?”

She loudly sniffled. “Because I spent more time with him than them.”

I swiped a tear from her cheek. “So you thought they were lying to you?”

When she nodded and let out a sob, I took her in my arms. How could I be mad at a four-year-old child for this? It wasn’t her job to protect us from demons. It was my job. I had smelled demons before. I should’ve recognized the scent for what it was—a rotting demon, not a dirty old mutt.

“It’s an easy misunderstanding,” I whispered while holding her tight. “We don’t blame you.” I pulled back, forcing a smile while searching her glossy eyes. “But, next time, please tell us when your friends tell you something important.”

She wiped a trail of snot onto the back of her robe. “Okay.”

“Ember, this isn’t your fault,” I said as I slipped the snot-covered robe off my child, handing it to Cassandra. She quietly folded it and carried it toward the wardrobe. “We adults should’ve realized Wolfy was possessed.”

Aurora joined us, her eyes glossy, too, as she leaned against me. “Is Wolfy going to die?”

“Not if I can help it, darlings,” I said, thanking Cassandra when she handed me a cloth napkin. I dabbed both my daughters’ eyes, my voice thick with emotion. “Tomorrow, Aunt Shiri and I will find the book that teaches us how to send demons back to hell.”

Aurora blinked at me. “What if you don’t find the book?”

I worked hard to unclench my teeth. “We will save Papa Ash and Uncle Drae. Don’t worry, darlings.”

Because even if we couldn’t find the book, I would get those demons out of mine and Shiri’s mates. Even if we had to transfer the demons to wyvern volunteers, we would do it. I was determined to do whatever it took to save our mates.