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Chapter Twenty

C inaed:

T he last stretch of the tunnel ended abruptly.

Compared to the dim light inside the cave, the overcast afternoon was almost blinding.

My eyes automatically adjusted, but Rod struggled to see after so long underground.

He squeezed my hand briefly, as much to steady me as to reassure himself.

It was also a reminder of what we were fighting to preserve.

After decades of emptiness, we deserved a future together.

“Sweet Mother Earth,” Father whispered as he moved up beside me.

The still bodies of mages littered the ground. Most, but not all, had been associates of Blackstone. I didn’t recognize any of our fallen mages, but through our bond, I knew Rod recognized at least two.

Blackstone stood facing the medicine wheel, his back to the fighting as if nothing could touch him. His remaining mages were failing. They’d formed a perimeter around Blackstone, their black gems glowing with dark energy.

Avie, Chancellor Wilhelm, and the other Council mages were overpowering the fools who’d believed Blackstone’s promises of power.

I almost pitied them, but anyone who thought Blackstone cared about anyone but himself or would share that power deserved their fate.

Only one person could command the power of a demon.

Old stories talked of mindless creatures whose sole purpose was dominating our world.

This being scanned the surrounding area with a calculated intelligence that stole my breath.

It was three times the height of a tall human.

Tiny wisps of smoke spiraled off its skin.

Its features were surprisingly human-like, but the gray skin and red eyes left no doubt as to its race.

Rod’s brothers and their mates took positions around the demon. After a moment to orient myself, I realized they’d taken positions corresponding to their assigned points on a compass. The original guardians, no longer needed, but still powerful beings, arrayed themselves next to their replacements.

Gund held a short sword with a golden gem, and Cael held a similar weapon, only its stone was blue. I’d never seen the blades before but knew these were the Dreki and Orme Seaux. The pair glowed angrily, and the demon avoided looking at the swords.

I’d never seen a demon prince before, but I’d expected a warped, foul being.

Instead, he was impossibly beautiful. He towered over the scene, easily three times my height, his red eyes taking in every detail of his captivity.

When his gaze swept over me, the air rippled with a wrongness that made my inner fire blaze in defiance.

He paused at Rod and me. A quizzical expression flickered across his features before he moved on.

“It looks angry,” I said privately to Rod. “Can it get out?”

“Not unless Blackstone falls,” Rod said, his voice tight. “He created the wheel to contain the demon. If it gets out, it will kill Blackstone.”

As if it knew we’d been talking about it, the creature turned its attention in our direction. It seemed to be looking for something. “Can he tell we’re the anchor for the Ward?”

“Anything’s possible, but I don’t think so.” Rod’s stone throbbed once, and the shield protecting us strengthened. “More likely he can sense we’re bonded and is wondering why we haven’t joined the others.”

The demon prince’s head spun suddenly and it walked southeast. At the end of its path, James Blackstone stood, his black hematite raised high. His face was a mixture of celebration, concentration, and concern. Sigils twinkled inside the wheel as dark energy from his gem flowed into them.

Blackstone’s face twisted, and a second later the demon swayed. A cruel smile twisted Blackstone’s lips. “Bow to your master!” he shouted in a voice that carried on the wind.

The demon resisted, and Blackstone poured more energy into the wheel. “Obey me or you will die here!”

Given how quickly his army was being decimated, if the demon died, Blackstone wouldn’t survive either. We needed to take advantage of the dynamics, but I didn’t know how.

“We are,” Rod said, reading my thoughts. “The guardians are going to engage the demon. Once they begin, we attack Blackstone.”

I wasn’t sure who got the better assignment. Blackstone had proven himself to be an exceedingly powerful and skilled mage. The only person he feared was Bart, and he was tasked with controlling the demon prince. “Alone?”

“I am far more dangerous now than I was this morning,” Rod said. “Our bond has enhanced my magic beyond what Blackstone expects.”

“Lend me your power,” Blackstone shouted. “If not, I’ll take it from you and leave your body to wither away inside your prison.”

“You forget who you address, tiny human,” the demon said in a voice like grinding rocks. “Break our agreement and your pathetic runes won’t protect you from me.”

Only fools made deals with demons. “Blackstone truly is insane,” I said to Rod. “Does he think he can win a bargain with a demon prince?”

“I wouldn’t bet against him,” Rod said. “The Negru family perfected the magic needed to control demons centuries ago. Given the scope of Blackstone’s planning, he just might outsmart the demon.”

Blackstone and the demon continued their war of wills. Dark energy slithered into the wheel from Blackstone’s gem. As it neared the demon, he waved his giant hand absently, and the power retraced its path back toward Blackstone.

Focusing intently, James reasserted control over his magic, and it swirled around the demon in a widening circle. This time the dismissal wasn’t as casual.

Extending both arms, the demon repelled the energy and dispersed it around the wheel.

“Fool,” Blackstone spat. “Our deal requires you to protect me or else you’ll remain trapped in that prison, cut off from your realm forever.”

“Nothing in our agreement allows you to cage me in a circle of runes,” the demon said. “Free me completely if you want my power.”

“Nothing said I could not.” He glanced at his dwindling line of mages protecting him from Avie and the others. “You thought you’d tricked me, but now you find it is I who holds all the power. Help me kill these fools, and I will free you.”

Their standoff showed no signs of resolving itself.

Through our link, I felt Rod reaching out to his siblings, coordinating our next move.

If we attacked Blackstone, the demon would likely free itself from captivity.

Strike at the demon, and Blackstone could use the distraction to exert complete control over the powerful creature. Both were poor options.

“Get ready,” Rod said. “As soon as the others hit the demon, we attack Blackstone.”

The plan made sense, but it painted a target on me and Rod. Even without the demon’s help, Blackstone was powerful, and it appeared he still had a store of dark magic at his command. “How can we reach him when his flunkies are guarding him?”

“Got that taken care of,” Rod said. “Avie and Dad have been probing the remaining mages. They’re going to take them out at the same time the guardians hit the demon.”

I felt Rod smile. Although it was incredible experiencing his emotions with such depth, getting used to the sensory input was going to take time. “Did you leave anything for me to do?”

I’d been trying for humorous, but I sounded needy. Rod, however, understood as an amused vibe flowed through our connection.

“As a matter of fact, I did.” Rod said hesitantly.

His thoughts merged with mine, and I understood his uncertainty.

The plan was dangerous, and all but ensured I’d get hurt, maybe killed.

Being alive carried those risks now that Blackstone had his demon.

If the strategy worked and something happened to me, I’d renew.

Better to risk pain to win than hold back.

Losing meant I’d live in a world without Rod, subjected to the whims of whatever demon captured me.

“I can do that,” I said, happy to exact a measure of revenge for Grandfather’s suffering. “Should I ask Father or the guard to help me?”

“No.” Rod’s answer was as emphatic as it was swift. “Our bond gives you strength well beyond what even your father possesses. This is something only the firebird can do.”

Using my old nickname was bittersweet. Grandfather had called me that when I was small, long before Blackstone corrupted him.

Now, I carried his final gift inside me.

This wasn’t just revenge, it was honoring a sacrifice by ensuring it wasn’t in vain.

Rod didn’t just understand, he shared my need to strike back at Blackstone for what he’d done.

“I love you so much,” I said. “But you know that already.”

He didn’t answer because words weren’t always needed anymore. Rod gave my hand one last squeeze before we separated.

Grandfather’s energy coiled inside me, but there was more. Rod had been correct. I was stronger than before we bonded. My connection to the Earth was deeper, more pervasive. The power was ready to respond when it came time to execute my part of Rod’s plan.

A surge of magic erupted around the wheel as the guardians launched their attack on the demon.

I spared a glance just as Gund and Cael pointed their seaux at the creature, and bursts of raw earth magic struck it on two sides.

The mages joined, blasting the demon in multiple colors.

Their attack prevented the creature from joining Blackstone.

The planet let out a groan as the conflict tore at its surface. All the magic charged the air with power that would kill an ordinary being.

Avie and her team pressed forward against Blackstone’s mages. Magic flashed with the intensity of a small sun. The last of Blackstone’s army crumbled under the assault.

Blackstone’s head swung from place to place as his allies came under attack. Rod didn’t give him time to adjust. Magic lanced across the open space, its pure white light contrasting with the black energy it attacked. Blackstone looked more surprised than hurt.