Page 19 of The Demon’s Delight (The Demon Princes #3)

Chapter 18

Seir

H ailon was standing near the fire, both my cloak and hers wrapped around her shoulders. “Seir, I need to tell you something,” she said as I got closer. Urgency laced her hasty words. “As I was falling asleep, I could see shapes. Pillars, and walls. I think we’re inside”—she paused, eyes widening as she took in the large man following behind me—“the ruins.” Her multicolor eyes darted between us.

“I agree! I came to that conclusion myself not long ago when I started wandering around. This is Coltor. He’s the big scary haunting thing that keeps people away from here.” I turned to him. “There are lots of wonderful stories about you!”

“Good,” was all he said in response. He seemed a little rough around the edges, hard to make smile, but I wasn’t going to hold that against him.

“Ah… hello,” Hailon said, eyes wide as she stared at him. Coltor dipped his head in response.

“You must be famished by now, yes? I’ll fix us something to eat.” I went ahead to the packs and got started pulling out supplies. Hailon and Coltor stared at one another.

“Your companion is a demon,” Coltor commented, pulling some stumps inside to serve as seats. “But what, exactly, are you, my lady?”

“Me?”

“Coltor is a member of the stone kin,” I explained.

“Stone kin?” Her eyebrows pulled together as she joined me at the packs, helping to gather what meager supplies we still had to assemble a meal.

“Gargoyles and grotesques,” Coltor said, standing once again. Like I had during our little exercise session, he showed his wings in illustration. The abrupt movement made Hailon step back.

Coltor’s wings had fierce spurs on the tips and appeared to have more bones between the membranes than mine. They were the same leathery skin, however. Most of my brothers had at least some feathers on their wings, but not me. I was like Coltor, with bat-like smooth ones.

“Gargoyles like the statues?” she asked, eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “What’s a grotesque? What’s the difference?”

“Nothing, if you ask most of us. Some disagree, but they’re wrong.” He retracted his wings. “I’d demonstrate further, but I haven’t been able to shift properly since…” He stepped toward her, looking down into her face with a menacingly curious expression.

He was larger than me, bulkier, though not much taller. Compared to her, however, he was quite a bit bigger and intentionally hovering in a way that put him in a position of dominance. I didn’t like it. In fact, it made all my protective instincts scream.

I pushed my way between them, my favorite blade in my hand and pressed to the large artery in his throat before he could blink.

“She’s not your enemy, stone man. But if you approach her like that again, you will be mine. Do we understand one another?”

A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “I see. Apologies.” Coltor stepped back from us both, hands up in a gesture of surrender. “You’ll have to pardon my manners. I’m out here for long stretches with no socialization. I’m afraid I get a little rusty with how to interact politely. What can I call you, my lady?”

Hailon blinked, glancing between us before responding. “I’m no lady,” she said shaking her head. “My name is… Hailon.” I could tell she’d changed her mind last minute from offering her surname instead. She stuck out her hand, and he accepted, his much larger one engulfing hers as he gave it a gentle up-and-down shake.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Hailon. Would you both excuse me for just a moment?”

“Of course.”

He looked at me for approval, and I nodded tightly. Coltor stepped away from the shelter, his footsteps crunching over the debris on the ground as he went in the direction of the creek.

“He’s…” Hailon’s face scrunched up as she searched for a descriptor. She gave up after a long pause and just shook her head before adding the herbal mixture we’d been using as tea to the hot water.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, gently directing her by the shoulders to one of the log seats.

“Fine. Still a little tired, but I’ll manage. I can help.”

“You will not. I have it well in hand.” I dropped a kiss on her hair and attempted to reassure her with a smile, but just as quickly as the surprise faded and some softness crept into her gaze, it sharpened again as Coltor came back into the shelter.

“Perhaps this would be of use?” he asked, holding out a large fish he’d already cleaned as well as some wild herbs.

“Perfect! Thank you.” I accepted the generous offering as he scooted the largest stump to the far edge of the fire, allowing Hailon as much space from him as he could without leaving the shelter again.

“So, Coltor, why exactly are you posted here? What is so worth protecting in a ruined castle?” I asked him as the fish began to cook on a flat rock over the flames. The tea was steeped, so I poured them cups and drank my own directly out of the pot.

“How do I know I can trust you, demon?”

I shrugged. “You don’t. But that is mutual, is it not?”

“I suppose.” The large man sighed and sipped at the hot brew. “You said you had dealt with the fae, before.”

“Yes. Quite a lot, actually.”

“Then you understand how precious some doorways can be.”

“Certainly. My brother Tap is stationed at the crossroads, and he can barely manage a day off now and then, let alone—” What he was saying without actual words sank in. “Oh. Yes. I can see why you would want to deter people from wandering through here, if that’s the case.” There were portals here then, permanent ones embedded into the very materials of the old castle. Entry points to the fae realm or perhaps other places entirely that needed to be protected. Shame we couldn’t make use of them to get Hailon home.

Satisfied, Coltor nodded. Hailon watched us with open fascination as I shared some news I’d gathered the last time I was in Revalia, then other small talk until the fish and the tinned vegetables I’d added to the fire were finished cooking.

We ate in companionable silence, Coltor expressing his thanks and honestly looking like he’d finally relaxed a little by the time we were done.

Hailon rose, dishes collected in her hands.

“Leave those,” I told her, taking the stack from her hands. “I’ll wash them.”

She let me take them without argument, her eyes never leaving Coltor’s face. The behavior was unusual for her and had my awareness tingling even as I stepped aside to scrape remnants of our meal off the plates and into the flames.

“Consort with many demons?” Coltor asked, forearms resting across his knees. His tone was light, but she stiffened.

“No. Just the one.”

“Hmm. How do you know so much about them and magic, but you’ve never heard of stone kin before? How is it that you felt the effects of the wards of this place, but were still compelled to enter? Why exactly are you traveling with a demon in the first place?” Coltor’s tone had turned antagonistic again, and something inside me roared.

There was a meaty, squelching sound as one of my blades embedded itself in his thigh. He growled and yanked it free, examining it with shock. Surprise and anger pulled his eyes wide as blood stained the leg of his trousers.

“Seir!” Hailon scolded, rushing to Coltor’s side. “That’s uncalled for.”

“Mind. Your. Tone.” My voice came out as a rough snarl, and my hands shook from the rush of rage. I gestured to where Hailon already hand her fingertips on the edges of his wound. I didn’t care for the fact she was touching him at all, let alone on his leg like that, but I pushed the jealousy down when she glanced at me with fire in her eyes. “See? She’s helping you and scolding me. She’s not your enemy. And I’d prefer we remain friends, but that won’t be possible if I have to remind you again.”

Coltor raised his hands and relaxed his body, shedding some of the tension that had accumulated in his shoulders. He handed my blade back to me, bowing his head. “Apologies. I meant no disrespect. I’m truly just curious. I don’t mean to be interrogatory. It’s very odd that you would feel the effects of the wards yet continue on. What else are you capable of, my lady?”

“I have a healing gift,” she said, the glare she threw at him as cutting as my blade. “I was taken from Ravenglen, sold to a man in Olinbourg because of it. I was held captive, routinely abused for my gift. In an act of desperation, I summoned him to help me escape, so I can get back to my home. My sick aunt.” She spat the words, and I watched his face transform.

“Apologies.” He shifted, head bowed. “Truly, I should not have assumed anything negative. I’m sorry that happened. Are your captors?—”

“Dead,” she said with finality.

“Good.” He studied her a moment. “The two things together… you’re a null, then.”

My fingers brushed the handles again from the small twitch she gave at the word. I still couldn’t truly explain why I had such aggressive responses where she was involved, but it wasn’t something I could envision going away.

“Been a long time since we’ve seen one of your kind,” he added.

“A what?” she asked, stepping back to her seat. His pants were stained, but the wound was cared for. “That word doesn’t sound friendly. And who is ‘we’?”

Coltor shrugged. “Stone kin, mages. I’m sure the archives at the council chambers in Revalia have more information on when exactly the last one like you was discovered, but as I recall from my schooling, it’s been a very, very long time. Your gifts are unique, like your eyes. They’re a dead giveaway.”

“My eyes?”

The stone kin nodded again, then got to his feet. “The coloring. Split irises are not unheard of, but only nulls have four colors like that. Means your heritage is unique as well.” He frowned. “Did you not realize?”

Hailon shook her head tightly. “People stare at me for lots of reasons, I assumed my eyes were simply one of many.”

“Mmm.”

“What exactly does a null do?”

“Magical… consumption. Often with a side effect of canceling out ambient abilities tied to said magic.” Hailon contemplated that description, her mouth opening then closing again without any words appearing. “Are you able to shift?” Coltor asked me.

“Not fully. Not since I came to Earth.”

“You mean, not since you’ve been near her.”

“I…” I frowned, calculating.

“My ability to shift disappeared yesterday afternoon. When exactly did you fall down the hill and into the area protected by the wards?”

I looked to Hailon. She blushed a bright red, something like embarrassment crossing her face. I hated that she felt shame around something she likely had no control over. And we couldn’t be sure it was her fault in the first place.

“You think I’m doing this? That I’m responsible for blocking your magic?” She gestured vaguely between him and me.

“Yes. I believe you are. You truly didn’t know?”

She shook her head, a pained look on her face. “No. My gift has always been healing. I’ve never heard the word null before, or had anyone mention that I… consume magic.” Her face scrunched up like the word tasted bad.

“It might have been intentionally kept from you. Or perhaps nobody knew.” He shrugged.

“To what end would it be kept a secret?” she asked.

“I’m no expert, but imagine you were in a place where mages are,” Coltor explained. “Assuming that your presence works on them as well as it does on our ability to shift or fly, it would render them all powerless. That’s a very coveted gift to have, if you can control it.” He tilted his head to the side. “No less incredible, but also quite dangerous if you can’t.”

Hailon swallowed hard, and I shifted closer, itchy at her discomfort.

Coltor turned his attention to me. “I don’t doubt she’s in capable hands with you, demon, but be watchful. She’s valuable beyond gold to some.”

She was valuable beyond gold to me .

My blood bubbled hot under the surface of my skin, remembering how I’d found her in the first place. How she’d been taken. What she reported they were doing to her; sampling pieces of her to examine. She’d assumed they were trying to copy her healing gift, but what if it was more than that? What if they knew what she was? Such an ability would make for a disastrous weapon.

“I’ll get her home safely,” I swore, but that didn’t seem like enough. I wanted to commit myself to her protection from any harm, eternally.

Coltor nodded. “I’ll attempt to send word out, perhaps I can ease your journey a bit. No promises though; resources out here are quite thin.”

“Do you have contacts in Ravenglen?” Hailon asked.

“I may be able to trade some messages. Again, no promises. What did you want to know?”

“There’s a wise woman there, her name is Sal. She’s my aunt. I just need to know if she’s alright.”

“I’ll see what I can do. If I find anything out, I will try to pass word along. I’m not allowed to leave this place until my post expires.”

“When will that be?” I asked.

He smirked and gave a rueful grin. “When it happens, I’ll let you know. Nobody else is very keen on taking this kind of assignment.”

I understood that more than most.

Hailon’s shoulders relaxed, and she inhaled the first full breath I’d seen her take since she’d woken. “Thank you. Thank you very much.”

Coltor inclined his head politely. “Can I see your map? Perhaps I can make some much-needed corrections.”

I pulled the small square of parchment out of my pocket, and he scowled at it, using a bit of charcoal from the fire to scribble over the inconsistencies.

“You will be protected here,” Coltor promised, gesturing around himself, indicating the bounds of the ruins. “Beyond this place, take the east road. Keep to the valley. The grasslands further out are full of trouble.”

“Thank you.” I accepted the parchment back, and he turned to go.

“Head north from here once the sun is up. Follow the water. There’s a glade with several springs, and the forest there is a bountiful place. Rest and replenish your food if you need to. After that, go directly toward the sunrise. The water will no longer serve you, it dead-ends in the mountains. Nice to have met you both. Safe journey, I hope we meet again.”

“And you.” We shook hands, and he disappeared into the darkness, leaving us staring at one another as the fire crackled and dawn broke in shades of peach and gold over the horizon.