Page 2

Chapter Two

Dad and Grandpa Nico teleported next to the Grand Advisor, coordinating their attacks against him. Their magic and weapons flashed.

Somehow, even weakened and open as he was, he managed to block and defend himself.

“Lily,” Jol called as he walked to me.

I smiled at him. “Welcome back, Jol.”

He dropped to a knee before me and bowed his head. “Thank you. You have saved us.”

“It’s not over yet,” I said, and tapped his shoulder. “Stop bowing. We’re equals. Plus, we need you on your feet and ready to fight.”

Jol stood and shook his head. “He’s lost. There will be no battle now.”

“No,” I argued. “My Nana and I have seen visions. This fight is not yet over. He still has some tricks up his sleeve.”

“I will protect you,” he said, watching the Grand Advisor and my dad fighting.

“ We will protect her,” Mason said as he, Kayden, and Trey joined us. “You need to be ready to hold your people back.”

“What visions did you have?” Jol asked.

“You trying to kill me,” I answered. “Many demons trying to kill my mates.”

His eyes widened, then he frowned and said, “Well, I did try to kill you earlier, so perhaps –”

I shook my head. “That was not the fight I saw in my vision.”

The Grand Advisor stumbled as Dad and Grandpa Nico continued attacking and pursuing him, then fell through a black smoke portal on the ground.

We all spun around, searching for where he had teleported to.

He stepped out of the portal beside us and whispered in Jol’s ear.

Jol’s body froze, his head tipped back, and he let out a long and loud whistle.

“Shit,” I whispered. “He’s calling the demons through the portal.” I wasn’t entirely sure how I knew, but I just … did. “They’re coming!” I shouted to those nearby. “Try not to kill them!”

Hundreds of demons of every kind poured out of the portals. Flying, crawling, humanoid, giant, and many types I had never seen even while in the demon world.

Most turned their eyes towards us and I knew this was my vision.

“They’re coming after you three,” I said. “Nana! My vision!”

“Protect Lily’s mates!” Nana Jolie yelled and teleported next to us.

Grandpa Nico, Mom, and Dad teleported over as well. Grandpa Nico put a translucent bubble shield around us.

“What vision?” Dad asked.

Mom wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tight. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“Not for long,” I whispered.

Nana Jolie explained the two visions we’d had, which made Mom and Dad both scowl.

“Differing visions is concerning,” Mom whispered.

“There’s more,” I said and told them about Molly’s drawings and visions.

“It’s extremely concerning,” Dad muttered.

“I think all of the visions will come to pass,” I explained. “Or I’m seeing this vision while Nana is seeing a different one or something like that.”

The demons crashed into our shield, but none were as aggressive as Jol. His club slammed into the shield and I felt the ground shake beneath us.

“Shit, he’s strong,” Grandpa Nico muttered.

“You have no idea,” Dad grumbled and rotated his shoulder. “Pretty sure I’ve got a permanent click in this shoulder now.”

“Please don’t kill him,” I begged everyone. “He’s brainwashed. Normally, he’s a really nice being.”

“She’s right,” Mom agreed. “He’s incredibly kind and just wants what’s best for his people.”

“Caleb!” Grandpa Nico grunted as the demons swarmed all over the top of the shield while Jol continued to hit it.

Dad added his own shield just inside of Grandpa Nico’s, reinforcing it in case Grandpa’s fell.

“I have to go out there,” I said. “This is my vision and I have seen what happens.” Or this was one of the visions Molly had had, which was more concerning to think about.

Taking a warrior shift, I ensured my body was covered in scales to protect me and drew on my mates’ powers to give my hands claws. I also added the smoke scales, just in case.

“No,” Trey growled.

I went up on my tip toes and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Love you.”

Before anyone could protest or stop me, I ran out of the shield, straight into Jol, who was arched back to swing again. I knocked him away from the shield and back towards the portal.

“Jol, you have to stop this. We are not your enemy! I’m one of you,” I said as I ducked his punches and jumped out of the way of his giant club. Growling, I punched him in the leg, smiling slightly when his bone cracked and he dropped to one knee.

I knew it wouldn’t keep him down though, Jol would heal quickly.

“You are the enemy!” the Grand Advisor yelled. “You have betrayed your people by siding with the ones here. You want to eradicate the demons as proven by you mating the famed demon hunters.”

“Shut up,” I snapped at him. “I don’t know how you’re doing this, but I’m going to end you. I’m going to destroy you.”

Before I could even take a step towards the Grand Advisor, Jol grabbed my hair and flung me backwards with it.

I landed on my back with an oomph, all of my air whooshed out of my lungs as his club struck my chest.

Shit. This was one of Molly’s visions.

I tried to take a breath and winced. He’d broken at least two of my ribs. Crap.

Rolling over, I started to crawl towards the portal. Maybe if I could get Jol back into the demon world it would reset the Grand Advisor’s brainwashing.

Someone scooped me up just as Jol was about to crush me with the club again.

“You trying to die?” my brother, Tony, asked. He was in his werewolf warrior shift so his words were a little slurred from talking with a wolf head.

“Through the portal,” I ordered him as I gasped for breath.

He sighed. “I hope you know what you’re doing because your mates are going absolutely insane inside of the shield and trying to fight our family to get to you.”

Jol swung his club down and Tony dodged out of the way, growling at Jol.

We ran through the portal and he had to slide to a stop as we came face to face with a huge group of demons.

“Shit,” he muttered and spun to the right as Jol followed after us.

“Jol! Please listen to me,” I begged. “You are bound to protect me!”

“Lies!” he shouted and rammed into us with his shoulder, causing Tony to drop me.

I summoned my snake and she struck, biting into Jol’s neck.

He fell to his knees and his head dropped forward.

“What are you doing?” Tony asked.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “The power did it on its own.”

“Princess,” Azgon yelled as she ran towards me. She puffed up and hissed at the demons who had started to move closer to us.

“Azgon,” I gasped and hugged her.

She stiffened in my hold at first and then patted my back in return. “The brainwashing is bad!” she shouted as we separated. “All the males are infected!”

“I need you to do me a favor,” I said.

She nodded. “Okay. Okay.”

“Go to the castle and free Dhun.”

“The hellhound pup?”

I nodded. “They’ve locked him up and I think there’s a reason. Please, go release him and lead him to the portals here.”

She nodded. “You got it! Oh, watch out!”

Turning, we found Jol back on his feet and my shadow snake gone.

“Jol?” I asked. “Are you still feeling murder-y or are we friends again?”

He rubbed his head and groaned. “My skull feels like it’s going to explode.”

“Brainwashing does that to you,” I said with a nod.

He looked at Tony and asked, “Who are you? You look like the hybrid king.”

“This is Tony, my brother, Prince of the Hybrids, biological son of the king and queen,” I introduced.

Tony dipped his head. “It’s an honor to meet you, Demon King Jolmach.”

“What’s going on, little queen?” He looked at the portals and the gathered demons. “Fill me in, fast.”

Fast was subjective, but I did my best to give him the shortened version.

When I finished, he pulled me into a hug and said, “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

I patted his back. “It’s okay, I’m healed again. I’m sorry about your leg.”

He stepped back and said, “I’m healed again already. So, all is well”

“Wait, you know how to defeat the Grand Advisor?” Tony asked. “Why haven’t you done it yet?”

“Because we have to get through all of the visions first,” I explained. “If I try to do it too soon, it might not actually be the way to defeat him.”

At least, that’s what I thought.

Jol turned to face the demons gathered and announced, “From now on, you obey Princess Liliana! Do you understand?”

They roared, chittered, and yipped their agreement.

Jol looked at me and said, “Lead the way, Demon Princess.”