Page 21

Chapter Twenty-One

“Mama?” I whispered as I felt her running her hands along my body and using her magic to heal me.

“It’s alright, baby. We’re here and you and your mates are safe now,” she whispered back, her voice thick with emotion.

“Piper? The other guards?” I asked.

“All safe. Nana Kara is healing Piper right now,” she assured me.

I exhaled in relief. “Trey mad?” I asked, my voice cracking as I feared his reaction to finding out I had killed his mother.

“No, Lily, he’s not mad at you,” she assured me.

“Elrith and Kora?” I asked.

“Safe with Triston and Jol at the house,” she answered. “We’d just arrived at the house when Branson felt your call for help and notified us.” She sniffled. “It took us a little longer to find out where you were, but luckily he and Riddick were closest.”

“Stop talking,” Great Nana Kara snapped at us. “You’re impending Ember’s healing ability and you’ve got a lot to heal. All of you do.”

“I do?”

She scoffed. “Seven broken ribs, severe lacerations, some down to the bone, burns across a lot of your body, and more.”

“Burns from explosion?” I guessed.

“Child, shush,” she said in exasperation.

I obeyed, but cracked open one eye to look up at Mom. Both eyes opened at the sight of her glowing eyes brimming with tears. “Mama?”

“I crushed them, Lily. I used my powers and crushed the rest of them into dust,” she said. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Mom could use telekinesis and had an affinity for earth, which meant she could pull rock from the ground and use it to crush people.

“It’s not enough,” she snarled. “They should have been punished, not killed, but I couldn’t stop myself when I saw you bleeding on the ground.” Leaning down, she nuzzled my cheek with her nose. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

“Not your fault,” I reminded her.

“We should have found you another family to live in, one that wasn’t so dangerous to be part of. If you’d been raised by another, non-royal family, then you wouldn’t have been forced to live like this. You would have been safe.”

I shook my head and reached up to grip one of her hands. “What do you think would have happened if I’d ended up in a family who despised demons? Do you think they would have reacted so rationally to finding out I was part demon? That I was a demon princess? No, I was raised in the right family and it’s thanks to your training and parenting that none of us died today.”

“Lily!” Trey yelled and ran over to kneel beside us. He rested a hand on my cheek and rubbed his thumb across my cheekbone. “Stop talking and let your mom heal you.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry, Trey. If there had been another way.”

He growled at me and I snapped my mouth shut, pain shooting through me at the anger on his face.

Mom growled at him.

“I’m the one who’s sorry. I knew they were up to something, that they were planning something, but I ignored it, focused on their trivial bullshit instead of seeing what I should have. I should have known that my mother would try to hurt you, especially after my father and she separated.”

“You’re not mad at me?”

His face softened and he leaned down to press a gentle kiss against my forehead. “My beautiful, stubborn mate, I am a lot of things right now, but mad at you for protecting yourself is not one of them. I wish I had shown up sooner to save you from so much pain.”

“Kay and Mas?” I asked.

“We’re safe, love,” Mason answered from somewhere behind me.

“I’m trying to heal you lot!” Great Nana Kara snapped. “Stop talking and let us heal you.”

“Yes, Nana,” all of us replied simultaneously.

Once they finished healing us, we were forced to let Dad teleport us to the house where Mason, Kayden, and I were ordered to lay on the couches while we waited for them to finish things up there.

Elrith ran to me, Kora in her hellhound form at his side, and they climbed onto the couch with me, cuddling with me silently.

“We’re all safe and sound,” I reassured them as I pet both of their heads.

Triston rested a hand atop my hair and whispered, “I’m glad they made it in time.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I whispered back, my eyes heavy. “I think I’m going to take a nap.”

“You do that, child. Jol, Trey, and I will keep you safe,” he promised.

Though Mom had healed me, I was still depleted of energy and magic. A nap would help with that, but I really needed to return to the demon world to recuperate. Again.

“Trey, with me!” Triston suddenly snapped.

I opened my eyes and watched as Trey and Triston ran out of the house.

“Perimeter breach,” I whispered to Kayden and Mason, getting to my feet, Elrith in my arms.

Kora stood on the ground in her hellhound form, her quills puffed out and rattling as she growled at the door.

Out there, I could sense several powerful beings, but I had no idea if they were friend of foe.

“Stay here,” Mason ordered Kayden and us.

He opened the door and was immediately blown backwards by a huge fireball to the chest. His body slammed into the living room wall and I screamed his name.

Kayden ran in front of us, shielding the three of us with his body.

The sounds of fighting and Jol’s roar drew me towards the door and I blinked in shock as I stared at a group of over a dozen beings, a mixture of werewolves, dragon shifters, and mages, fighting Triston, Trey, and Jol.

Why? Why was this happening to us?

I don’t know where the knowledge suddenly came from, but I knew exactly what I needed to do. The plan and knowledge of how to execute it was just … within me.

I stepped forward to exit the front door, but Kayden called my name stopping me. I turned and thrust Elrith into his arms.

When I turned back around, I felt the shadows dancing along my skin just before they spread out to touch the shadows of everyone in the front yard fighting, freezing them all in place.

My lips twitched as I fought a smile, overjoyed that some of my shadow powers had returned at last.

“Lily, what’s your plan?” Mason asked as he joined me at the door, his shirt gone, the burned scraps on the ground and a few bubbled blisters from the fire on his chest.

“I’m going to call for reinforcements,” I said and smiled evilly. “They want to fight the Demon Princess? Well, then they’re going to fight the Demon Princess.”

Stepping out onto the grassy yard in front of the house, I spread my arms and closed my eyes, when I opened them again, I felt the portals behind me.

“Did you create the portals?” Mason asked softly.

I nodded.

“Your fight is not with Triston or the hybrids!” I shouted loud enough that everyone focused on me, eyes the only things they could move.

Trey’s eyes focused on mine while the others stared with wide eyes at the three portals behind me, one of the portals taller than my parents’ two-story house.

“Kora, a howl, please?” I requested.

Kora tilted her little snout up and released the most adorable howl I had ever heard.

Seconds later, Dhun and four other hellhounds stepped out of the left portal and came to sit behind me.

“Zoman. Huk. Tier’na,” I summoned.

Zoman came through first wearing full armor, a sword in hand, and dropped to one knee beside me. “Princess?”

“Protect the king,” I ordered him.

He dipped his head. “It shall be done.” He walked over to Jol and bowed to him before taking a step forward, putting himself between Jol and the intruders.

I had to release the shadows freezing them as I was still too weak to hold it, but thankfully the enemies didn’t immediately start attacking, their fear and confusion rooting them in place.

“What is this?” one of the mages asked.

“You trespassed on hybrid lands, intent on killing demons, while I, Princess of Hybrids and Demons, am here. Did you think I wouldn’t protect my family? Did you think you could do as you liked, unchecked, on lands I protect? Unlike you uppity, separatists, demons protect each other, especially our royalty. Your intentions to kill King Jol and I are clear, and the fact that you’d also willingly kill my adopted son is an even larger mark against you.”

From the center portal, the one taller than the house, a giant werewolf-like demon stepped through, much like the one that had fought us in the park. This one normally wandered around the far mountains, away from the castle, but I’d watched him often.

“Huk,” I greeted, and he dipped his head to me before growling at the gathered enemies. Shadows danced amongst his black fur, making it look like fire.

From the right portal, a female from Talrnir’s village, Tier’na, exited and made her way to stand before Kayden, Elrith, and Kora. She carried twin blades that sparked with lightning and wore leather armor, her hair braided down the sides of her head, and an angry snarl on her face, showing off serrated teeth in her mouth.

“Tier’na, protect the children and my mate as you take them home,” I ordered her.

“It shall be done,” she said.

“Get them through the portal and home,” I ordered Kayden.

“No, Lily!” he yelled. “I’m not leaving you.”

Turning, I met his eyes and said, “That’s an order, Kayden.”

His back went rigid, body turned stiffly, robotically, and with Kora and Tier’na at his heels, they ran for the nearest portal.

I closed that portal and faced our enemies again. “I am Liliana Rubyserpent, Daughter of Queen Ember and King Caleb of the Hybrids, Descendent of Third to Reign, Princess of Hybrids and Demons. You have declared war on my clans, attacked my mate and king, and your lives are now forfeit. Kill them and let none escape.”

Dhun howled, Huk roared, and everyone charged forward.

“Fuck, you’re absolutely stunning,” Mason said as he pulled me into his chest and kissed me deeply. “A fucking goddess.”

“Now is not the time for making out,” I said and pushed him back, a smile on my face.

“Later, I’m going to worship your body like the goddess you are deserves,” he promised as he drew his sword.

A mage teleported next to me and Mason managed to cut through the mage’s staff and chest before he could cast his next spell.

Triston ran to me. “You shouldn’t be using so much magic when you’re not recuperated. The others are on their way.”

“I’m not using magic anymore,” I explained. “Being able to summon them by calling them is part of being a demon royal by blood. I only used magic to freeze everyone.”

Mom and Dad teleported next to us, took in the scene, and Dad immediately charged into the fight with an eerie howl.

“Are you injured?” Mom asked as she ran her hands over me, inspecting me.

“I’m safe, Mom. Mason has some burns, but I think they’re healing already.”

“I’m fine,” he said as he cut down a werewolf trying to get past him to me.

“To think they would breach our borders to attack you,” Mom said with a sigh. “The sheer stupidity and audacity shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. You should have called us right away.”

“This was my fight, not yours,” I countered.

“Every fight of yours is also mine,” she argued back. “Plus, these are my lands that they trespassed on.”

A mage teleported next to us, a fireball in his hand, but Mom opened a portal beneath his feet, making him fall through it and right in front of Huk who slapped the mage with his giant hand, a hand the size of the mage, and sent him flying into a tree. The mage’s body made a sickening crack against the tree and his limp body fell to the ground.

“All of this death was unnecessary,” I shouted to those fighting. “Your deaths serve no purpose except to make us sad that you’re so blinded by hate that you were willing to give your lives for it.”

“We won’t stop until you’re all dead!” a female dragon yelled as she fought against Trey, both in dragon warrior forms.

“Capture her,” Mom ordered Branson in a sharp bark that startled me.

Branson and Riddick worked with Trey to subdue the female dragon enough to drag her towards the cells.

“Why capture her?” I asked Mom.

“I think they have a group, an organization of sorts, that’s been created to fight the demons. We’re going to question her and find out who is behind it all,” she explained.

“Like there used to be for those that hated the hybrids?” I asked, remembering how they’d told me about having to deal with extreme hatred and attacks as well when she was being courted by my fathers.

She nodded, a scowl on her face. “For all we know, it could be some of the previous members, recreating what we’d thought destroyed. Hatred has been around us as long as I can remember.”

It didn’t take long for the rest of the enemies to be dispatched.

Trey walked to me, a fierce glow in his eyes, slid his hand around the back of my neck, and pulled me into a deep kiss. When he pulled back, I was dizzy for a second. “I think I just fell even more in love with you, my goddess.”

Mom snickered behind her hand as she walked to Mason to finish the healing of his burns.

“Think Kayden will forgive me for sending him away?” I asked softly and rested my head against his chest as we sat on the porch steps.

He nodded, his chin rubbing the top of my head. “You needed at least one of us to go with the kids to ensure they’re protected. He’ll likely pout about not being able to fight, but logically know it was necessary.”

“Should we take some of his favorite ice cream home as an apology gift?” I asked.

Trey chuckled and pushed me back. “You sure you just don’t want some ice cream?”

“I do think I’ve earned it,” I said and turned away so he wouldn’t see my smirk.

“Your food order is in the outside fridge and freezer,” Mom said from where she stood, healing Mason still. “You should get a cart to carry all the bags.”

“I will carry,” Huk said in a booming voice.

I smiled up at the giant demon. “That would be most appreciated, Huk.”

A thought came to me and I asked, “Would you like a job, Huk?”

He tilted his head. “Job?”

“The children,” I began explaining, “the ones whose parents are dead …”

“Orphans?” he clarified.

I nodded and felt bad that I’d thought he might not know what that word was, that he might not be intelligent just because of how large he was. How could I fall to such a stereotype?

“The orphanage that was recently built, where the children will be, Azgon is the leader there, but I still worry for their safety. Would you be willing to work there, as their guard?”

“Protect demon orphans?” he asked.

I nodded. “Exactly.”

He bowed. “It would be a great honor to protect the orphans at Princess Liliana’s orphanage.”

That solved one of my issues nicely!

“Thank you, Huk.”

“Do you know of others who might be willing to be guards, who would never harm the children even if the children are injured?” Jol asked Huk.

Huk tilted his head up and thought for a moment. “I know two, strong fighters, never harm others unless attacked first. They are smart enough to understand the children will be the ones to protect and know not to harm them, even if the children act out against us.”

“Please have them come see the princess to discuss working at the orphanage as well,” Jol ordered.

Huk dipped his head in a bow. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

“Are you injured?” I asked Jol.

He shook his head. “You summoning Zoman prevented me from being able to fight.”

I smiled at the indignation in his tone. “I apologize, but they were clearly intent on harming you. You wouldn’t want to return to a certain female demon with wounds, would you?”

He folded his arms across his chest and said, “She would tend to me and praise me for my valiant deeds.”

Mom laughed once before turning it into a cough. “Why are kings so similar no matter the race?”

Dad scowled at her as he walked to us, finished cleaning up the bodies. “What was that, mate?”

She smiled sweetly at him and batted her eyelashes. “I was asking if you’d like to go on a date, just the two of us, soon?”

He clearly knew she’d changed the question, but he smiled, slid an arm around her waist, and pulled her close to whisper something that made her giggle.

“Ew,” I said and waved at them like that would make the mental image disappear.

Tony and Maya ran from the direction of town towards us, panting. “What … What happened?” Tony gasped.

“A little late, bro,” Mason teased.

“I didn’t know something was wrong until a moment ago,” he said, ears red.

“Were you two … preoccupied?” I guessed.

Maya’s pale face turned as red as her hair and she shouted, “Lily!”

Everyone laughed and I felt myself relax finally.