I should have been expecting an attack. After what Theridialis told me about the hostile environment above, not to mention my previous experience on Demonicon, an attempt on my life was an obvious thing, wasn't it? But, like a doofus, I wasted a precious moment on "huh?" while the three Guards, the closed cell door now shutting out the rest of the world, gathered their power and pounced.Not for the first time and certainly not for the last, I was grateful for the presence and vigilance of the other powers living with me. Without them, I know my life, as invincible as I might have been, would have likely ended that night.As it was, my vampire threw out a shining silver shield only just in time to block the first blast of golden fire even as Shaylee's earth magic dove deep under the rock and burst forth, turning the ground beneath the hulking Guards to rubble, driving them to their knees. My demon reacted next, a massive lash of magic whipping through the trio as they howled in pain.
The transport, magical support gone, fell like a very bulky and badly shaped stone, the bubble overhead flickering as the last of the power running through the vehicle finally ran out. Freezing wind tackled me as the shield collapsed, sending me backward into what had been a bench seat, now just an empty space, to impact the low lip of the edge of the transport. I was very lucky the side wasn't flat, and that I'd been crouching at the time. Had I been standing, there was no way I would have managed to stay on board. The knee-high ridge barely caught me as it was. Stiff material I could only compare to plastic bruising my ribs, all the air rushing out of me as the non-existent nose of the craft turned down toward the ground.The two demons slid at me, the boy from the market diving headfirst, hands outstretched to save his head from impacting the edge of the vehicle while his companion grabbed for the only thing he could reach on the way by.Me.Hands off, jerktard. Get yourself kill
The soft, shifting ,sandy ground heated quickly, catching the warmth of the rising suns to the point I hopped an undignified, hissing gait punctuated with "ah!" and "ooh!" as the bottoms of my feet stung. Ram finally stopped with a heavy sigh, turning to glare at me while I dug my toes in and glared my fury.Instead of commenting, though I was sure he wanted to from the irritated but amused look on his handsome (stop it right there, Sydlynn Hayle) face, he knelt at my feet with a murmured, "Your Highness." With two quick jabs of a sharp rock, he cut off two strips of fabric from each leg of my pajama pants.My favorite pajama pants. He'd pay. Oh yes indeedy doodle. He'd pay.Ram looked up at me, eyes twinkling. "If you would allow me?"Like I had a choice. I lifted one red-tinted foot, wincing at the state of my black toenails, wondering if Ram thought they were ugly. Yeah, cut that thought off at the pass. Not that I was usually worried about a pedi, but demon toes weren't all tha
I'd never felt like a rock star before. But the adoration and sudden need of each and every soul in the village to come and touch me, fall at my feet in sobbing joy, was about as close as I could imagine. It wasn't until Qesay chased them off I was able to join Ram and Ahmose in their examination of the transport."You just wasted your power on them, you know." Ahmose's clear disdain made me feel I'd done the right thing even more."Mine to share," I shot back before turning on Ram, temper prickling. "Well?"He straightened from peering over the rounded lip, a small console fading into the surrounding hull. "Well." He shrugged. "Nicely done.""Whatever." I wasn't in the mood for platitudes. "Will it run?" I didn't like the idea of having to carry it with magic, or ourselves for that matter, any distance."I can fix it," he said, though dubiously. "There's enough residual power left in the console I should be able to get it running long enough to access sunlight.""Solar powered?"
I followed Ram around the corner, unsurprised to find Ahmose standing between us and it."This transport is only big enough for two," he said, power crackling around him. "Which takes us back to my original idea, Ram.""I suppose it does," Ram said, tone casual though his body was tense, shoulders pulling against his shirt as he stepped in front of me. "But somehow I don't think the princess will go willingly."I shoved him aside, glaring at Ahmose as my own magic swelled. I let it all out, filling the filthy alley with the full power I had in my possession. Green Sidhe magic pooled along the ground, white vampire energy misting around me even as the family magic of the Hayle coven formed a small tornado at my back while fire crackled and my vision turned amber.Ahmose paled, fell back a step. "Ram, do something.""I plan on it," Ram said. Turned to me. "Unless you'd like to take care of it?""My pleasure." I didn't give Ahmose a moment to realize what we were talking about befor
After a quick check with magic to make sure we were safe, Ram and I climbed back into the beat-up transport and flew back through the falls. Now we were properly supported and not on the run from Guards, I was able to enjoy the view more. Ram spun us sideways part way up the falls, mist sheeting over our shields, the thundering sound of falling water still so loud my teeth rattled together. But the sight was stunning. The elemental pressure of the red-tinted moisture shook the slim hull, vibration adding to the thrill of hovering in mid-air surrounded by primal power.Speaking of primal power, my demon, now safe and off alert mode, was having more than a little fun with the whole Ram-in-my-lap situation. After I caught her sliding my fingers under the hem of his shirt, I forced my hands to my sides and clenched them into fists. If Ram had objections to either reaction, he had the good grace to keep it to his damned self.Smart boy.No beautiful dragons with multi-hued hides and mass
I'd heard that before. And wasn't about to let some low-ranking rebel leader succeed where so many others had failed. Not when I was in full possession of my powers and able to defend myself.It was almost comical their reactions to my sudden power flare, multi-hued magic rippling around me as I grinned, my demon's need to fight almost taking over. "Who's first?"I wish I could say they turned coward and ran, not because I didn't want to fight or was afraid, but because I really didn't want to hurt anyone. Despite the fear on their faces, the bulk of the demons obeyed their orders and rushed me as a unit.Only to fly back, tossed by a blast of air magic in a lovely arc, landing in a heap on top of Luprimustica."Nice technique," Ram snarled in my ear, hand wrapped around my arm again, "but we don't have time to play."I tried to pull free, but he had already turned and ran in the opposite direction, taking me with him. I could easily have fought him off, taken on all the rebels as
As we wove our way through the city, Ram moved with surety I wished I trusted. I fought off my demon grandmother's need to return to find Ameline and crush her like an insect. The pain was enough of a distraction I was grateful for Ram's guidance, following him almost blindly as my vampire, Shaylee and my own demon assisted my family magic in wrapping up Ahbi's insistence and smothering it before it left permanent damage.I finally breathed a sigh of relief and came back to the outside world just as Ram pulled me to a halt in a shadowed overhang, cursing softly under his breath. I peered over his shoulder, realizing we'd circled back to where we'd left our transport only to find it under guard. But not by Guards. By a handful of nervous-looking demons who could only be rebels.Ram backed into me and I took the hint, retreating a few feet while he spun on me and drew me into his arms. Though the embrace seemed heated and passionate, the tension in his body as he bent over me told me t