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
Either the transport Ahbi used to give us our tour was much faster or Ram's magic just wasn't up to the same task, because it took us a couple of hours to reach Bilhaeder, just as the first of the suns was starting to come up. Nights were short on Demonicon, all those spinning stars making it almost impossible to predict, though I was sure there was a calendar of sunrises and sets somewhere.Just as well. The view was even more spectacular than I remembered, the rainbow quality of the city's domes catching the early light, throwing back flashes of reds and blues and greens as we swooped low, still disguised by my power, into the edge of the city. I sighed sadly as Ram set us down on a quiet street, looking up at the tall domes further off, wanting to hold onto the wonder and contentment I'd felt through the ride, a welcome respite from the urgency of the last day or so.Ram dropped his magic and I did the same, but he shook his head as he leaped out and turned to catch my eyes."I'm
I could have let my grandmother's power out and attacked them to get to Ameline. Easily. Effortlessly. But doing so would have hurt and possibly killed a number of innocent demons and I just couldn't bring myself to do it.Damn my conscience anyway.Instead, Ahbi's power punishing me with jabbing pains to my gut, I turned and willingly went with the group now leading me out of the populated library and to the back of the room where I was funneled through a small door and into a private study chamber.Empty, naturally. Perfect. Since I didn't for a second consider any of these demons innocent, I could act with impunity."We've been looking for you." Fenukamadi glared at me, gesturing to his people to guard the room."How lovely you found me then," I said. "But if you don't mind, I have a sociopathic murderer to hunt down, and now that you've let her go, I'll have to chase her again." I closed the distance between us in two quick strides before anyone could stop me, my anger snappin
Ram, now dressed as I was in a black robe, led me, a pair of rebel guards flanking us, back the way we came to the library and the table where Ameline had stood. The busybody colleagues already cleared the book she'd read from away, but after letting my demon sniff the spot, I followed her guidance to a nearby shelf and retrieved the tome in question.It stank of Ameline, so much Ahbi's power jerked inside me.Look, I sent, not knowing if what was left of her could understand me or not. I'm doing my damned best. But if you keep doing crap like this, we won't get anywhere. Got me?The power fluttered, shot me one last jab and subsided.Okay then.Ram had already flipped the book open by the time I finished my little internal argument and from the pale look on his face, it wasn't good news. Since I couldn't read what was written there, I had to impatiently poke him in the ribs to catch his attention. He was so concerned he didn't even frown at me."What?" I looked down at the sketc
Ram filled Culectorion in while I was led to a private room and allowed to collapse into a sunken tub carved from stone and soak the filth of the desert I'd walked through and the sweat of anxiety from my body. I knew I didn't have much time, but it was hard to drag myself from the water, now scrubbed clean and smelling of some kind of Demoniconian flower, toweling off with a soft sheet, dressing in boots-thank the elements. Boots!-flowing black pants and a tightly belted red tunic, tossing my poor t-shirt and what remained of my pajama bottoms in the corner. It felt weird to go without a bra, but I didn't have much choice, hoping my demon's larger chest, though perky, wouldn't bounce too much.Making me blush. Because I thought of Ram and if he'd notice.Aw, hell.A metal ring with an elastic substance on the inside held my hair back and a warm black jacket hemmed at my knees finished the ensemble. Much more wearable than most of the clothes I'd been forced to choose from in Ostrog