“It looks angry,”I said privately to Rod.“Can it get out?”
“Not unless Blackstone falls,”Rod said, his voice tight.“He created the wheel to contain the demon. If it gets out, it will kill Blackstone.”
As if it knew we’d been talking about it, the creature turned its attention in our direction. It seemed to be looking for something.“Can he tell we’re the anchor for the Ward?”
“Anything’s possible, but I don’t think so.”Rod’s stone throbbed once, and the shield protecting us strengthened.“More likely he can sense we’re bonded and is wondering why we haven’t joined the others.”
The demon prince’s head spun suddenly and it walked southeast. At the end of its path, James Blackstone stood, his black hematite raised high. His face was a mixture of celebration, concentration, and concern. Sigils twinkled inside the wheel as dark energy from his gem flowed into them.
Blackstone’s face twisted, and a second later the demon swayed. A cruel smile twisted Blackstone’s lips. “Bow to your master!” he shouted in a voice that carried on the wind.
The demon resisted, and Blackstone poured more energy into the wheel. “Obey me or you will die here!”
Given how quickly his army was being decimated, if the demon died, Blackstone wouldn’t survive either. We needed to take advantage of the dynamics, but I didn’t know how.
“We are,”Rod said, reading my thoughts.“The guardians are going to engage the demon. Once they begin, we attack Blackstone.”
I wasn’t sure who got the better assignment. Blackstone had proven himself to be an exceedingly powerful and skilled mage. The only person he feared was Bart, and he was tasked with controlling the demon prince.“Alone?”
“I am far more dangerous now than I was this morning,”Rod said.“Our bond has enhanced my magic beyond what Blackstone expects.”
“Lend me your power,” Blackstone shouted. “If not, I’ll take it from you and leave your body to wither away inside your prison.”
“You forget who you address, tiny human,” the demon said in a voice like grinding rocks. “Break our agreement and your pathetic runes won’t protect you from me.”
Only fools made deals with demons.“Blackstone truly is insane,”I said to Rod.“Does he think he can win a bargain with a demon prince?”
“I wouldn’t bet against him,”Rod said.“The Negru family perfected the magic needed to control demons centuries ago. Given the scope of Blackstone’s planning, he just might outsmart the demon.”
Blackstone and the demon continued their war of wills. Dark energy slithered into the wheel from Blackstone’s gem. As it neared the demon, he waved his giant hand absently, and the power retraced its path back toward Blackstone.
Focusing intently, James reasserted control over his magic, and it swirled around the demon in a widening circle. This time the dismissal wasn’t as casual.
Extending both arms, the demon repelled the energy and dispersed it around the wheel.
“Fool,” Blackstone spat. “Our deal requires you to protect me or else you’ll remain trapped in that prison, cut off from your realm forever.”
“Nothing in our agreement allows you to cage me in a circle of runes,” the demon said. “Free me completely if you want my power.”
“Nothing said I could not.” He glanced at his dwindling line of mages protecting him from Avie and the others. “You thought you’d tricked me, but now you find it is I who holds all the power. Help me kill these fools, and I will free you.”
Their standoff showed no signs of resolving itself. Through our link, I felt Rod reaching out to his siblings, coordinating our next move. If we attacked Blackstone, the demon would likely free itself from captivity. Strike at the demon, and Blackstonecould use the distraction to exert complete control over the powerful creature. Both were poor options.
“Get ready,”Rod said.“As soon as the others hit the demon, we attack Blackstone.”
The plan made sense, but it painted a target on me and Rod. Even without the demon’s help, Blackstone was powerful, and it appeared he still had a store of dark magic at his command.“How can we reach him when his flunkies are guarding him?”
“Got that taken care of,”Rod said.“Avie and Dad have been probing the remaining mages. They’re going to take them out at the same time the guardians hit the demon.”
I felt Rod smile. Although it was incredible experiencing his emotions with such depth, getting used to the sensory input was going to take time.“Did you leave anything for me to do?”
I’d been trying for humorous, but I sounded needy. Rod, however, understood as an amused vibe flowed through our connection.
“As a matter of fact, I did.”Rod said hesitantly.
His thoughts merged with mine, and I understood his uncertainty. The plan was dangerous, and all but ensured I’d get hurt, maybe killed. Being alive carried those risks now that Blackstone had his demon. If the strategy worked and something happened to me, I’d renew. Better to risk pain to win than hold back. Losing meant I’d live in a world without Rod, subjected to the whims of whatever demon captured me.
“I can do that,”I said, happy to exact a measure of revenge for Grandfather’s suffering.“Should I ask Father or the guard to help me?”
