“You think little runes can hold me?” F’dreg snarled, dark energy rippling across his gray skin. “I am a prince of hell. My power is far beyond your pathetic magic.”
The demon’s voice didn’t sound as confident as his words.
“Try it and you’ll be sorry.” Blackstone spoke like a man in a dangerous position, but who knew he still held the winning hand. “You’re already cut off from your power. Only I can reverse that.”
Blackstone was the only oneinsidethe wheel who could open the portal. Either he considered no one outside would be crazy enough to free a demon prince, or he was too focused on F’dreg to remember we were still here. I hoped to make that belief his downfall.
“Do whatever it takes to gain access to those glyphs, but don’t take control until we’re ready,”I said to the group.“I don’t want Blackstone to know what we’re doing until it’s too late.”
The mages sent their non-verbal agreement and began their work.
“What are you planning?”Leifr asked.
The question required me to reevaluate the plan before I could answer. It held little downside risk that I could see. The two sides hated us as much as each other. They were in a standoff neither could break.“I’m going to give F’dreg a third option.”
“It will work,” Cinaed said. “Father says the demon will go home if given the chance.”
I glanced left, and when I saw him a subconscious worry disappeared. Malachy still held his son, but the glow wasn’t as intense. Cinaed’s pain was gone, and his injuries nearly healed. Intellectually, I knew he’d recover quickly, but I needed to see it to fully believe he’d be fine.
“Did he say why?”
“Things didn’t go as F’dreg hoped.” Cinaed stood up and stretched his wings. “His ally betrayed him, the new Great Ward traps him in the circle, and Blackstone is going to lose.”
Our victory wasn’t assured, but I understood why F’dreg could reach that conclusion. “The irony is he planned to betray Blackstone, but was double-crossed before he could act.”
“That was Father’s thinking as well.”He moved gingerly, and after a moment he shifted.
Cinaed was beautiful in either form, but I preferred his human side. I couldn’t kiss a phoenix or hold its hand. At night, it was his human form I could hold as we fell asleep together. I wanted to live in this idea forever, but we needed to win to make it permanent.
“Blackstone’s going to fight this,” Avie said from my right. “Once he realizes what you’re up to, he’ll try to stop you.”
I wanted to pull her into a hug, but it wasn’t the time. She’d expressed her doubts only to me because I was the overall commander, and she didn’t want to show me up. I wasn’t afraid of pushback, but she was probably wise to avoid a lengthy debate. “I don’t think he can spare the attention needed to stop us,” I said. “F’dreg is waiting for the smallest opening to break Blackstone’s protection.”
“Do you think he’ll accept?”
The demon would be a fool not to leave. Malachy correctly summed up the situation. The question was, what did F’dreg think. “I can’t say I know what he’ll do. He has no off-ramp other than to go home.”
“Agreed, which is why Blackstone can’t let you open the portal.” Avie said. “It’s not a given he can win even with the demon, but without F’dreg’s power he has no chance.”
“Which is why I’m waiting for the others to finish before I make my offer,” I said, turning from Cinaed to look at her. “Earth magic is stronger than Blackstone realizes. Once we wrestle control, he won’t be able to take it back easily.”
“Is Cinaed OK?”
Through our bond, I felt Malachy mending the last lingering issues in Cinaed’s human form. It would’ve been better and quicker if he could’ve regenerated, but this wasn’t the time or place. “Yes. He’s almost completely healed.”
“That had to be the hardest decision you ever made.” She put her arm around my waist. “I’m so happy for you, Roderick. This should’ve happened decades ago.”
I didn’t need her to tell me how she felt. In my darkest days, she’d been my confidant and my rock. “Thank you.” I put my arm around her and pulled her into a side hug. “He’d have been angry if I didn’t ask him. My desire to protect him is irrational. He was the right person for the job. Besides, he’s stronger than me. Not only couldn’t I have done what he did, I’d have died on impact.”
“Then forgive yourself.” She kissed my cheek and let go. “He’s coming.”
People who weren’t bonded didn’t realize we knew almost everything our mate did. “Stay.” I said as I released her. “You’re important to him too.”
Avie radiated a happiness she rarely allowed herself.
“We’re ready,”Anso said before Cinaed reached our position.“Say the word and we’ll take ownership of the glyphs we need.”
Cinaed reached me, and I took a second to kiss him. “You were amazing.”
