I snickered. “You have decided to help me? It has nothing to do with the fact that we are all about to be blasted from Hell?
“You still must return to my camp to hold trial for your crimes. My demons demand retribution,” she drawled.
I laughed dryly and my daughter hissed. “Clearly I need help. I need my daughter off this fucking ship, my soulmate’s body delivered to Sheol without dying myself, and if you want me that badly, of course I shall return.”
Stepping beside me and giving the watchful Riella a respectful nod, she looked up at the power with a disappointed face, “I was at least expecting some sort of protest. You steal the fun out of everything.”
I laughed coldly, “I’ve been playing these games much longer than you,cousin.”
She grunted, not sparing me a glance of her bright violet eyes. “This will mean declaring war on the territory of Wrath,” she mused.
The demon growled behind us. “War has always been the fate of this territory, it was just a matter of time.”
Avalon grunted, “So be it. Cover me if need be, Zaz.” She spread her wings out wide, a beautiful array of both black leather-like skin and red feathers.
“Always my queen but you and I both know it will not be needed,” the demon cooed smugly behind us.
Another explosive wave hit my shield and I panted against the power splintering more of the shadows under its massive force. My brows pulled inward, even a permanent weave could be destroyed by the Sanguine…could nothing stop it?
“Are you two done chatting now?”
Avalon bristled, studying the skies, “Right, be right back.”
She launched herself sideways off the ship outside my shadow shield generating a rush of air that forced my hair to blow across my face, covering my look of disbelief. “I’m all for confidence but I am not entirely sure that was the best strategy.”
The demon behind me chuckled, “Wait for it.” Turning, he winked at my daughter, “Hey little fae queen.”
“Hi Zaz!” Riella beamed at the demon, despite the gravity of the situation we were in.
“Little chickadee, go back to Lir,” I commanded, seeing the Sanguine power recharge.
“Okay maedere!” Riella hummed, skipping over to the sea king and grabbing his hand. Lir laughed and then met my eyes, regret burning in them, understanding that it was not easy for me to trust him now that I knew where his allegiance lay.
“I am trusting you to keep her safe,” I said to him as my eyes dropped to the lilin still surrounding her,“You too, if we fail here, she must be brought back to Sheol with Emon,”I called to them silently.
Zazion studied me curiously, a dark frown pulling on his features, “where is your shifter king, your mate?”
I stiffened. “He is not dead, so do not worry that your debt was not fulfilled properly.” I seethed.
The demon grunted, “I can see why your thoughts would navigate to this fact, but this does not seem like a time where someone as devoted as your mate would leave behind his two most cherished possessions.”
Startled, I looked up at him but a sudden blast stole my next words, the aftershock of the blow sending the entire boat lurching out from under the protection of the barrier, and slamming the demon and I both into its unforgiving sides.
I groaned with a curse and the demon's eyes lit with fire as he growled towards the dark sky, his hand outstretched to assist me to rise.
Only Lir and Riella had stayed put. Neither one had been affected by the impact.
Gripping the demon’s hand, feeling his heat sear my skin like the fires of Hell, I stood, feeling the first splatter of hot viscous liquid on my upturned face. Then another and another until it rained heavily down upon us.
I grimaced at the smell, a mixture of putrid death and iron. Swiping at my face, I stared at the black and red essence that stained my fingertips.
“It’s blood,” I whispered, glancing over at Riella who was staring at my hands just as I had been, the lilin shadows protecting her from the carnage. I eyed the grinning demon, “She destroyed them all?”
Zazion’s speared tail curled around his leg with pleasure, “Now you know how she has kept the throne since she was seven, fae. This power costs her much but I have a feeling, she felt inspired by a certain little faeling.”
“She sees herself in Riella.” I said knowingly.
The demon snarled, “She sees what she could have had if someone had protected her sooner.”
