by G. Bailey
I look up at the falling embers that drift down around me, matching the same colour as my hair. I think of my brother’s best friend who lives here in Stormfire. The boy who always smelt of burning leaves and bad decisions.
Caspian Hardling.
I met him a few times as a young teenager and I fixated on him because he was Stormfire, new, interesting, and most importantly, gorgeous. His parents let him spend two years training in Caeli Academy as part of a student exchange programme to help with peace between the four packs. Caspian is a good guy, and I can trust him. My brother said he trusted Caspian with his life, and I really have no one else to turn to here. I doubt Caspian is even going to remember me; I haven’t seen him since I was thirteen and blurted out I had a big crush on his handsome eighteen-year-old ass.
I was a dork who had just discovered wine. A bad combo.
I have to ask him to hide me until I can come up with a plan. He’s a bounty hunter, or at least I heard that he was in the bounty hunter trials last year. My brother never said if Caspian passed them, like he did, but I doubt Caspian failed. When he sets his mind on something, he always gets it in the end. He told me that himself when I was a drunk little dork.
Now I have a plan, albeit not a great one, I open the backpack and find several sets of clothes inside along with a letter. My hands shake as I open the yellow envelope and pull the parchment out. I run my fingers over my name, written in my mum’s beautiful, classy handwriting. A small bracelet falls out of the envelope onto my lap, and I lift it to see it’s made of silver with a red stone attached in the middle of it. I put the bracelet down and open the letter to read it.
To Lilith,
I’m so sorry that I had to write this, that I couldn’t tell you everything, that you’re in this position. I knew if you took this backpack that everything I feared would happen has happened. I know I’m not with you because I’d never let you read this letter if I was.
First thing’s first.
The bracelet is spelled. I used all of my money over my short lifetime to pay for it, and it’s blessed by demons of incredible power. It will hide you from him. The Stormfire alpha can never find or track you so long as you wear it. Neither will anybody else who will look for you and have been since you were born. The Caeli pack hid you until now, but now you have to find your place in the world alone. I’m so sorry.
Wear it and never take it off, promise me this.
There’s so much I wish to tell you, so much that I can’t fit into a small letter. But I’m going to sum up most of the terrible things that happened right before you were born. I was born in the Caeli pack, but I gave my heart to Stormfire. To your father. Know that I created you in pure love, no matter what anyone says.
Many people died to keep you safe, to get me out of Hell, but it all went wrong. And at the very last second, I had to make a deal to leave Hell with you. The alpha of Stormfire wanted you as his mate. I think he always did because of what happened when you were born. Many want you as theirs, Lilith, and you must trust no one.
I can never write the truth in this letter because if someone else found this, it could mean the death of you. I wish I could have told you, but your dad bound me to the secrecy, so it could never leave my lips.
I’m sorry.
The secrets will come out eventually, and you’ll realise what I did for you was the right thing, but for now the secret will die with me.
Be brave.
We both know that hiding in Hell is the best for you if you can get there. You’ll fit in there as it is massive, full of millions and millions of wolves, the biggest population of wolves in the world. You’ll be able to hide and disappear.
I will love you forever and I will protect you in the afterlife. Always know dying for you was my plan right from the beginning. I regret none of my life or my choices.
Tell your brother that. Let him know there is a letter for him in our secret place.
Love,
Mum
By the end of the letter I’m in sobs as I pick up the small bracelet my mum said she spent so much money on. No wonder we barely had anything and Dad hated me so much. It looks expensive, and it radiates with magic. The sort of magic that doesn’t come cheap anymore. The only things in this world that have magic are demons. Demons don’t sell their magic easily or cheaply or to anybody in Caeli. I clip the bracelet onto my wrist, feeling my mum’s love and protection in it like she is here at my side. The stone rests right in the centre of my wrist, fitting me perfectly.
What secret would my mum die to protect about me? What could be so bad but desirable to the Stormfire alpha?
What the hell happened when I was born?
Of course, no one answers me, and I bet the secret is with the Crescent Goddess now.
I need to get to Caspian and somewhere safe because I can’t die or get caught now. My mum needs me to be strong, to fight this and live my life. Rizor will tell his people to look for me, no doubt. I need to get into the city and disappear. Soon he will have the entire pack searching for a new wolf.
Quickly, I drag on the leggings, boots, and the large hoodie that’s in the backpack, one of my favourite hoodies that I thought I’d lost over a year ago. I know exactly where it went now. I smile for a brief second at the idea of my mum stealing it.
Then my smile falls when I remember she isn’t here anymore. She is likely dead.
I pull my wet hair into a ponytail with a hairband I find in the bag and drink the small bottle of water that’s at the bottom before putting everything back and standing. Strapping the backpack onto my back, I glance up at the enormous city. A city big enough for any wolf to get lost in.
Time to go into the city of Hell and pretend I’m from here.
I don’t know if that’s even possible because I have no idea what I’m walking into. The river will have hidden my scent and washed away all traces of any Caeli wolf on me. That’s one good thing. I walk towards the city walls, and when I get to them, I realise there’s no door anywhere I can see. I search up and down the wall, realising I have to go through the main gates of the city.
Unless…
I look up and grimace. Maybe I can climb the wall and get into the city, even if my climbing skills might not be great. It’s worth a try. Using the roots, I climb as quickly as I can despite that every few steps I almost slip. My heart pounds faster each time.
I keep climbing until I get to the top and pull myself onto my back, breathlessly staring at the roots above me. Sweat coats my forehead, and I wipe it away. Falling, burning leaves drift down from the tree above and around me. They seem so beautiful in the many lights around me, the smell of smoke and fire is relaxing even as the noise of the city drowns out the idea of silence. The wall must have blocked some sounds as it’s much louder up here and reflects the noise a city of millions in it would have. The red glow is bright on my face, followed by a mixture of white light coming from the city. It almost appears like a sunset here, a sunset of so many shades of oranges, reds, and pinks. I always wanted to travel the world, but I always wanted to do it and then come back to tell my parents about the world outside of Caeli.
Now that can’t happen.
With strength I didn’t know I had, I slide myself over the other side of the wall and climb down the roots until I can jump to the floor. I quickly glance around me to make sure I’m safe. No one is close to me, nothing but rubbish and a dumpster that blocks anyone from seeing me. Two buildings are to my left, and I walk down the space between them and hide by the wall to peek around the corner. One massive pathway that leads right into the city is near me, and hundreds of wolves in human form stroll down them, some with small demon creatures on chains walking at their sides. So many people, and not one of them turn my way. I sneak out from behind the building, joining the crowd but keep my eyes down on the floor, and pulling my hood up to cover my hair. It doesn’t take long to get closer to the middle of the city. The noise of people talking, music playing, bangs, and wolves howlin
g fills my ears and senses when I try to break out of the crowd.
I search the buildings, reaching out with my senses for any trace of Caspian, but there are too many scents, too many wolves for me to search for him alone. It’s all too much here, and a part of me likes it. The energy of the city is amazing. I come past a poster clipped to a building side and pause, seeing an advertisement for the bounty hunting trials in big bold letters.
Someone there might know where Caspian is, and it isn’t a place the alpha would look for me, I don’t think. At the bottom of the advertisement is a small map of Hell with a star over where the bounty hunting trials are. I rip it off and take a deep breath before setting off to find the only wolf in Hell who can help me.
Chapter 5
Lilith Thornblood
“Derek, if that’s you back without my fucking demon—” Caspian pauses mid-sentence, slowly dropping his deep caramel eyes down onto me.
I didn’t think the tip I got from a man outside the large fenced-off area for the demon-hunting trials was right when he said Caspian lived here. Mostly because the man appeared drunk, and it was too lucky that the first person I asked actually knew Caspian at all.
Turns out the long shot was bang on.
Caspian’s six-foot, built-as-hell frame towers over me. I forgot how intimidating his stare is.
“Who the fuck are you and what do you want?”
I’m speechless for a second too long. With unseeable speed, he whips a silver dagger out from his back and places the tip under my chin. Fury burns in his eyes, and two black marks that run down from his forehead and around his eyes to his cheeks glow a vibrant red. “You might be fucking drop-dead beautiful but you won’t trick me into whatever you’re selling. Get the fuck out of here before you regret it.”
He lowers the dagger and walks back into his house.
“I’m Leo’s sister!” I shout seconds before the door shuts in my face.
But then it swiftly swings open again, and Caspian rests his shoulder against the doorframe. This time, he pauses to look at me from head to toe, and I do the same to him.
Caspian Hardling has changed since he was eighteen.
He’s still as breathtakingly handsome as he was then but he is more now. So much more.
Beefy shoulders fill out his white button-down shirt, which is tucked into black leather trousers with laces at the front of his narrow but toned waist. The trousers showcase his thick thighs and other areas. His soft, silky blond hair is tipped white and falls to just below his ears. His ears are spiked at the top, a reminder of his demon blood, and I’ve always thought they suit him. All demons have tipped ears in human form, but it’s more complicated for half-demon, half-wolves like Caspian.
He is rare. Few half-borns survive childhood.
“You grew up, songbird.”
I narrow my eyes at his stupid nickname for me. The memory of it comes back like a hammer. How did I have a crush on this guy? Oh, right. Wine, teenage hormones, and one sexy-ass half-wolf.
Apparently, I sing as well as demon songbirds, which for the record, screech all night and can make human men go deaf. They are popular for torture.
“Clearly you haven’t,” I say, crossing my arms.
“Did you come all the way to Hell to insult me? Or did you miss my pretty face?”
Swallowing my pride, what is left of it, I tell him the truth. “Neither. I need your help because I’m in danger.”
Something changes in his eyes, the playfulness disappearing as he straightens. “I can’t help you. You need to go.”
“Wait!” I stop his door closing in my face this time.
He sighs.
“My brother said you owed him. A life debt, if I’m not mistaken.”
He arches a pierced brow. “And?”
“This will make you even. Help me, for my brother, for the debt if nothing else,” I reply, hoping this will work. I’m sure Leo will go along with the plan if I had any way to safely get in touch with him.
Caspian stares down at me once more, and slowly he steps back, waving me into his house. “Get the fuck in, songbird.”
“My name is Lilith, in case you’ve forgotten,” I respond. I walk into the spacious yet empty room. There is a generic kitchen with four counters, a fridge, and a small bathroom behind a screen on the other side. A double bed is in the middle, with a couch at the end and a big orange rug in front of it. A wardrobe is near the bed, with two hooks on either side and countless weapons hanging off the large hook.
Other than that, there is nothing else here. Nothing personal to be seen.
Caspian slams the door shut behind me and walks around me to the fridge. “Do you drink yet? How old are you again?”
I drop down onto his leather sofa. “Old enough.”
“Good, because we need vodka for this conversation where you blackmail me into saving you from whatever the fuck you have done.”
Caspian brings over a half-drunk bottle of vodka and two shot glasses, chucking one at me. I hold it up, and he pours me a shot. I down it, keeping my eyes on him, and he raises an eyebrow at me before taking his own shot.
He downs another one and then pours himself a third. “Talk.”
“My mum and dad were killed by the Stormfire alpha. He wants me dead, and I need to hide,” I blurt out in one long rush.
Caspian coughs on the shot and smacks his fist against his chest a few times, staring at me with wide eyes.
“Then you’re dead already. I can’t help you fight him,” he replies, still looking shell-shocked.
I get the impression not much surprises this guy.
Rolling my eyes, I glance away. “I know that and I need somewhere to hide in the city. Permanently.”
“Does the alpha know you’re here?”
“Maybe,” I respond, clasping my hands together. “I don’t know for sure. So can I hide here?”
“Minor problem, I’m leaving here tomorrow.” He rubs the back of his neck and tilts his head at me. “The demon hunter trials begin tomorrow, and I’m joining them.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “Do you know anyone who could hide me? Someone you trust?”
He scoffs. “I don’t trust anyone in Hell, and you shouldn’t either, songbird.”
He sits on the sofa next to me, only a few inches between us, and I try not to look at the gorgeous fucker who is clearly going to ditch me.
“I’m sorry about your parents. Really, I am,” he eventually says. “More your mum though. Your dad was a dick.”
“Technically, he wasn’t my dad,” I counter, trying to make light of it with some dark humour.
Caspian chuckles low. “Lucky you.”
We drift into silence once more before Caspian lets out a long sigh. “I’m going fucking mad because I have an idea. It’s crazy, but it just might work if you don’t fuck it up.”
My heart thrashes. “I’m willing to go for crazy right now.”
Caspian’s gaze trails over me, the marks on his cheeks almost glowing red for a second, and I wonder what that means. When he was in Caeli, his marks never glowed, and I overheard him telling Leo that they were from his father’s demon side, not his wolf’s.
“I could get you into the demon hunter trials under a fake name,” he says slowly, “and I doubt the alpha would search for you there. The faces of all contestants are kept a secret, so they can move around the city freely. The alpha gives his protection to each of the ten winners. If you could win, which I highly doubt, by the way, you could gain the alpha’s protection. Then he won’t be able to kill you without breaking his vow.”
“Which means death for an alpha,” I whisper, filled with hope. “You’re right… That is a crazy plan.”
“Told you. Now the question is, can you fight? Do you know fuck all about demons?”
“Well, I know you.”
He smirks and rests back, picking the vodka bottle up and taking a long drink. “That you do, songbird. That you do.”
I just manage to res
ist snorting at him. “I don’t think your plan will work, but it might buy me more time to find a safe place to escape. Somewhere the Stormfire alpha can’t reach,” I say and stand off the sofa. I snatch the vodka bottle from his hands and take a sip.
He grins when I scrunch my face up at the taste. “There are no demons on the moon.”
Rolling my eyes, I shove the bottle back his way. “I’ve always wanted to be a demon hunter.”
Caspian slowly moves his attention up my body, and I feel his gaze like fire against my skin until he clashes with my eyes.
“You’re going to make an interesting partner, songbird.”
“Thank you for helping me,” I reply shakily.
He stands, stretching his long, thick arms. “Don’t thank me yet. There is every chance the leader of the trials is going to take one look at you and say fuck no.”
“Then I’ll have to be charming,” I say with a wink.
Caspian flashes me a devilish smirk. “If you can charm the alpha’s only son, then I’m a fucking virgin.”
He laughs, walking away from me. My cheeks burn as red as my hair. I have to get into these trials; alpha’s son or not, I’m going to get in.
“By the way, we need to dye that white streak of hair. It makes you stand out,” he calls back, walking to his door. “Don’t go anywhere, songbird.”
“Like I can!” I shout as he leaves me alone in his apartment.
What the hell, pun intended, have I gotten myself into?
Chapter 6
Lilith Thornblood
A warm breeze drifts over me and drags my hair over my face. I brush the strands back and tuck the now-dyed lock behind my ear. I’m so used to seeing the white streak in the corner of my eye; it’s strange to lose that part of my identity. But if I want to survive in this world, sacrifices must be made.