by J. T. Bock
That's when he took a step forward. I was wrapped in his arms quickly. "Daniel and I got word a few minutes ago that Ross found Destiny," he whispered against my hair. "I didn't want to tell you about Shelbie until after breakfast. I see you already knew. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I wish you'd come to me last night."
"What could you have done?" My voice trembled as I pulled away from him.
"I would have held you," he said simply. "You could have listened to the phone conversations I made, sending the Prince of California and his people after Ross' Demons. We're on their trail, but they're headed in this direction. I told Prince Alfred to keep them in his sights, and Prince Edmund and his crew are waiting to Join Alfred's team when Ross and his thugs cross into Oregon. As long as Ross is headed this way, I think he'll keep Destiny alive. He doesn't think anybody knows he's on the way here, but he has to have a bargaining chip, baby, just in case. He knows I'll tell Edmund and Alfred to back away if a young Demon's life is at stake."
"She's scared," I mumbled against his chest when he pulled me close again.
"I know."
* * *
Parke
Cassie was terrified for her sister. I couldn't blame her—if Louise were in the same situation, I'd be scared to death, too. Especially if she were surrounded by Demons who could kill her easily.
I didn't tell Cassie what else I knew—Prince Willis of Alabama was with Ross. I had no idea who wanted to take me down, but it didn't matter. At the moment, they didn't know I knew anything. It also didn't take many brain cells to determine that this would come down to the full moon on Christmas—and that sent a shiver up my spine.
If Ross and Willis were in contact with rogue werewolves, and made promises that they could hunt any shifter they wanted afterward, why wouldn't the rogue wolves stand with the regime poised to take over the Chancellor's position?
That meant we had two days. I needed to make more calls—and fast.
* * *
Cassie
"We're postponing Christmas," Kate sighed and set a cup of coffee in front of me at the kitchen island. Parke was served next—I looked awful after crying for hours; Parke's face was drawn with worry. He'd gotten a call on his cell while I dressed for breakfast, and he'd moved into his suite and shut the door to take it. The call worried me—Parke looked grim when he came back moments later to escort me to the kitchen.
Celebrating Christmas, too—if any of us were still alive—was the last thing on my mind. Destiny came first, and I was terrified and angry at the same time. If Ross intended to kill her, he may as well take me on as Fire Demon—I didn't intend to let him get away with this.
"Sweetheart," Parke said, "I'm afraid Prince Willis has allied with Ross and both are coming this way." I stared at him, stunned for a moment, before white-hot anger slammed into me.
"Cassie, sweetheart, your eyes are going dark," Parke cautioned.
"Huh?" I turned toward him and forced my anger down.
"That's better," he shook his head. "Save it for the full moon—I think we'll need it."
* * *
The following day and a half, I swung between terror and fury. Parke received regular updates on Ross and Willis' approach—they were timing everything right to arrive in Seattle just before the full moon rose.
It was anybody's guess where they'd choose to make their stand, but it made sense that they'd go for a spot where a small demon war would go unremarked by the human population.
At least by their standards.
I know Parke worried about it too—probably more than I did because he was the Chancellor. Another day, perhaps, I'd ask him whether his father had ever faced anything this serious in his tenure as King of the Demons.
"Come with me," Parke arrived in the kitchen, where I stood staring at refrigerator shelves, pondering whether to eat something. My stomach rebelled and argued against every selection inside the roomy appliance.
"Where are we going?" I asked, shutting the fridge door.
Parke took my left hand and lifted it to his lips. I'll never forgive myself if we die without consummating our marriage, he informed me telepathically.
"Huh? Parke, I uh," my face went from merely hot to blazing.
"What?" He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me.
"I've never," I hung my head. Why did I feel shame over this? Aunt Shelby always said I should find a nice human and get on with it, but I hadn't. Now, I was about to show Parke everything I didn't know.
"What?" His hands gripped my shoulders and repeated his question. At least there was a different inflection, this time.
"What I said." I refused to look up. A gentle finger tilted my head up, instead. "I'm glad you told me. I know to hold back, now."
"Hold back?" I stared at him in shock.
"You mean nobody ever told you that you go to Prelim before you—I guess not." He shook his head at my confusion.
"I know about that," I huffed. I'd just never put it into practice.
Prelim. Yes, we have another form—like shapeshifters have another form. It's called Preliminary or Prelim, because it's an interim stage before your Demon Type fully manifests itself.
In that stage, we're taller. Thicker skinned. Many think it's our most beautiful form. It always terrified me to get that far, because my Fire Demon always wanted to come out to play. I'd learned to shut down those thoughts shortly after I learned what I was. After all, I didn't want to burn the house and the neighborhood down because I had no control.
Nowadays, I was the queen of control. If you needed a light for your fire or a cigar, I could do that easily. Containing the full Fire Demon might be another problem.
"I'm afraid I'll hurt you," I said, blinking worriedly at Parke.
He huffed his response, grabbed my hand again and pulled me toward the front door.
Oh gosh, he wasn't kidding.
He intended to do this.
Not that I didn't want him—I did. Because I'd never done this before, I was terrified—for both of us.
I saw the back garden for the first time that afternoon. At the center, surrounded by trees and plants that would be thick with blooms come spring, lay a huge, rock-lined bowl.
It was the first time I'd ever seen a Demon hollow. I'd heard them mentioned, but many demons didn't have the luxury. That meant a pond, ravine or quarry had to serve, depending on the type of demons involved.
Sure, they could have sex with humans, but only in human form. A human didn't call out the Prelim like a demon partner would. If you wanted sex in the back seat of a Chevy, you had to find a human. Two amorous demons in a Chevy would destroy the vehicle.
In seconds.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of you," Parke turned me toward him. Leaning in, he kissed me. That kiss deepened.
Set it free, he urged as he continued to kiss me.
"Afraid," I whispered against his mouth.
Don't be.
Chapter 7
Cassie
I had no idea. None. I'm sure my mother would have explained things—if she'd lived. Shelbie always waited for me to have sex with a human before describing the finer points of demon sex.
Parke had set me on fire.
Literally.
Tiny flames burst at times through my Prelim's skin, licking about Parke's hands and body. Yes, at first I was afraid I'd hurt him. It made him laugh instead, as he gripped my body harder against his and gave me a fanged kiss that nearly melted my heart.
The rock of his Rock Demon showed through at times as he held me so tightly that anyone else would have lost their breath. It exhilarated me, instead. When he pulled me onto the rocks at the center of the hollow, I went with him willingly.
The moment we joined, I keened from the pleasure of it.
I never knew.
I never fucking knew how good it would be.
Gripping stones about me while Parke continued to lavish me with his attention and his body, I crushed the rocks into dust because the sensation
was so intense.
Yes, that's my girl, Parke encouraged. Break them all. I'll find more.
When I came, I felt as if I'd exploded, taking Parke with me. I saw stars, I remember that much, while Parke shouted my name and told me he loved me.
* * *
Parke
If I were resolved before, I was more than determined, now.
Nobody was going to take Cassie away from me. I'd die before I'd let that happen. I think Daniel knew it too, the moment I stalked into Dad's old study after getting Cassie back in her bedroom and encouraging her to soak in the tub for a while.
"You look like your Dad," Daniel ventured.
"What?" I turned swiftly in his direction.
"That look he got at times when somebody needed to be put down," Daniel shrugged.
"Several someones need putting down," I growled.
"We have a fight on our hands," Daniel pointed out.
"You think I don't know that?"
"Save those dark eyes for later," Daniel warned.
* * *
Cassie
If I weren't terrified again, I'd find Parke and ask for a second round of sex. As it was, Destiny's captivity worried me. When would we learn where Ross and his horde intended to meet?
Yes, he was likely to offer Destiny in exchange for Parke stepping down.
That was an offer Parke couldn't accept.
Destiny would die if something weren't done quickly. If Ross had enough demon power at his back, not to mention rogue werewolves and anyone else willing to join the fight, we could all go down.
I knew Parke wouldn't go down without a fight.
I intended to fight beside him. Ross and his horde might kill us, but we'd let him know what we thought of him before we fell.
I dressed in my best and sturdiest jeans, low-heeled boots and a sweater before leaving my bedroom to search for Kate and Louise. I found them in the kitchen, having cocoa while they waited for Parke and Daniel.
Kate offered me a wonderful smile when I appeared—it caused my cheeks to heat. I had no doubt that Parke and I had been noisy enough for anyone inside the house to hear earlier.
Louise surprised me by hugging me and kissing my cheek. "Welcome to the family—for real," she grinned as she stepped back.
"It's tradition in the best families," Kate laughed. "Humans used to hang out bed sheets. Demons destroy their hollow."
"Not to mention the noise," Louise ducked her head and snickered.
"I'll never live this down," I sighed.
"No, sweetheart—this is only the beginning," Parke dropped his arms around my shoulders from behind. "You were perfect."
"We've had word," Daniel said, ignoring Parke's admission with difficulty. "They're making their stand near the base of Mount Pilchuck."
"Pilchuck?" I pulled away from Parke's embrace.
"You know something?" Parke demanded.
"You may get your fried fish sooner than I thought," I said. I didn't bother to explain. Parke nodded before turning toward the door. Daniel, Kate, Louise and I followed him out of the house.
* * *
I'd had poor Christmases in the past, after my mother's death—Daddy no longer cared or celebrated the holiday. Shelbie, who'd died trying to protect Destiny and me, was the one who'd done her best to see we had a Christmas. As we drove along the winding road to our destination, I realized that this might be my worst—and last—Christmas.
After we passed Granite Falls, I wanted to panic. The full moon danced in and out of sporadic cloud cover, while tall firs stretched their branches into the night sky, as if reaching for the brightly shining orb.
I knew who lived where we were going—when I'd been hired into the secretarial pool at Gruber, Taylor and Worth, I'd processed property-tax payments for Geoffrey and Annabelle.
Both had homes in prestigious sections of Seattle. They also owned homes on Mountain Loop Highway, past Granite Falls and not far from Mount Pilchuck. There was only one, however, whose second home would be suitable tonight.
Annabelle's.
I didn't tell Parke that I knew where we were going. He'd likely guessed I knew already. I wasn't sure he knew everything about his erstwhile partners, however. That information could wait until later.
We had demons to fight, first.
* * *
Parke
I drove our van to the rendezvous spot. Daniel knew who waited for us but Mom, Louise and Cassie had come, thinking only to stand with me. Cassie's unquestioning loyalty squeezed my heart. She wanted to stand beside me and fight, even if we went down.
I hoped that wouldn't happen, but was prepared in case it did.
The Prince of Washington State was the first to approach as I stepped out of the van, Daniel and the others following quickly. Cars were parked everywhere, most belonging to allied demons, a few to werewolves sent by the Grand Master.
It was their job to deal with the rogue wolves while my crew and I handled the demons. I prayed we'd survive to raise a glass together afterward.
Many of the werewolves were changed already, some of them howling at the moon high overhead. I didn't care. Let the rogue wolves know they would be challenged.
"Chancellor," Prince Dexter of Washington State offered a respectful head bob.
"Prince Dexter," I acknowledged. "Is everything in place?"
"Yes. Prelims only past this point," he confirmed. "It's less than a mile away."
"Good. Gather the troops. You, Daniel and I will lead."
"Yes, Chancellor."
* * *
Cassie
I went to Prelim for the second time in less than six hours. This time, pleasure wasn't waiting for me.
Just the opposite, in fact.
"You, in the center," Daniel waved an arm at Louise. She growled at him but did as he asked. Kate, Louise and I, making up the only women in what appeared to be a small, demon army, followed Daniel's directive.
I didn't intend to stay in the center long, once I caught sight of Ross.
I'd never let my Demon out to play, before. I'd always held it in check. My mother—and then Aunt Shelbie—always said to practice my control. It helped us live among humans.
Tonight, all their advice would be tossed aside. I'd live or die according to my skill and ability as a Fire Demon. Ross, likely used to fighting, had the advantage, I think. That didn't quell my determination. If he hurt Destiny, I would attack.
When I fell, I intended to do damage on the way down.
That's when it hit me, and in my desperation to reach Parke, I attempted telepathy. Whether it actually worked or not, he heard me.
Parke, I need to get on the far side of this, I whispered into his mind.
Baby? He and the rest of us were running, now. How?
No, he wasn't asking me how I was speaking to him like this. He was asking how I could get on the far side of this fight.
Throw me, I said. If I go full Demon midflight, I won't get hurt when I hit the ground.
Parke cursed. I understood that he was terrified I'd be hurt anyway. This was an opportunity we couldn't let pass, though. Too many lives hung in the balance.
Please, I begged. Your Rock Demon can throw me far enough, I know it.
Get up here, he growled.
On my way.
I increased my speed, while Kate and Louise expressed their displeasure at my outrunning them. In seconds, I ran beside Parke. That's when I was able to see the full Rock Demon for the first time; he turned while he ran.
He was magnificent. At twelve feet, his stride lengthened as he scooped me off the ground with one hand. Be safe, he said and hurled me far into the night.
* * *
Waiting until the last possible moment, my Fire Demon blazed into existence, flying like a fireball through thick stands of trees. Yes, I'd seen the army crowding around Annabelle's house as I flew overhead—Ross and company were waiting for us.
I hit the ground with an explosion, while trees and anything else fl
ammable bloomed with fire about me. I could hear Parke's army coming at a run, their Demon feet hitting the ground and shaking it with their weight and speed. Recklessly, I released every bit of fire I had and ran toward Annabelle's luxury cabin in the woods.
* * *
Parke
Daniel knew what to do. His job was to get Destiny away if possible, before Ross and Willis had a chance to harm her. He and I hoped that his shield would suffice—he needed to stay hidden to grab the girl. Once she was in his arms, she'd be protected by his shield, too.
I'd ordered him to deliver Destiny to Mom and then return to fight. Mom knew to get the girl to safety—I didn't intend to let her fight.
Louise, on the other hand, was an adept fighter. Dad made sure both of us were trained by the best.
The wild card, of course, was Cassie. When she asked me to toss her to the far side, I imagined she intended to set a fire to keep the enemy from running.
Fine by me—one way or another, this would end tonight.
I smelled smoke before I saw flames licking the tops of tall firs—Cassie had done just as I suspected. It meant she was alive and well, too, which eased my mind.
We were almost upon Ross' army when the commotion began; a werewolf from our side chased after the wild boar that brushed past Daniel, on his way down the hill. Something had spooked the animal, but I was concerned that we might need the wolf.
I shouldn't have worried—the boar squealed in seconds before grunting and expiring—the wolf knew his business, at least.
Daniel employed his shield and disappeared before my eyes—he was ready to retrieve Destiny—if she still lived.
Meanwhile, the crackle of flames grew louder, amid the sounds of Ross' army racing in our direction.
He was bringing the fight to us.
All the better.
* * *
Cassie
Ross' army outnumbered ours—that was easy to see, but what he wasn't expecting, and what also surprised me, was that everything was burning or melting in my path. Like a volcano, I melted rock as I raced down the mountain, getting an occasional glimpse of Annabelle's cabin, its outdoor lights shining like a beacon in the clearing ahead.