Wings Horns and Shifters

by Lacey Carter Andersen

  Which is why even the dead fear death.

  “You boys ready to keep going?” she asked, her gaze running over their wounds.

  Ian opened his mouth to answer, but there was another sound in the darkness. One of rocks and sand shifting beneath footsteps. A demon, perhaps a Level Seven or Eight, stepped out of the shadows.

  “What do we have here?” The man’s voice was low and sinister.

  A growl slipped from Jaxson’s lips. “We’re on the king’s business, so if you know what’s good for you...”

  The demon raised a brow. “The king’s business? With a human?”

  “She’s a demon,” Jaxson asserted, too quickly.

  “She’s not.” The stranger smirked. “And so, she’s not protected by the king’s law. In fact, any human found on this realm is condemned to death. Something I’ll be happy to enforce... after I’m done with her.”

  Ian felt his panther uncurl within him. If he tries to touch her, I’ll kill him.

  “You’re making a mistake,” Ian said. “One that will cost you your life.”

  The stranger’s blade appeared in his hand. “You Level Ten’s are all the same. Cocky bastards... right until I watch the life drain from your eyes.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Zane laughed. “This fight will be over faster than you can shit.”

  “Perhaps against just me. But what about two dozen lonely demons who want a taste of your little friend?”

  Ian’s skin prickled, and he inhaled sharply. There, beneath the scent of ash, was the smell of many sweaty bodies. Glancing at his brothers, he realized they’d scented their enemies too.

  There’s only one way we’ll take down all of them. And I’m only too glad to do it.

  “You may have killed our little pets, but you won’t win these odds.” The demon smiled, a cruel smile. “So why not just give her to us?”

  Lily took a step forward, her stance that of a fighter. “I can’t wait to help them rip you to pieces.”

  Your wish is my command.

  Sending his blade away, he gave himself up to his other side. It took him only a second, and then, he Shifted, taking on his panther-form. Crouching low, his tail swung behind him as he stared at the demon, waiting.

  Ready for blood.

  He watched the demon’s eyes widen. And then the coward stepped back, stumbling as he did so. Out of the darkness, dozens of glowing soul-blades appeared in the shadowed hands of their other enemies.

  Jaxson had Shifted too, into a massive dark wolf with scars on one side of its face. Every hair on his body stood on end, and Ian sensed the power building beneath his flesh. Like Ian, Jaxson had an instinctual need to protect the female in their care and kill their enemies.

  But there’s something even more. A need to not just protect a female. A need to protect this female.

  Zane Shifted a second later. Where once his smiling eternal-brother stood, a black dragon with shimmering scales, spikes on its back, and slitted eyes watched them.

  “What now, demons?” Lily taunted, holding her sword out before her. “Will you fight or run like cowards?”

  Her words seemed to break everyone from their shock. Good. We want to fight them now, when we expect them.

  From all sides, demons came at them. But he and his brothers weren’t worried.

  Not as long as she has the common sense to stay behind us.

  Ian leapt on the first demon who approached him, avoiding his opponent’s sword and tearing out his throat. The bastard didn’t even have time to react. Leaping from his body, he barely avoided a sword in the back.

  Squaring off with the next man, a demon with blonde hair and the build of a titan, he tensed, ready for battle. I hope you’re ready to die!

  The world around them was suddenly lit by reds and oranges as Zane took to the air, blazing hot death over the demons. Screams echoed around them, but Ian kept his gaze trained on the demon before him, his desire for blood and death building.

  The next enemy didn’t go down so easily. Ian raced around him, darting out of reach of his weapon and waiting for his chance to strike. At last, the man swung his sword out, too hard, and it hit the ground. And then, Ian was on the demon’s back, his jaw clamping onto his shoulder.

  His opponent tried to fight him, but his attack was useless. Slowly, he sank to his knees. His blade arm falling to his side.

  Ian shook him until blood coated his muzzle. Until the demon stopped moving.

  Spinning around, he heard the clanging of swords. Not far from him, Lily faced off with a massive demon. Over and over again their swords met, but she never slowed nor struggled under the more powerful blows of her attacker.

  Ian started toward her. She spun behind her enemy, kicked the back of his knees, sending him tumbling to the ground, and brought her sword down on his head.

  The demon collapsed, unmoving.

  She looked to Ian, their eyes meeting for a split-second before they turned to face any new dangers. But the shadows were silent.

  Jaxson rushed back to their party, moving to stand at Lily’s side. In a surprisingly intimate gesture, she reached down and stroked the fur of his back.

  Our enemies are defeated. Zane’s words echoed in his mind from somewhere high above them.

  You’re certain? Ian thought back.

  Yes, but we should be extra cautious on this journey. These demons knew about her from someone. Probably someone capable of teleportation from the city. Someone within the king’s trusted men.

  Ian stiffened. One of our own? Couldn’t it just be Zarr’s people?

  Why would he lead her out here simply to get the wild demons to attack her? There are far easier ways to kill a half-breed.

  Zane landed a moment later, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Stretching his wings out, he reared back, attempting to impress Lily. And from the way she gazed at him, Ian thought his brother’s plan might have worked. When he settled back on the ground, he Shifted, slowly taking his human form once more.

  Then, Ian Shifted back, thinking over his brothers words. Zane was right, but the idea that they had a traitor in their midst didn’t sit well with him.

  As the three men returned to their demon forms, Lily glanced at all of them, one brow raised. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Jaxson stood from his crouched position on the ground, blood splattering across his bare chest. “Nothing that you need to be concerned about.”

  She made an annoyed sound but shrugged. “I’ve heard that before, but I’ll let it go. For now.”

  I bet. Ian thought, with a smile.

  For the remainder of the journey, they left their blades out but didn’t encounter any other dangers. When they reached Zarr’s cave, Ian was surprised yet again by Lily. The woman strode right in, as if she owned the place. As if she was expected.

  This woman—

  His thoughts froze as a bloodcurdling scream filled the air.

  Lily started running. They followed, right on her heels.

  As they rounded a corner, they came face-to-face with a crude door made of the white plants found in the higher demon-realms. Lily didn’t hesitate. She kicked the damn door over and over until it simply fell in.

  On the other side, Zarr jumped away from a cauldron simmering in the middle of his cluttered cave. A young woman sat, tied to a chair in the corner of the room.

  Her friend.

  Lily marched right up to the demon, grabbed him by his dark hair, and jerked his head back. Without a word, she pressed the blade of her sword against his throat. “Ready to die, asshole?”

  He and his brothers stiffened. Is she actually planning on killing him?

  Zarr’s eyes widened in fear. “But if you kill me, who will tell you of the prophecy?”

  Ian held his breath. Was this a game? How would she respond?

  She smirked and kicked his knees out from under him, bringing him to the ground, her hand still gripping his hair. “You’ve got one minute to convince me not
to kill you.”

  Chapter Eight

  Every inch of Lily was aware of Kate, tied to the chair in the corner. She couldn’t see any signs of injury, other than tiny burn marks on her flesh from the sparks that rained from the sky, but that didn’t mean this bastard had been kind to her. He was going to pay. She just hadn’t decided how badly.

  Yet.

  “The prophecy,” Zarr said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Spells the destruction of the half-breeds. And only you can stop it.”

  Her grip tightened on his head. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

  His words came out faster, frightened. “I’m sorry I took your friend, but I needed you to come here, and it was the fastest way. But the prophecy is real. The time of half-breeds hiding safely among the humans on Earth is coming to an end.”

  “And what the hell am I supposed to do about your little fairy tale?”

  “The Department is testing out a device capable of telling if someone is a half-breed.”

  That can’t be possible.

  He must have seen the disbelief in her eyes, because more words rushed out. “They have a place they keep people they suspect of being more than human. They just appointed a new head of The Department, and the device is nearly finished. Once they prove it works, they’ll replicate it and no one will be safe.”

  If what he’s saying is true, we have to stop it.

  “So why come to me about this little problem then?”

  The demon studied her for a moment. “Because you work with the Hunters. And because you have the clearance to get close to the device.” He hesitated for half a second. “And because the new head of The Department is someone you know. A man named Blake.”

  My ex-fiancé? He can’t be serious!

  Then, the demon whispered, “and you know he’d do anything for you.”

  Releasing her hold on Zarr, she tossed him onto the ground and went to Kate. “You okay?”

  Kate looked pale, but otherwise in good health. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

  “So are you going to help?” Zarr challenged, rising onto his elbows.

  She untied her friend, keeping the demon in her peripheral vision. When the ropes were loose, she helped Kate stand and turned back to the demon. Something in her expression made him cower back from her.

  “And what’s in it for you? Why do you suddenly care about the fate of a bunch of half-breeds?”

  The demon slowly rose to his feet, his expression serious. “My daughter, Eveleen, is in their testing facility. I visit her, but I can’t get her out.”

  Her stomach twisted. No wonder he’d been desperate enough to kidnap her friend.

  “And you couldn’t just tell me that when you showed up at my place?”

  “To be fair, I didn’t think you’d be this reasonable.” He muttered. “And also, I wanted to show you what I could of the facility.”

  “Show me?” she frowned.

  What the hell does that mean?

  He gestured to the caldron beside him.

  Suddenly, Jaxson stepped forward from the doorway. “Don’t look. Voltorra demons are known for being untrustworthy.”

  Zarr glared at the other demon. “All of us are known for being untrustworthy, but I’m not going to harm the only person capable of saving my daughter.”

  “If you even have a daughter!”

  “Stop!” Lily shouted.

  The idea of half-breeds being kept as prisoners, and of a device capable of identifying her people, was enough to make her take the risk. She didn’t trust Zarr, but she couldn’t just ignore the possibility of something so dangerous.

  “Take Kate,” she ordered Jaxson.

  He glared, not moving.

  Ian stepped around his brother. “Kate, will you wait with me over here?”

  Her friend cast a nervous glance her way.

  She nodded. “They’ll keep you safe.”

  Kate shuffled after Ian, only looking back once.

  When she was sure her friend was safe, she turned back to Zarr. “Okay, demon, show me what you got.”

  Zarr got to work, adding strange smelling herbs to the bubbling waters in a frenzy. Before, at last, just stopping to stand over the dark waters. Speaking softly—words she didn’t understand—he slowly wove his spell.

  Jaxson and Zane moved to stand closer to her, the comfort of their presence overwhelming. Each man flanked her, so close they could almost touch her. Although they didn’t.

  When an image formed in the dark waters, she leaned forward, bespelled. And then, more and more images came at her, faster and faster.

  A metal hallway circled around, passing dozens of prison cells. The magic propelled the images forward, through one room after another at a fast speed. Past several thick metal doors, a room with a strange contraption, like some freaky ray gun, sat in the center of a table, being worked on by several scientists. Back down the hall, past several doors, they went into an office. Behind the desk, Blake sat in a dark suit. As they moved closer to him, she saw what he was staring at: a picture of her.

  And then the image faded away.

  Staggering back, she nearly lost her balance, but Jaxson and Zane grasped each of her arms, keeping her up. When her legs stopped trembling, she tugged her arms free of them and turned her gaze to Zarr.

  “Do you know where the facility is located?”

  Zarr folded his arms over his chest. “No. I can teleport in to see my daughter, but I can’t identify where they’re keeping her. I figured you could find that piece of information.”

  How helpful.

  “I guess that’s that then.”

  Starting toward the door, she paused as she was about to pass the demon. Without warning, she punched him as hard as she could in the face.

  He hit the ground, unmoving. Sprawled and unconscious in a pile of limbs.

  Zane gave her a disapproving look.

  “That was me being merciful. If he ever touches Kate again, I’ll tear him to shreds.”

  Ignoring his stunned expression, she left the room. Out in the cave tunnel, Ian and Kate spoke softly to one another. But both stopped when they saw her.

  Kate hurried to her and threw her arms around Lily’s neck.

  Lily squeezed her friend right back, feeling her eyes sting. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “I knew you’d come for me. When I heard noises, I screamed. Hoping it was you. Hoping you would find me.”

  “Always,” Lily whispered, the word a promise.

  When Kate pulled back, Lily had to close her eyes for a second to fight the tears threatening to spill. She had to do better. The young woman deserved it.

  As they started back down the mountain, Kate spoke to Ian and Zane, her sadness quickly replaced by small smiles, and eventually, a permanent blush. Lily hung back, overwhelmed by her emotions. She hated that because of who Lily was, Kate was constantly put into danger. If anything ever happened to her, she’d never forgive herself.

  “She’s fine,” Jaxson said, his voice forcefully gruff.

  Lily jerked her chin up. “Of course she is.”

  “And it wasn’t your fault she got mixed up in this.”

  Lily snorted. “Of course it was. I’m the reason—“

  Suddenly, she couldn’t finish her sentence. I’m the reason she’s always in danger.

  Jaxson grabbed her arm and stopped her.

  Looking up into his handsome face, she reached up, longing to touch the scars on his right side. The ones that still looked painful.

  He flinched and started to pull back, but she wouldn’t let him. Instead, she gripped his arm with one hand, while she let her fingertips graze his scars, his strong chin, and finally his lips.

  “What are you doing?” his brows were wrinkled, but his dark eyes held uncertainty.

  “I don’t know,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “I guess... just making sure I don’t forget anything about you.”

  “Lily—“

  “You guys coming?” Zane sh
outed. “Kate’s ready to go home.”

  She pulled away from him and started after the others, Jaxson following slowly behind. When they reached the edge of the mountain, they teleported, appearing at the edge of the city. There, to her surprise, her father was waiting.

  His gaze slowly ran over her. “Did Zarr hurt you in any way?”

  She smirked. “Not a chance.”

  “Good,” he said. “Now, it’s time for you to return home. I’ll take you back.”

  She wanted to protest, but she could think of no good reason to do so. “Alright.”

  Looking back at the three demons she’d fantasized about more times than she could count, she thought of something clever she could say. Something memorable. “Well, it’s been fun.”

  Basically, anything but that.

  And then, they shimmered away, and she was standing in her apartment once more.

  Her father hugged her awkwardly, wished her the best, and left.

  Kate gave a deep sigh and headed for the shower, promising to tell her everything after getting clean, eating, and taking a nap. The second the girl was out-of-sight, Lily collapsed onto the edge of their bed, staring up at the ceiling. She needed a plan. She had to find Blake, destroy the device, and help the half-breeds.

  But instead, she was thinking of the three handsome demons and all the things she wished she’d said and done.

  Regret tastes pretty damned awful.

  Chapter Nine

  The last thing Jaxson wanted to do was have an audience with his king. But the devil wasn’t exactly known for his patience. So, he and his brothers stood before his throne, finally finished sharing most of their tale.

  Except for the whole sleeping with his daughter thing. Jaxson didn’t have a death wish, after all.

  “So that’s all Zarr showed her? You’re certain?” the demon-king pressed.

  “That’s everything,” Ian asserted.

  The king crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. After an uncomfortably long silence, he sighed.