by Holly Evans
"He is my happiness. We just have to work through some stuff, is all."
I nodded and let him go and have his talk. I wasn't happy about his decision, but it was his to make.
Lysander nibbled my earlobe. "The territory needs claiming."
I laughed. "It also needs to have our stuff in it, and I need to learn to control my fire."
He gave me a sinful smile. I ran my nails down his chest and abs.
"We'll have all night to claim this flat."
"Do you think that'll be long enough?" he said, his lips almost touching mine.
"We'll have to see, won't we?" I kissed him fiercely.
I wasn't going to get anything done with him around, and I found I wasn't too concerned.
Forty-Five
The few boxes that held our belongings were pressed against the far wall of the living room, tucked up next to the large sofa. I was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the living room floor glaring at my up-turned hands, trying to figure out why I couldn't form fire. I'd done it before, why couldn't I do it on command? What was wrong with me?
Lysander sat in front of me, his legs tucked next to him. "Breathe, Evelyn, these things take time."
I took a long deep breath and tried to relax. I knew it wouldn't be something I mastered in an hour, but I hadn't even formed a tiny flame in the hours we'd been there. The sun was sinking below the red rooves, and I still didn't have any fire. The last times that I'd made any real progress, lives had been in danger; I wasn't willing to do that just to try and control the absurd magic I'd been landed with. Quin had at least been given alchemy that seemed to be useful; he could explode jars, and there I was with nothing.
Lysander ran his hands over mine. "Focus, Evelyn. You have a lot of anger, focus it. Form it into a small ball in your chest, then channel that through your hands."
I went to argue with him, to tell him that I didn't have a lot of anger, but he was right. And I hated that. When had I become so closed and bitter? I took another deep breath and bundled up all of my anger into a tight little ball in my mind. I allowed the images of Kadrix hurting Quin to flit through my mind, quickly chased by the smirks of the celestials, the hellmouth, before they settled on the wreckage of my home. The witches would pay.
"Channel it, Evelyn."
It sounded so stupid, pushing the ball down my arms into my hands, but I tried. Warmth spread over my skin; I tried not to laugh giddily. It was foolish.
"Focus, Evelyn."
I formed the image of the witches once more, pushing the ball down my arms. I visualised a black ball swirling with anger, one in the palm of each hand.
"Well done, Evelyn."
Slowly I opened my eyes and laughed with glee. I'd done it. Small yellow fired danced in the palms of my hands. They sputtered and died when happiness filled me, but I'd done it.
I threw my arms around Lysander. "Thank you."
"It's not such a bad thing being an abomination, a magic wielding beast, is it?"
I bit his bottom lip. "It has its upsides."
His hands slid under my shirt. "The sun has set,” he whispered before he kissed down my throat.
He pulled my shirt over my head and slowly kissed down my ribs and over my stomach while his hands made quick work of my jeans.
"No more interruptions,” he whispered.
Oh, how he teased me. It felt like I lay on the warm wood for hours as he took me to the edge of pleasure, keeping me at the very precipice. He had no right to be that talented with his tongue, and his fingers were something else entirely. The moment I had my chance I took control; his clothes had long since been removed, leaving nothing in the way of my goal. I pinned him down and scratched down his chest, bringing out that purring growl that sent shivers down my spine. Any patience I may have had to explore and tease him had evaporated. I straddled him and took what I'd so desperately wanted.
We thoroughly claimed our territory, all through the night and firmly into the morning. We were sprawled on the bed, a relaxed heap of exhausted tingling nerves and bliss when my phone rang. Elise giggled at me and insisted that I let my poor hound rest and recover while I went and had lunch with her. I wondered whether I should bother putting concealer on the love bites down my neck and over my shoulders. The idea was quickly dismissed; why should I hide what I had? Lysander was equally as covered, his back criss-crossed with scratches. Oh, how he'd earnt them.
We went our separate ways with a hard kiss. Lysander said he was going for a run along the river. Everything was returning to where it was supposed to be. The city was calm, our group was coming back together. I gave a quiet thanks to the moon goddess.
Forty-Six
Elise and I giggled like schoolgirls. We talked in hushed tones about the men we'd enjoyed the night before; I carefully tried to avoid the topic of longer-term relationships. She pined after her one, after something more than a night of fun.
I chewed on my bottom lip. "Did you know elves aren't monogamous?"
She wrinkled her nose. "I did. Quin's handling it really well, though; Kadrix is very fond of him."
"I suppose I can't comment, given my choice in men."
She smirked at me. "You've done quite well for yourself."
She looked pointedly at my neck. I giggled again. For a short time, I had the normal life I'd craved for so long. The most serious topic we touched on was Quin and Kadrix, and even that evaporated quickly. It felt strange, some part of me craving something more. I pushed it aside in favour of something easier, more comfortable. Once we were out of the café and somewhere a little more private, I excitedly told Elise about my progress with my fire.
"Oh, Evie, I'm so happy for you! I don't know why you have it, but I'm so glad to see you coming out of your shell. I was worried about you for a while. You were this little island all by yourself."
I frowned. "Was I that bad?"
"I was your only friend and you refused to get laid,” she said with a laugh.
I shoved my hands down into my jeans. "I don't know what I am."
She put her arm around my shoulders. "Does it really matter? You're finally realising the world isn't black and white, that's a wonderful thing."
I huffed. "I suppose I do have Lysander."
She laughed. "I haven't seen you this happy since we were little girls."
I froze.
Absolute, pure terror filled me. My heart stopped beating. The world stopped turning.
"Evie! Evie, talk to me."
"Lysander." I snapped to. I had to save him. "Call Quin. Get everyone. The demon found my hound."
I ran. The city blurred around me. I had to get to him. Elise was close at my side as we tore through parks and emerged by the river. I could feel him. His pounding heart. His adrenaline. I'd made a promise, and I wasn't about to break it.
The river churned a grey-brown, lapping gently against the bank as though everything were right with the world. Birds had the audacity to chirp a cheerful song while I was racing to save my dear Lysander. My blades were in my hand as I broke away from the river and turned into an industrial estate. Warehouses and similar buildings surrounded the broken concrete, each boxy and grey. The details didn't matter. Lysander was snarling, blood marked his face and trickled down the back of his neck. Tyres screeched, voices cut through the haze of emotion. I was covered in fire. I could do this.
The demon was fluctuating between two forms. One was a large man, broad, heavily muscled like an American football player. The other stood over seven feet tall with dark red skin and a set of black horns that curled around the back of his head. His attention snapped to me and those around him as I ran to my hound's side. His visage settled on the human one. Black shapes flitted and formed on the rooftops. Witches.
I put myself between Lysander and the demon. It may have been the stupidest decision I made, but I stood by it. The demon laughed; even the witches cackled. I finally became aware of the others around me. Elise was on my right, glowing white. Quin was on my left, blue balls in his
hands with Kadrix next to him. Felix and a small number of his pack fanned out to the left of the demon, slowly encircling him. Azfin and some fae I didn't recognise emerged from behind me. Elise really had summoned everyone. A small flush of pride and happiness formed through the cracks in the fury and terror.
It happened in the blink of an eye. The air was suddenly filled with bright lights, fogs, curses, and the gods only knew what else. Screams cut through the sound of breaking bones and tearing muscles. The witches had been stupid enough to jump in and fight physically. I hacked at the closest one; she quickly set on fire. Her flailing and screamed spells did nothing to help her.
I growled, "Hellfire, bitch."
Quin was throwing his blue balls at the demon while fighting off another witch. I kept Lysander behind me. The demon wasn't going to get anywhere near him. The lycans worked as a group and launched themselves at the demon. They were soon writhing on the floor; the demon stood and laughed, not a scratch on him. Elise remained at my side. We pushed forward, slashing and stabbing anything between us and our goal. The Sidhe made light work of the witches; others were still on the rooves, throwing curses and other magical shit. I only had eyes for that demon.
I was vaguely aware of being entirely on fire. The fire itself seemed to have a mind of its own as it flared and danced around me. The demon watched our approach with a small smirk. We paused; surely he wasn't that confident without some reason. Lysander had said he was powerful. I wished I'd studied more on demons. No, I wished demons hadn't broken through into my city. Elise began muttering something under a breath, a rhythmic chant that increased in intensity as we began circling around the demon, closing in. A pillar of bright white light struck him. I took the opportunity and charged in, my celestial blades in my hands. I caught sight of Lysander to my left. There was no time to stop him. To keep him safe.
My blades cut through the uppermost layer of the demon's skin, and nothing more. I collided with the cold concrete. Air was driven from my lungs. Nothing but pain registered for a few long seconds. Lysander was scrambling back to his feet, preparing to try again. Elise was weaving something pure white around the demon. The witches were closing in around her, but Azfin was too quick for them. I spun my blades and circled around the demon, trying to draw his attention away from Elise. She dropped to her knees; the white strands vanished. The demon grinned. Lysander was behind him. I returned the demon's grin and stalked up to him, blades spinning. I didn't know what damage Lysander could do, but I couldn't let the demon see him.
Quin's blue ball flew past my face and hit the demon in the stomach. He snarled and spat fire. Lysander leapt on his back and sank his teeth into the demon's shoulder. I ran at him, Kadrix next to me. We hit the demon as one. Kadrix's foot struck the demon squarely in the nose. I drove my celestial blade as deep into his thigh I could. It wasn't enough, but it was something. Lysander went flying. Kadrix and I weren't far behind him. The demon had tossed us aside like rag dolls. I shook my head to try and clear my vision. Elise was back up. The white was forming again. Quin was next to her. His lips were moving.
The lycans and Sidhe were working together as I slowly got to my feet. Everything hurt. Something warm trickled down my back and over my ribs. I coughed hard. It took more than that to keep me down. I shook my head again, trying to shake away the darkness clinging to the edge of my vision. The white ropes tightened around the demon. Kadrix was up, Lysander was standing. A little wobbly, but he stood. The lycans were circling, but there was room. Once more, we charged as one. The demon was screaming and fighting against the ropes. His eyes locked with Elise. She crumpled to her knees but carried on chanting. All colour left her face. Quin went down. The ropes vanished when we were one stride away. I managed to get down to bone that time, in his shoulder. Everything went black.
I came to and wished I hadn't. Everything hurt. Somehow, it managed to be a maelstrom of different pains, each competing to drown out my other senses. I blinked a few times and sat up. My jeans had holes in them; there was a small blue fire on my shin. My ribs bore a green mark and felt as though I had severe frostbite. I hated witches. It was chaos around me. My legs supported me when I stood; Elise and Quin were both kneeling and glowing pure white. The demon was squirming against more white ropes while Lysander struggled back to his feet. Kadrix stood over Elise and Quin; three Sidhe were standing guard around them. A witch threw a curse at me, a manic grin plastered to her bright pink lips. I couldn't move as quickly or gracefully as I'd have liked, but I covered the few feet between us. She gurgled and choked when she slumped down at my feet. I pulled my blades from her stomach. One less witch in the world.
Lysander was slowly circling around the demon again. The lycans were mostly standing with a few Sidhe and what could have been a redcap in their numbers, all keeping the witches at bay. Something long and pointed was forming in front of Quin and Elise. I turned as quickly as I could and hacked off a witches hand just as she unleashed some curse at me. Horror filled her face as she looked at the bloody stump; she turned tail and ran. I continued on towards Quin and Elise. I had to help. The white object before them solidified into a spear. A pure-white glowing spear. I ran and snatched it from in front of them. Lysander was behind the demon, his eyes dark, his mouth twisted into a snarl. I caught his eye, he gave me a small nod. He had to be the one to do it. Elise and Quin were focused on me, Kadrix was doing something with his hands. I threw the spear to Lysander.
The spear swerved from the bad angle I'd thrown it at and landed in Lysander's hands. I grinned and gave a nod to Kadrix before I threw one of my blades at the witch who'd managed to sneak up behind him. She stumbled backwards with the small silver knife jutting out from her throat. Kadrix landed a spinning kick to her head; she fell onto her side, where she stayed. The demon howled when Lysander's throw was true and the spear pierced its back. It was accompanied by a great clap of thunder and a wave of heat that threw everyone back off their feet. The ropes slipped away from him and the demon vanished.
It felt wrong.
The witches quickly followed suit and ran away as quickly as they could. I couldn't explain it, but something was wrong. I swallowed down whatever was eating at me and ran as quickly as my wobbly legs would let me to my dear hound. We fell to our knees in each others arms. I kissed all over his face and held him close to me.
"I'm so sorry, I should have stayed closer to you."
His blood smeared my face, consciousness threatened to leave me. The pain crashed down from every angle. I was tired. So very tired.
Forty-Seven
I did manage to stay conscious.
Everyone was injured, some worse than others. Kadrix fussed over Quin while I checked on Felix and his pack. It was important to keep the alliances we'd managed to form over the weeks. Lysander remained at my side; we both limped and stumbled, but we were alive and moving. Felix gave thanks for our consideration and offered to help us get home. Azfin and his Sidhe were the least injured of everyone. They helped heal Quin before they offered to help Lysander and I.
"We'll do this one for free, but don't think we'll be making a habit of it."
"Thank you, Azfin,” I said.
He allowed himself a small smile as he worked; the pain somehow intensified. Consciousness fled.
I came to in less pain than I had been, still on the concrete. There were no fires and Azfin was gone. Lysander kissed me tenderly.
I stroked down his neck. "It's over."
He smiled and helped me to my feet. Quin was standing; he was leaning on Kadrix, but he was standing. Elise pulled us into a tight hug.
"What did you, what was…?" I managed to ask.
She frowned and looked at me a minute before she said, "Oh! Well, that was magic. Quin helped, it seems he has some interesting skills. He was more acting as battery for me, as his skills are so new and raw.”
I nodded as though I had some idea what she was talking about.
She laughed. “Let’s get home.”
&nb
sp; We were herded into a big black car; Elise headed to another vehicle somewhere. I curled up with Lysander, my head on his warm chest, his arm around me. He was safe.
I thanked Felix again for his help. Lycans weren't quite the beasts I'd originally thought. It stung a little to see how my views were evolving, but I shrugged it off. The new flat felt odd. Kadrix and Quin were already there. Quin was lying on the sofa with a blanket over him.
I stroked his hair. "Are you ok?"
He smiled. "I'll survive."
"You should be very proud of him, Evelyn. He helped Elise with very old, very powerful magic,“ Kadrix called from the kitchen.
I scowled at him. "I am very proud of him, and I don't appreciate you insinuating otherwise."
He smirked at me. "I see you finally had your mating rituals."
I rolled my eyes and led Lysander to the bath with the jets.
"Dinner will be twenty minutes."
"Thank you, Kadrix,” I called back.
The jets on the bath were wonderful. My muscles relaxed, some of the aches and pains vanished, and that was without Lysander's magical touch. Fresh clothes helped my mood some, too. I needed some more jeans, though. I was going to keep a jeans company in business, the way I was going. We didn't have a proper dining table, so we clustered around the kitchen wall, counter, thing. Kadrix was a surprisingly good cook. I'd half expected to be given some colourful powders with a potion and a dash of gloop. Instead, he'd put together a divine chicken dish with wine and cheese. I had no idea what it was called, I just knew that it was the best food I'd had in a very long time.
"If you cook like this, you can stay any time you want,” I said to Kadrix with a grin.
He narrowed his eyes at me. "I was under the impression that I could stay when I pleased as long as Quin was with me."
I laughed.
Quin kissed the elf's cheek and cleared away the plates. "You can stay whenever you want, you don't even have to cook. Evie was paying you a compliment."
