By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel

by Meghan Maslow

  I launched myself from the outcropping and soared through the skies, then wove through the ravine. An obstacle course made for a dragon. I wanted to roar my happiness, but it wasn't smart to let other predators know we were in the area. Plus, I didn’t like leaving Quinn on his own. I wasn’t sure how close he needed to be to harness our magic. I could be leaving him with only his dagger as defense.

  I’m okay, he thought, startling me. Go eat. I’ll be fine.

  I flew low to the water and saw another advantage to having fairy wings—hovering. As ridiculous as they looked, my wings weren’t all bad.

  A large school of Goldfin Triggerfish swam by and I dove into the water, scooping up a mouthful of the little wiggly critters. I’d never been fond of them in my other form, but they were mighty tasty like this. It only took me a couple dives before I had enough to eat, though I managed to piss off a resident mermaid as she gave me a middle finger salute.

  My belly pleasantly full, I returned to Quinn. He’d obviously finished his meal too and was curled up in a blanket. The mountains were much cooler at night than Hammershore Outpost. I could see him shiver. Well, I’d take care of that. I landed on the outcropping and flopped down, causing him to bounce.

  “Hey, watch it.”

  I ignored him and settled down around him. Using my front teeth, I snagged the back of his tunic and lifted him off his feet.

  “Twig, stop it!” He scrambled to hang on to his blanket. I dropped him by my side and before he could complain, curled around him, making sure my tail boxed him in nice and cozy. I groaned in pleasure. I liked having him touch me. As often as possible. Turns out my dragon was really tactile. At least with our wizard.

  Quinn slapped my side, shooting me a dirty look, but I sensed his pleasure. It only took him a moment to settle down, snug as a wizard in a dragon hug.

  “You sure you don’t want to shift back?” he asked. “We could keep each other warm in other ways.”

  My ears swiveled. Hmmm. I licked my chops, and I’m sure my eyes gleamed.

  He laughed.

  I ruined the effect by yawning, the long day of flight catching up with me. We’d made remarkable time, but at a cost.

  “Fine. Go to sleep, then.” He patted me again and laid his head back.

  My eyes slid shut in no time and I let go.

  “You were magnificent today, Twig,” Quinn whispered.

  I might have rumbled in happiness before sleep claimed me.

  “You have a plan?” Quinn asked as I winged my way toward the castle, the sun barely warming the cool morning air.

  Sort of.

  “Care to share?”

  Sure. I swooped down at the castle at full tilt. Quinn screamed and clasped my neck tight.

  “This is not a plan!” he hollered.

  I begged to disagree.

  We just came within arrow range when a huge volley shot our way. I breathed fire, turning the arrows to ash. Another volley. This time Quinn raised a hand and muttered something under his breath. The arrows stopped in mid-flight. With a flick of his wrist, the arrows reversed course, sailing back the way they’d come.

  Shouting from below let me know that at least some of the arrows found targets. I suspected by the foul words and even worse smell that Nyx kept orcs to protect the battlements. I hated orcs. Not only were they smelly, but they possessed beady little eyes and avaricious natures.

  Those fuckers loved to raid dragon hoards.

  When I’d started my first hoard a platoon of orcs found my treasures. It took me a solid six months to hunt down every last one of them and retrieve what items they had left. It took another six months to find all the treasures they’d sold. I didn’t mind the loss of gold so much—nah, that was a total effing lie, I was pissed—but I’d collected a lot of valuable stones of both the precious and magical variety.

  So orcs weren’t my favorite magical creatures by a long shot. By the tensing of Quinn’s legs around my neck, they weren’t his favorite, either. Unfortunately, I was bound by the Alphae Guild’s stupid ‘do no harm . . . first’ rule and I wasn’t sure if volleying arrows while we were raiding their castle counted legitimately as aggression or would be thought of as self-defense.

  “You’re over thinking it,” Quinn grumbled. He flicked his wrist toward another volley of arrows and we watched as they turned back on their archers. I did my part by turning more rounds of projectiles to ash, but didn’t directly attack the orcs. More’s the pity.

  Well, maybe I couldn’t attack them, but they didn’t know that.

  Swooping low over the battlements, I raced just over their heads. The orcs naturally assumed I was trying to rake them with my fierce claws and more than a few jumped off the ramparts. To fuck with them, I threw myself in reverse and after another pass the vast majority of the orc force had taken one long swan dive off the walls. The remaining force sailed off the wall when Quinn pointed in their direction. My tongue lolled out, and I chortled.

  “Don’t be smug.” Quinn’s voice, of course, was smug as fuck.

  Once the battlements were cleared, I fluttered to the ground, tucked my wings in tight. I wasn’t sure, but I assumed they weren’t as sturdy as normal dragon wings. I spun in a large circle making sure Quinn wouldn’t be in any danger before lowering my neck and letting him climb off.

  Unfortunately, my current form was too large to fit through any of the entrances. I grumbled. Quinn shrugged. Fine. I shifted until I stood on two feet once more. I braced my arms against a wall and took a few deep breaths, willing away the jolt of nausea that still came with shifting between my forms. As soon as I nodded, Quinn handed me clothing from the knapsack. I quickly donned it as he watched the perimeter for stray orcs.

  Once I dressed, I randomly selected an entrance, placing Quinn at my back. Fortunately, my stubborn wizard didn’t argue with me.

  “Do you know where we’re going?”

  “No, but I figured I’d just head toward the stank.” I winked before turning my attention to the next set of passages.

  “Funny.”

  “I endeavor.”

  We continued on until we came to a set of stairs. We could go up or down. Turrets were popular places to lock princesses, right? Nyx struck me as the type who would love to play on that idea. Besides, it would be just like my half-brother to spend his time at the tip of the penis. I didn’t roll my eyes, but it was close.

  After some debating, we headed up the steps. We climbed for what seemed like an hour, but was probably only fifteen minutes. Damn spiral staircases.

  We continued until we crested a small platform with a thick metal door. I tried to open it. Nope, we couldn’t get so lucky as to find it unlocked. Ah well.

  “Stand back, Quinn. I’ll see if I can bust it down.” I retreated a couple steps to build some momentum.

  Quinn sighed, like he was disappointed in me.

  “What?” I grumbled.

  He jabbed himself in the chest with his thumb. “Uh, wizard? I think I can open a door.”

  “You don’t need to get testy.”

  He shot me a dirty look before turning his attention to the door. Closing his eyes for a moment, his brow scrunched under his concentration.

  “There.”

  Before I could move in front of him he shoved the door open.

  “Quinn!”

  A ball of fire engulfed us.

  22

  I threw my arms around Quinn and pivoted to shield him. Fire wouldn’t bother my dragon hide, but Quinn couldn’t boast the same protections. Quinn’s scream terrified me, but it also woke a rage that I hadn’t felt in a long, long time. I roared while sheltering him with my body, felt him go limp in my arms. This was no regular fire ball. I was going to take Nyx apart. Piece by piece.

  I felt for a pulse at Quinn’s neck, relieved it beat strong and steady. It took me a second to realize the fire had disappeared. I was afraid to spin around, though, with Quinn in my arms. Leaving my back unguarded, however, also wasn’t a wise i
dea. I looked over my shoulder, trying to get a better idea what I was up against. A curtain of smoke clouded my ability to see anything. Of course it did. What was it with villains and smoke screens? Couldn’t they come up with something more original?

  We’d have to retreat until Quinn came around. I wouldn’t risk him. I tossed him over my shoulder keeping one hand free if I needed it and hustled back down the steps. I’d only dashed down one turn in the staircase when I heard them. Orcs. A lot of them. Still at the bottom. It wouldn’t be long before we ran into them, though.

  While I wasn’t worried for myself, I wasn’t sure I could protect an unconscious Quinn. I’d have to risk the turret. Spinning on my heel, I charged the doorway at full tilt, hoping my speed would take whatever was in that room by surprise. As I entered, I dodged to the left, slamming the door shut behind me, Quinn bumped on my shoulder like a sack of rock potatoes. I was breathing too heavily to hear whether the door latched behind me. One could only hope.

  I felt a charge in the air. Dammit.

  I dropped Quinn. Cringed when he hit the floor with a thud. I hoped I hadn’t injured him further. No time to check.

  Another fireball struck me straight in the chest and I took the full brunt of the blast. It tickled more than hurt, but the force of it knocked me against the wall. I almost tripped over Quinn’s crumpled form before I pushed myself away.

  If the turret wasn’t so small inside I’d shift, but there wasn’t enough room. I had to handle the danger in this body. Leaving Quinn on the ground, I charged forward, trying to draw the fire away, the smoke still so thick it was hard to make out the source of the magic. I could guess, though.

  “Show yourself, Nyx.” I growled as another fireball struck me. I staggered sideways, my body absorbing the energy of the blast. It came from a different direction than the last one.

  A high-pitched titter in the direction where it originated sent me changing course and skidding on the floor.

  Another fireball struck me in the back, knocking me to my knees. I hopped back up, scanning the area. I could really use Quinn’s ability to clear smoke at the moment. Squinting, I tried to pinpoint any movement. Another laugh and then another fireball. This was getting old.

  “Coward,” I spat as I crouched to get my bearings. I closed my eyes and listened. Movement to my right. Ah, basilisk balls. I sprang in front of another fireball that aimed for where Quinn lay unconscious. Fucker was going down.

  I listened for a moment. Silence filled the room. I needed Quinn to wake up. I could protect him if he could move, but otherwise we were both sitting ducks.

  Pounding on the door startled me. Great, the orcs have arrived.

  Tunneling through our link I looked for any sign of Quinn. I wasn’t sure whether I could nudge him awake, but I needed to try. If he got hurt I didn’t know what I would do. I let him feel my fear for him and that I needed him.

  I heard him gasp, then groan. I moved just in time to intercept another fireball.

  “Twig?” he wheezed.

  “Baby, you all right?”

  “I-I think so? Where are you? I can’t see a thing.”

  “Can you clear this smoke away? I need to see what I’m fighting.”

  He muttered and I felt him drawing strength from me. I backed toward him to make sure I shielded him no matter where the fireballs came from.

  After a moment the air near the door started spinning and the smoke was sucked into a funnel-like cloud before it slipped under the door. I heard loud coughing on the other side and the sound of bodies tumbling down the steps.

  I smiled at Quinn’s cleverness.

  Quinn shuffled over, holding his head.

  “You okay?”

  “Headache like you wouldn’t believe.”

  We scanned the room. Nyx leaned against a wall, his tiny form relaxed. Next to him sat Brandsome’s horn. But that wasn’t what caught my attention. A large pentagram with a sizable demon in it was definitely more concerning. The demon’s skin was mottled red, its eyes large and bloodshot, its teeth gnashing as it hurled itself against the pentagram. Though it was naked, it didn’t seem to have any genitalia, so I couldn’t be sure if it was male or female or if gender even mattered. I never saw a demon like it before, though I was pretty sure it was a Red Fury. In other words, one badass motherfucker. Not good.

  “Twig Starfig,” Nyx sneered. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Where you’re concerned it’s never a pleasure.” I stepped a little closer. When I got my hands around his scrawny little neck . . .

  “Tut tut. Aren’t you glad to see your brother?”

  I snorted. “Like a pox.”

  “Then we’re even. Though you do have impeccable timing.”

  The whole time we bantered the demon threw itself over and over against the pentagram, its eyes fixed on Nyx, harsh shrieks tearing from its throat each time the pentagram held. Nyx had definitely made a powerful enemy. Not that I could blame the demon. I wanted to tear Nyx limb from limb, too.

  Quinn started muttering behind me and energy raised the hairs on my nape. He was about to go all badass wizard on Nyx.

  Unfortunately, Nyx seemed to know it, too. He snapped his fingers and glowing bars shot up around us, caging us. If they were made of fire, they’d never hold me. I reached out, but Quinn yanked my hand back.

  “Don’t, Twig,” he hissed. “They’re bars of vampiric malady. It will drain the life force from you if you touch them.” I steadied him as he swayed on his feet, his face pale. “It’s already draining my magic.”

  I concentrated. Yeah, it was draining my fairy magic. Since my other side was dominant it didn’t seem to affect me to the same extent as Quinn.

  “Your little human is smarter than I expected. I wouldn’t think you’d care about brains in a bed slave.” Nyx eyed Quinn up and down like he was a tasty piece of pie.

  I growled. “He’s a wizard and you know it.”

  Nyx smirked. “Yes, and you brought him right to me. I’ve always wanted a pet wizard. I bet he’s good in bed, too.”

  I forced myself to laugh. “Okay, short stuff, since you hardly come up to his ankle, I don’t think that’s likely to happen.”

  Nyx hated to be reminded he was little. He was average sized for a fairy, but ever since I showed up on my father’s doorstep he’d been incensed about his diminutive stature. I guess he hated not being able to look down upon me in a very physical way.

  His face turned bright red—not a pretty color on him. “Father managed with your mother”—the way he said it dripped with venom—“so I’m sure I’ll have fun trying.”

  “I never pictured you as an ankle humper. No, I’m lying. I did.”

  “You shut up!” Nyx stomped his foot like a petulant child. It probably didn’t help that the demon stopped throwing itself at the pentagram and started guffawing. Who knew demons had a sense of humor? “You think you’re so superior—”

  “Because I am.” I held my arms out so he could get a good look.

  “—but you’ll be sorry. You’ll all be sorry.”

  “Quinn, if there’s one thing my half-brother excels at, it’s monologuing.” I pitched my voice high. “I’ll get you all. You’ll all pay. Blah, blah, blah.” I dropped the voice and refocused on Nyx. “Don’t you ever get tired of listening to yourself? I know I do.”

  Quinn panted in my arms, leaning heavily against me now. “Maybe you shouldn’t bait the crazy fairy when he’s in the process of draining our magic? Just a thought.”

  I tightened my grip on him, held him close. “Don’t worry, he should get to the point soon. I hope. So how about it, Nyx? What evil plan are you cooking up this time? You planning on impaling yourself on the unicorn’s horn? I gotta say, I think that would be a fantastic idea.”

  “Ha, you wish, brother dearest. No, you’ve never appreciated my genius—”

  “If you want Quinn to appreciate it, you should probably get a move on with your story before he passes out.”
r />   Nyx sneered. “Fine, fine.” He wrapped his tiny arms around the unicorn horn. It was almost twice his height. Dragging it across the floor until it was between our cell and the pentagram, Nyx smiled. “Let me demonstrate.”

  Quinn sagged against me, unable to hold his own weight anymore.

  “Demon,” Nyx intoned, pointing the horn toward the pentagram. It hissed and drew as far away as the pentagram would allow. We were both caged and neither one was happy about it. I don’t know who wanted to kill Nyx more. The demon gnashed its razor sharp rows of teeth—it had three—and crouched in a defensive position, its enormous black claws extended in a threatening manner. It wouldn’t hesitate to kill Nyx and I couldn’t blame it.

  “What’s your name?” Nyx held the horn steady as it began to glow. The demon fell over and writhed on the floor as though something was attacking it, a red foamy substance bubbling from its throat.

  “Dust and ashes, Twig!” Quinn gasped, his fist gripping my tunic. “He’s planning to control it with its name.”

  My eyes widened. Son of a banshee. That’s why the demon fought so hard—the unicorn’s horn forced creatures to tell the truth.

  Nyx grumbled. “Come on, come on. I haven’t all day. You’ve already given me the first part. But I need it all.”

  The demon’s frantic gaze locked with mine, a grimace of pain as it thrashed on the floor. It was losing the battle. That much was clear.

  “Hey, short stuff,” I called, trying to draw Nyx’s attention from the demon. If he got control of a Red Fury we were all screwed. Red Furies were the berserkers of the demon world. Ugly, stupid, and aggressive, they enjoyed tearing whole towns to pieces. My mother once told me about the now-extinct Bindog Clan who’d foolishly tangled with a Red Fury. No way even a dragon had a chance against so fierce a fighter.

  Nyx’s face screwed up in concentration as he kept the horn pointed at the demon. I needed to up the ante. I whistled, and Nyx glared at me over his shoulder.