by T. S. Ryder
"We're doing the best we can," one of the doctors shouted at him as he ran by.
Edan grabbed one of the nurses. "My brother—"
"We're not sure what is causing the seizures, your highness. But we're doing all we can." She yanked herself away and ran after the doctor.
His heart froze.
Clint.
He started forward when a small hand gripped his elbow. Isobel stared at him with wide eyes. When he turned back, he saw Brant shaking, his limbs flopping uselessly. His lungs locked, a silent scream burning in his chest.
"It's the demon," she whispered. "It still has a hold on them."
Edan shut his eyes and covered his hands with his ears, trying to block out the bustle around him as Isobel caught another nurse and directed her to Brant. How did the demon have control over them? No, not control. A hold on them. What did that even mean?
"The queen!" the shout echoed somewhere in the back of his mind. "The queen has collapsed."
He pressed his hands tighter. Brant. Clint. Zoelle. They all had a piece of the demon inside of them. That must be why . . . But what was it doing? His head spun and he felt himself losing his fight to stay strong. All of his family was being ripped away, but what could he do to stop it? Isobel's voice sounded muffled, and then her hands grasped his wrists and yanked them down.
"Azalea followed the demon," she said. "It's in the Phantom's Cave. It's feeding off their energy. If we don't kill it, then it will kill them."
Something he could do. Kill a demon? Not a problem. The desperation burning in his chest was enough to take on Satan himself. "We need your father to guide us again."
Isobel nodded. He grabbed her hand and raced away from the hospital wing. There was nothing he could do here. Part of him wanted to turn around and stay with his family – to urge them to be strong. But he knew in his gut that they didn't have that much time. Every second wasted there brought them closer to death.
Josef was on the steps, his head in his hands. He looked up when he heard their footsteps.
"The demon is in the cave," Isobel said. "We need you to guide us again."
Josef looked between them for a moment and stood. "I can't. I know the path to the light and that's it. I can't go up against a demon. I'm not strong enough."
"We need you," Isobel shrieked. "I need you! Or am I still not special enough for—" She cut off, glancing to her other side. "Never mind. We don't need you. Azalea is going to guide us to the demon. I've always gotten along fine without you. Why stop now?"
"Isobel—"
Edan pushed between them. "Go to the hospital wing and use your magic to try to break the bond the demon has with my brothers and sister. Otherwise, go to the dungeons and tell them you're there on charges of treason."
Josef's jaw dropped, but Edan didn't bother to stick around. He shifted at once, wincing as he took in the tender new flesh of his wings and lowered himself for Isobel to climb on board. The adrenaline was helping him to heal faster, but the flight would be painful. Would he still have the strength to fight once he got to the cave?
Each beat of Edan’s wings had him gasping with pain, but they made it to the cave within a few hours. Edan landed awkwardly and fell to his knees as he shifted. Isobel toppled over him. She panted and he reached for her hand. Together they stood and faced the darkness.
"Are you ready?" Edan glanced at his lover.
Isobel swallowed hard and shook her head. "Nope. But then, I've got far more to lose by doing nothing, so I guess ‘ready’ doesn't matter."
Edan seized her around her waist. He pulled her tight into his chest and crushed his mouth on hers. She answered hungrily, making small whimpering noises as they came together again and again. Her fingers dug into his biceps, almost to the point of pain, and he knew he was holding her just as tightly. Desperation warred in his chest, but he forced himself to tear away.
"I wish we had time for all the mushy stuff," he gasped as he pulled her into the cave.
"Me, too," Isobel whispered. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
The darkness swallowed them the moment they stepped inside. Edan tightened his grip on Isobel's hand as they strode forward. Occasionally, Isobel would speak, guiding him this way or that. He wondered what Azalea was telling her . . . and what dangers the ghost might be omitting.
Eventually, they came to a chamber lit by luminescent fungi hanging on the walls. A creature sat in the middle: green, with slimy skin and a twisted pig's face. Tusks grew from its mouth and goat's horns from its head. It laughed as they approached. A cold feeling crept down Edan's throat, smothering his flames.
"The prince and his bride come to me? I must be an angel, not a demon, for such good fortune. Now I may kill you both at my leisure and take apart the kingdom piece by piece."
It lunged for them. Edan pushed Isobel behind him and ran to meet the challenge. The demon punched at him but he rolled out of the way and shifted into his dragon's form. He turned and sunk his teeth into the demon's leg. It laughed as it drove a fist into his ribs. The blow knocked him back, making him gasp for breath. He impacted the wall hard. Laughter surrounded him as he stumbled back to his feet.
The demon's back was to him. It seemed to be growing bigger with every passing moment, pulling strength from the others. It reached for Isobel, and Edan threw himself across the room. His claws raked down the demon's back as his wings beat the air.
This time, the demon howled with pain. It whipped around and both hands flew at him. Edan caught one fist in his jaws and bit down as hard as he could. He felt his teeth crack as they met bone, hard as steel. The demon clawed at his eyes, a terrible grimace on its face. Edan ducked and the demon threw itself over him. The tusks easily stripped scale and flesh away, sending bolts of white-hot pain through his body.
"Edan!" Isobel screamed. "Edan!"
There was no time to answer her. He threw the demon off and twisted around to land on it. It kicked him in the belly before he could land a proper blow. The force sent him straight into the ceiling. Dirt and debris collapsed all around him as he fell.
Edan rolled to one side, roaring in pain and distress as Isobel disappeared behind a pile of rock. His heart pounded and he lunged forward, clawing at the cave-in as it came down. A jolt of pain sprang from his ribs. The demon jumped onto his back and wrapped its arms around his neck. They banded tight, cutting off his air. Edan clawed at the creature, then threw himself back onto it. The grip loosened slightly and the dragon turned.
"I'll have fun with her," the demon purred as it flipped Edan off of it. It was almost twice as big as it had been when they first arrived. "I'm going to rip her apart piece by piece . . . starting with her mind."
Never.
His flames burned low in the darkness, but he called them forward. He sucked in a deep lungful of air, feeding them. The demon laughed, continually beating on him. He wrapped his wings around himself for meager protection and continued to draw in air. His flames leaped and roared and he threw his head back.
He saw the moment the demon knew what he was doing. The flames licked about his tongue and the demon's triumphant sneer faded off of its face. It looked on in horror as it backed away two paces before the jet of fire burned through the air. It hit the demon straight in the face and it shrieked, collapsing backward.
Edan pounced on it as it writhed, clamping his jaws over its head. He wrenched one way and then the other, all the while tearing into the demon with his claws. When it was still and scattered in pieces, he finally released it. Panting, be backed away.
So that's how you kill a demon, he thought grimly.
Chapter Sixteen – Isobel
Her nails cracked as she clawed the rocks. Tears tracked streaks through the dust on her face and it felt too difficult to breathe. Sobs choked her. A few of the glowing fungi were scattered here and there on the side, but that only served to heighten her distress.
Josef had said light drew things in . . . Was the same true of this li
ght? Or was it different because the cave itself produced it?
She had barely been able to escape being crushed by the falling rocks as Edan and the demon fought. As soon as the thunderous avalanche has stopped, though, there was no noise from the other side. Had the whole cavern collapsed? Was Edan trapped, injured . . . or dead?
"Azalea, check on him. Please." She glanced up to see the ghost just staring at her. "Please!"
"There is no need, child." Her grandmother's soothing tones made her whirl around. "Your prince is safe."
Isobel dropped to her knees, sobbing. The relief was so strong that she didn't know what else to feel. She quickly stood again, though her legs shook. "Take me to him."
Gran smiled and held out a hand. She led Isobel back down the corridor, then turned to other passages she hadn't even known were there.
"Isobel . . . " Azalea's words were soft. "Why did I become bound to you at death?"
"I don't know. Gran?" The elderly woman only smiled. After a moment, Isobel sighed. "Maybe it was a desire to change the past. Undo to leaving me. Maybe . . . maybe have a second chance. I don't know."
The faint glow behind them disappeared but the two ghosts accompanying her gave off their own light. It wasn't much but enough for her to overstep the pitfalls in her path. The whispers that she feared would come for her stayed at bay and all she heard was her own breathing. It was almost . . . peaceful. Like this was how the caves were meant to be. Why was it different this time? Because she had Gran with her?
"I hear something," Azalea whispered suddenly. "It's . . . it's my mother. But how . . . "
Gran stopped. Isobel turned to her mother, really studying her for the first time. They shared so many features. The same eyes, same lips, even the way their hair fell. Her lips began to tremble. Somehow she knew it was time. She was going to be left behind again.
"Don't be sad, darling," Gran whispered. "This is the natural progression of life. She is being untethered by the realization that what she did was best for you."
Azalea turned back to them. She touched Isobel's cheek. "I'm so sorry, my darling. I wish I could change time. But I can't. And I can't change who I am. I was never meant to be a mother. I should have given you to your grandmother but not run away. One day I hope you can forgive me."
Tears blurred her eyes. "I hope I can, too. I'm tired of being so angry . . . I guess I should forgive dad too . . . "
Gran squeezed her shoulder. "Just remember that forgiveness doesn't mean that you should just let him back in your life as though he never hurt you. To forgive and forget doesn't mean that you have to wipe the slate clean and let him hurt you again and again. I should have raised him better. I have hope he may be willing to change."
Isobel wasn't sure she could ever believe it if he did but now wasn't the time for that. Both ghosts were fading and she threw her arms around Gran.
"I love you!"
"I love you, too. Be strong, now. You know all you need to make your way through this world. Continue this path. You'll find your dragon soon."
They faded away, leaving her with empty arms. Isobel closes her eyes against the tears. When she opened then, she saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel and heard Edan calling to her. She ran to him, a heart so full she couldn't speak.
***
Two Days Later
Isobel slipped into Edan's bedroom, shutting the door softly behind her. A soft smile crossed her face when she saw him at the window, lounging on the sofa with a book in hand. It had taken them a day to find their way from the cave, but at every crossroad a ghost had appeared and told them which way to go. Isobel had quickly gotten the hang of who was lying and who was telling the truth.
"How are you doing?" she asked. Fighting the demon had taken a lot out of him.
"Better. A bit lazy but I'll soon be a hundred percent again." He set the book aside and gestured for her to join him. She stretched out on the wide sofa next to him and sighed as he started to play with her hair. He hummed. "You saw Clint, Zoelle and Brant?"
She nodded. They had all woken up the same instant the demon had died, with no apparent permanent damage from their seizures. The same could not be said of their minds. Everything that had happened had taken a toll on them. Clint, having been touched by the demon for the shortest time, was doing better than the other two. Not that it was saying a lot. Zoelle was torn up by guilt and Brant . . .
"Clint had an audience with Brant. He cried and begged for Clint's forgiveness. I'm not sure he really believes there was a demon."
Edan shivered and she wrapped her arms tighter around him. "Why?"
"I told you that it wasn't controlling him, just pushing him to do things he already thought of. Amplifying his hatred. He knows that."
"And what did Clint say?"
"He believes the demon was there." Isobel stroked his cheek. "Brant is being removed from succession and his wealth is going to be distributed to various charities. He'll be allowed to stay in the palace to live but he will no longer be a prince."
"That is too harsh," Edan whispered. Even if he had been thinking such things, he wouldn't have acted on them."
"Or maybe he would have in time, without a demon there so he could see what he was doing once he was free. I'm sorry. I know he's your brother and you love him."
Edan turned his face away. From the shaking of his shoulders, Isobel knew he was struggling not to cry. She certainly didn't blame him. She thought her family situation was messed up, but this was far worse. Imagining loving someone who loves you too, only for that person to betray you . . . It was far worse than the neglect she had faced.
"Since we are talking about family . . . " Edan turned back to her. "I saw you talking with your father earlier."
She winced. "Yeah. I talked. He listened. I'm not ready to hear his excuses yet. But if he shows real remorse for the past, I might be able to let him be a part of my life again . . . I don't know if I can trust him, though. Trust why he's showing interest. It might just be because he knows my powers."
Edan brushed his mouth against hers. "And because you're with the prince?"
"And that."
Isobel slung a leg over his hip. "Speaking of which . . . Are you sure we're together? We've only had sex once."
Edan chuckled as he gripped her hips. "That's zero to sixty in no time flat."
"What? Not up to the challenge?" She licked her lower lip teasingly.
His arms banded around her, and in a smooth, fluid motion, he swung up to his feet, carrying her with him. His mouth found hers, hot and hungry. Chills ran down her spine to pool in her core, turning to a hot, tight mess. She kissed him back greedily as he walked to the bed and all but threw her down. She could see the alpha rise in him as he stared down at her and began to slowly disrobe. The sub in her curled up tight, anxious to please.
"Undress," he ordered. "First the shirt."
She tugged it off over her head, eyes glowing as his gaze slipped down her body.
"Pants."
She yanked them off eagerly and threw them to one side. With a cheeky grin, she slipped on hand into her panties, then rolled her head back and moaned.
Edan's eyes brightened as his nostrils flared. "Take them off and lie on the bed."
She did so and he followed her to the edge. Grasping both of her ankles, he spread her out further and bent her up so that she could reach herself easier. A giggle burst from her, but it was quickly silenced by the heat in his eyes. It left her breathless to see lust and love combined to such a degree. She hadn't thought it was possible.
"Please yourself," Edan ordered, his voice low. "Do it for me."
And she did. She almost didn't care about her own pleasure as she worked herself, her gaze on him as he watched her. He still wore his pants but he slipped them off after a few minutes and ground himself against her. She moved her hand from herself to him, grinning as his head fell back. He still held her ankles nearly to her head and thrust gently against her as she pleasured him.
/> "Now yourself," he ordered, his voice rough. "I want to see your face turn red and your back bow."
His words made her moan in desire. She wanted him inside of her, but for some reason, she couldn't argue with him. She touched herself again, the heat coiling deeper. Her thighs burned from the stretch he was putting on them, but she didn't care. She wanted this and more . . . So much more . . . His eyes continued to darken as she touched herself, soon making her legs shake in his grasp. She felt the heat on her face. Her back arched and she broke eye contact.
He entered in one smooth motion that had her crying out, the tightness inside bursting at once. Her legs kicked wildly, barely contained by his strength, and she pushed herself back, away, unable to stop herself. He followed her, falling over her to cage her beneath his big body. His hips rocked against hers until she had brought herself under control again.
"Ready?" he asked.
Her chest heaved in anticipation as she nodded. Edan moved back, taking both of her hands in his. He pressed them against his chest and leaned against her, not enough that he was in danger of toppling over, but enough that she had no choice but to hold on, either.
One hand gripped her shoulder to keep her in place while he started to thrust, the other slipping between their bodies. The combination of his movement into her and his fingers working their target had her holding her breath with the effort not to scream like she did the last time.
His movement picked up the pace and her head fell back, hair whipping into her face as she writhed beneath him. Her fingers dug into his chest and she rocked in time with his thrusts. Her body moved on its own accord as he built her higher, higher . . .
She fell off the edge so suddenly she didn't even have time to scream. Her body went rigid, arms locking as they pushed against his chest. The darkness washed over her, stealing away her breath. Her legs jerked and kicked. Her body arched to his, and through the haze of pleasure, she felt his hands on his breasts.
