Page 52 of Claiming the Dhampir

Elliott and I stood at the rear entrance of the warehouse, waiting to initiate my plan. My tentative allies had promised to be here five minutes ago, and I was beginning to wonder if all my efforts had been for nothing. Demons were typically honorable. They wouldn’t make a bargain they didn’t intend to keep.

But they weren’t here.

I eyed the black onyx stone laying on the ground a few feet away. It was the marker my allies would use as a locator. Their portal from the Underworld should’ve already opened.

But it hadn’t.

A surge of fae magic shook the warehouse, startling me. Elliott’s attention shot to the back door. Another blast of magic rattled the high windows.

“I’m done waiting,” Elliott said, pulling off his gym shorts and shifting to his wolf.

Dread filled me as I snatched the onyx stone from the ground and followed Elliott. I could defeat the fae in the warehouse, but it wouldn’t stop them from coming back. I didn’t want Lorna living in fear, nor did I want the constant threat looming over us.

I forgot all about my well-laid plans as soon as I stepped into the warehouse. Elliot must have felt the same, as he hadn’t made it more than a few steps inside. Our mouths dropped open.

Nathan, Kenrid, and Lorna stood together under a magical shield so thick I could see it. Most wards and magical shields could only be seen if they were triggered. This one shimmered under the dim lights, its translucency blurring the image of the ones it protected.

Kenrid was the strongest weaver of wards I’d ever met, but he wasn’t that powerful. Or was he, and I’d misjudged him?

The fae queens were on the other side of the room, just in front of the main doors. Their guards threw spells at Kenrid’s shield, but it didn’t falter. The Winter Queen—dressed in all black as usual—pushed one of her soldiers into the shield. As he triggered the shield’s magic, he let out a cry of agony that echoed through the warehouse. Elemental fire, in a deep shade of purple, engulfed the fae’s body and consumed it in seconds.

I’d seen enough. I dropped the onyx stone at my feet and released my demon.

“Don’t give them an easy target,” I growled at Elliott. “I’ll draw their spells and attention first.”

His wolf snarled at me, and I hoped he’d listen. Lorna would not forgive me if she lost her wolf.

I launched myself into the air, soaring over the top of Kenrid’s shield and slamming my cloven hooves into the concrete floor. I stood firmly between my enemies and my allies and stretched my wings. They caught most of the spells cast by the fae. I had to trust that Kenrid had enough strength left to deflect the ones that made it past me.

My sudden appearance made the fae guard falter in their attack. I didn’t wait for them to recover. I slapped my open palms together, sending a concussive wave of dark magic at the guards. It threw them against the back wall along with their queens, who erected hasty shields around themselves—but not their faithful soldiers.

Tendrils of my magic raced out and bound the fae guards, choking out their magic—and their lives if I didn’t release them soon. The queens glared at me. I smiled back at them, stoking the embers of Hell’s fire etched in the runes on my scales. Their faces paled, and the smell of their fear made me laugh.

“Stupid arrogant beings,” my demon thundered. “What made you think you could threaten my mate and survive?”

“Demons do not mate with other supernatural creatures!” the Winter Queen spat, pushing her long black braids from her face. “The dhampir is not your mate.”

My tail slammed into the floor, cracking the concrete. “It’s no secret that you used demon DNA in your experiments. Just like it is no secret that you planned to imprison the vampires to fuel your dhampir army,” I countered. “I had no intention of bringing your treachery to the Lord of the Underworld because your plans had been crushed without my intervention. But now …”

“Your threats mean nothing!” the Summer Queen screeched, drawing the sword from its sheath on her hip. “You were cast out of the Underworld eons ago. Don’t act like you have any sway with their royalty. Now get out of our way. The dhampir belongs to us. She is our creation to do with as we please.”

I roared at the ignorant fool. She would never take my mate. “I will kill you both if you touch her!”

The Winter Queen laughed, but it was obviously forced. Her voice trembled when she spoke. “You would risk all the realms over one silly girl?”

“You will throw away your realm and the lives of your people over one girl,” I growled. “I would burn all the worlds for my mate.”

I drew in a deep breath and siphoned the magic from all the fae in my path. The influx of power felt amazing, almost as good as being in my home realm. It replaced all the energy I’d drained to maintain my human form for the last several hours.

I’d wanted to do this very thing to Brance and his minions, but I hadn’t been able to pinpoint my targets that day. Everything in front of me would be drained. The guards fell to the floor, deathly pale and barely breathing. The queens cried out, trying desperately to hold onto their pitiful shields.

A slow clap made me pause. I’d recognize that deliberate, insincere display of arrogant indifference anywhere. I rolled my shoulders and glanced around the room. Elliott was prowling along the far wall toward the queens. Thankfully, he hadn’t reached them yet. Kenrid, Nathan, and Lorna were still ensconced in Kenrid’s shield, which was quickly fading.

My gaze settled on my mate. The boy-band t-shirt and faded blue jeans she’d chosen to wear were still clean and unruffled. Her dhampir’s black eyes stared back at me, but she didn’t release the death grip she had on Kenrid and Nathan’s hands. I glimpsed a vision of Lorna and Nathan biting each other’s wrists and a swell of magic that surprised all of them.

I’d ask them about it later. Right now, I needed to focus on the new arrival.

“Traz’damon. Thank you for the invitation to this little party.” Lucifer, the Lord of the Underworld, stepped out of the shadows near the back door. Right where I’d left the onyx stone.

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