Page 73 of Sealed By Fire (The Nature Hunters Academy 2)

“My queen,” Leelin’s sweet voice answered, as the woodland faerie appeared by her side.

“We are in danger,” Dhara told her.

“Queen Dhara.” A deep voice came from her left, and Dhara turned her head, much more slowly than she should have. “I am Bayde, King Aviur sent me and three warriors to guard you.”

“Normally, I would have said it was unnecessary. But I am glad you all are here.”

“What is wrong?” Bayde asked as his hand dropped to the sword at his waist.

“I feel evil in my realm. I don’t know what it is, but it’s quickly moving this way.”

“I’ll let the woodland fae know,” Leelin said. “Kessa, deliver the message to our elders.”

Kessa darted off into the forest without another word. Dhara wanted to call her back, wishing the woodland fae wouldn’t put herself in danger, but she was already gone.

“I will send Tekren and Lenox out to scout the area and stop whatever it is before it can get to you,” Bayde said.

Dhara nodded. She returned her focus to her realm’s magic while Bayde talked with his warriors. She wished she were strong enough to send out a message to the other elemental royals, but she couldn’t. She knew exactly how vulnerable she was. If Beaumont, her powerful mate, was with her, she’d be protected, and their combined strength would have prevented her from being so weak, even recovering from the effects of the spell. But wishing he was with her wasn’t going to make it so. She needed to focus on the resources she had.

“Is there anything I can get you?” asked Resha, the other woodland fairy attendant.

Dhara considered all of the plants that grew in the earth elemental realm and then said, “Find some haven lilies. Crush them in water and make an elixir for me to drink. I don’t know if they will have any effect, but they have healing properties. It’s worth a try.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Resha said and then hurried off.

Dhara could feel the dark magic inside of her trying to bind itself to her own light magic. It was as if the magic was a living entity rather than just a spell. She’d never felt anything like it, but then, she didn’t regularly come in contact with demons. Those types of beings generally avoided light elementals. Darkness could not stand to be in the presence of light.

Her breathing was becoming labored. Dhara tried to calm herself, knowing that growing anxious would only make her situation worse. As the darkness invading her realm got closer, she could feel the magic inside of her reaching outward, trying to connect with the evil.

Dhara gasped and fought hard to wrap her own magic around it, trying to block it from what she knew must be its master. If the darkness within could connect with the oncoming evil, then it would no doubt lead the malevolent presence right to her. And she was no match for anything determined to kill her right now. Dhara had no idea if Aviur’s men would be able to defend her.

She detected feet pounding on the ground as it began to shake. Her beasts were coming to her defense. She also heard the flutter of wings and knew the fairies were joining the beasts. The trilling music of the pixies was next. They would try to enthrall the evil with their pure voices. The inhabitants of the earth realm surrounded Dhara in a circle, guarding her from all sides. Her heart warmed over their loyalty. The fact that they would offer their lives for hers was something she could never repay. Nor could she allow it. They were too precious to her.

A few moments later, Resha was back and held a cup. “I have the elixir, my queen.”

Bayde came over and lifted Dhara’s back so she could sip the drink. When the flask was empty, the warrior laid her back down, and she closed her eyes, waiting, hoping the elixir would help. Seconds passed in silence, stretching into minutes. Even with her eyes closed, the earth queen could feel everyone in the room watching her intently. She felt them holding their collective breath, waiting to see if the potion would provide any boon.

After several minutes, something happened. The magic of the elixir, the goodness that comes from deep within the earth realm, fought back the darkness churning within the earth queen. It was probably visible to the onlookers in Dhara’s relaxed face and the presumed return of color to her cheeks. She opened her eyes, gritted her teeth, then pushed herself up until she was sitting. The fairies and warriors all took a half-step toward her. After several deep breaths, Dhara slowly placed her legs over the side of the bed and rose to her feet.

Bayde moved to steady her, and once she was balanced, the queen took several steps. Hopefully, she would be able to stay on her feet long enough to face the approaching evil before any of her people were injured or killed.

“Your majesty,” Bayde said, “please, let us protect you.”

Dhara shook her head. “A queen does not hide behind those who rely on her fortheirprotection and provision.” She walked on shaky legs toward the evil snaking through the trees toward her. She’d rather face the threat head-on than run and allow it to stay in her and Beaumont’s realm where it could taint and hurt those who called the earth elemental realm home. She could tell her subjects to flee to the human realm and they might be safe, but she hated the idea of them having to leave their homes.

Dhara stopped at a clearing. The pixies that had come and the woodland fae that Kessa must have managed to get word to grouped themselves behind Dhara, facing the same direction. She felt the beasts of her land join those behind her as she waited. Minutes that felt like hours passed. No one spoke. All of a sudden, the wind changed, and the strong stench of sulfur filled the group’s nostrils.

“You are not welcome here, demon,” Dhara said, putting as much power into her voice as she could.

“And yet here I stand.” A demon over six feet tall emerged from the trees. His face had sharp angles, his eyes were black as night, and his teeth were pointed and sharp. He had horns growing out of the top of his head that curled back like a great ram’s. He was huge and muscular with thick arms leading down to hands with sharp claws at the ends of his fingers. His legs were not that of a man but a great beast, angled back at the knee joints. Instead of feet, he had huge hooves. Smoke poured from his mouth as he spoke, and sulfurous fumes filled the air.

Dhara realized that, with her mate gone, the protection spell over their realm was weakening. Her power was so feeble she wasn’t able to maintain the cloaking spell hiding the entrance. That’s what had allowed the demon to gain entry. “Why have you come?”

“Come now, earth queen. You can’t possibly be that dense.” The demon laughed, showing off his dangerous canines. “Then again, none of the royals realized I had cast a spell over your entire race. You didn’t even realize how weak you all had grown as you lived and worked separately from your own kind. So, I guess youarethat dense.”

“Give me your name,” Dhara demanded. She knew having the demon's name might give her power over him. If not now, then perhaps when she regained more of her power.

“I do not fear you. I am Dolion, demi-lord of the underworld and leader of Osiris’s army. And you havemymagic running through you.”

---