Demon Day Penelope Fletcher (which ebook reader TXT) 📖

nothing to be alarmed about. Across such adistance we’re looking at a blast radius of about amile.”

“Blast radius?” Ameliaechoed, startled.

“And the bond reacts totheir emotional state. If they were happy and only separated underpleasant circumstances the effect wouldn’t be so powerful. But withRae’s mind under such strain, and you can bet Breandan is almostchewing his fingers off for lack of touching her….” She let thesentence drop. “Based on what I saw mere days ago they can’tcontrol their bond yet. A nexus will open and since they’llprobably be focused on slacking their need for each other theirentire focus will be absorbed in sensation, not on the magicexploding around them. With practice they will be able tomanipulate the connection to achieve wondrous works. But that takesself-control. When the pressure is on Rae’s not big on selfcontrol.” She pointed to me and her voice was shrill. “Does shelook in control? Right now all they’ll manage is an explosion ofraw energy that we’ll all be caught in.”

Some of what she said filtered throughto me. “Are you trying to say that if Breandan touched me,” inspite of everything I trembled in anticipation of such a touch,“when you guys are near that–”

“We could die? Yeah, prettymuch. I’m seeing a few paths were you collide without warning and Ican tell you it’s not pretty … for anybody other than you. All Isee is blackness and roughly translated that means I’mdead.”

“Leave then,” Imuttered.

Amelia and Nimah simultaneously took astep back, eyes wide. They looked at each other and I saw theinstinct to get the hell away from me warring with their instinctto stand by the one who had rescued them.

At least a forty Cleric’s werescattered across the opposite side of the courtyard now, watchingus suspiciously.

Amelia spun to me, gripped my arm in adeath grip. “Why did you come back for us?”

I managed to tear my eyes away fromthe sea of crimson, and frowned at her. “I made an oath.” Ishrugged. “I had to keep it.”

“Father says fairies arebound by magic to keep their word,” Nimah told her sister, but evenshe did not sound convinced.

Amelia was struggling. She let go ofmy arm and looked at the Clerics whose numbers still increased.“The chances of you surviving this…. Why did you come back?” Shewas truly astounded. “You could have run to your mate.”

Runt blinked up at me too.

I swallowed hard. I heard the liesringing in my ears, proclamations this somehow benefited me, but intruth, nothing about this situation had ever been good for me. Yes,I had made a bargain, but I could have left them there and goneback to the Pride. You see, I knew in my heart that the Sect wouldhave moved them, and then how would we have found them again? Icould not have left knowing what horrible things they would endure… possibly worse since Tu would be enraged by my escape.

“It was my responsibility.I feel….” I sighed. “I feel responsible for you.”

She watched my blank face carefully.Her own smoothed out as if she had just found the answer to acomplex question. “So you’re the Priestess the fairies have beenlooking for.” She rubbed her own forehead. “Is that what the goldon your head means? I’ve never seen that before.”

I hesitated. “Why would you thinkthat?”

“We shifters try to stayout of the mess that demonkind created for itself, but you arelegend. Every learned demon knows about you. That and Conall thefairy has been searching for you for a long time.

“You know my brother,” Iwhispered.

She smiled. “My great grandmother wasmy age the first time he came to our Pride searching for word ofyou.”

There was no time to dwell on what Ihad just learned. My past was key to my future, but every time Idrummed up the strength and courage to look back, I found nothingbut death, horror, and pain.

My head lolled as I breathed in thescent of the fire drums. It was familiar and comforting – the smellof ash and damp concrete. Spots of fire with flames that lookedpurple broke the solid night. The stars did not twinkle overheadthere was too much cloud cover.

“I’m sorry we have tofight,” I said, “but please try not to kill anybody, especially theDisciples. They just don’t understand.”

The shifters reached a decision andnodded to each other once. Amelia said. “We’re with you, Rae. Bycoming back to save us you have earned our loyalty. Our Alpha wouldapprove of this alliance.”

Nimah did not blink an eyelid atAmelia’s swift decision. She acknowledged and respected hersister’s words without question, which was interesting since Nimahdid not seem one to follow others without causingtrouble.

“I’m going cat.” Ameliafinished firmly and crouched down, her face already contorting intoa grimace.

“Crazy fairy going to getus all killed,” Nimah muttered and watched her sister initiate herChange. Her gaze drifted to me. “If she wasn’t Alpha female thiswould have gone down differently. I want you know that.”

I shrugged, my attention alreadyfocused elsewhere. Hell, I was barely ware of the scorching heatthat emanated from Amelia’s quivering body. Her shrill cry as herbones popped and muscles tore did not puncture my lust inducedhaze.

A frozen hand landed on my shoulder,and I jumped. Lex smiled the runes on her cheek crinkling. She hadsnuck up on me again. Her zombie movement was so creepy. I couldnot feel, hear, or smell her at all. She was a void. If ever sheturned on me, she would be a force to be reckoned with.

Her hand slipped from my shoulder andshe glided forward to go stand beside Ro. Runt ambled around thefloor by his ankles as he snapped his neck left to right. Jumpingup and down on the spot, Ro punched his fits in a way that showedhe knew how to use them, and tipped his chin defiantly toward theline of Clerics that advanced.

I offered my hand to Runt and placedhis cool palm on mine. He was so small and skinny, yet he clutchedat me with a strength that defied his fragileappearance.

I looked deep into his eyes and in aserious voice said, “If I die you run, understand?” His huge eyesblinked up at me then he nodded. Satisfied, I