Mentored in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

That wasn’t true. He felt a gush of pride every time his anger rose at one of her comments. Every time he lost his cool and then realized she was waiting for his explosion. Waiting, and ready. Not scared.

If he did explode, he knew she’d thwart it as best she could, and it would be enough to save her life. He knew it, and she knew it. She’d grown in her magic incredibly fast. Faster than anyone he’d ever trained. Faster than he had thought possible. They now shared the same power level, but her magic was more complex. More diverse. She had the gift of those blasted angels, and it made her stronger. Harder to beat.

Those stupid creatures would laugh at him if they knew. Or maybe this was their grand joke. Just another parting gift.

But she could never feel completely at home here if she held on to her mortal attachments. And she had to feel at home here—she was born to rule. The mantle was hers; she had but to claim it.

That cursed druid wasn’t helping. He was whispering in her ear just like he had with the last heir, and if he wasn’t watched—carefully—he’d drive her to madness, too. Lucifer wouldn’t be able to watch that. Not with her.

“She is used to subtle maneuvering from that vampire Darius,” Lucifer said, watching his screens. “She knows when I’m trying to coax information out of her. And when I am trying to implant ideas.”

“She is yielding, I have heard,” Victoria said. “Her attendants see the change. She relies on the druid less, for example. She looks forward to her time with you more.”

Lucifer nodded. He had heard that, and it gave him hope that she was coming around. If she weren’t so stubborn, he’d think it was in the bag. As it was, he had to constantly keep his wits.

“What of Vlad?” he said. “He’s never been past the Edges. He can’t know how to maneuver in this kingdom.”

Victoria shifted her position, noticeably agitated. “It is a great mystery, your highness.”

He tightened his fist, fire running over his skin. “What is so mysterious about it?”

“The sect he usually does business with in the Edges said they did not see him. We turned their living quarters upside down. Nothing. We did find a trail leading from the river, though.” Her eyes narrowed. “It didn’t smell like him. Our trackers are sure. But they don’t know who it might be.”

“Not Vlad?”

“He could’ve disguised his smell,” said Durgess, another trusted advisor. Standing nine feet tall, he had large, muscled arms covered in chartreuse skin. “Both vampires seem to have access to magic.”

“Yes,” Lucifer said, realizing the hole in his own arsenal. It was currently thought that a team of highly powerful mages had created the disturbance last week. The very same mages that had been supplying the vampire Darius with their magic.

Lucifer had ordered his people not to kill the mages until he could speak to them in person. If they could be harnessed for their power, he might find a place to store them. Otherwise, as the saying went, if he couldn’t have them, no one could…

“Continue to look. I’ll be taking my daugh—” Lucifer cleared his throat with the slip. None of his advisors reacted. “I’ll be taking the heir to see the dragons today.”

Now, they did react.

“Are you sure that is wise, sire?” Victoria asked. “A few of them have neonates. They are extremely vicious when protecting their young.”

“She can handle it.” Lucifer puffed up in pride. “I’ll have her bring that wet blanket of a druid, too.”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and the druid won’t survive,” Durgess rumbled.

“That’s the hope.” Lucifer strutted away, angry still about the vampires, adrenaline fueling his blood at the thought of what was to come.

Reagan was ready. She had to be. She had the magic and the courage. The only other thing required to tame a dragon was the refusal to give in to pain. She’d shown she was capable of that after the elves’ treatment. More than capable.

He couldn’t wait to see what she did to those elves when she was able to claim her vengeance.

First, though, she had much to learn. If she survived the dragons, he would step her up into advanced work. She was ready. By then, he hoped she’d finally be ready to get rid of the druid and, with him, her ties to the outside world.

Thirteen

I waited with bated breath for Lucifer to show up. Today was the day. I’d get to meet the dragons and maybe even bond with one, though I had no idea how. They were fearsome beasts, which was cool, and they flew, which was cooler, and they allowed their person to fly on top of them, which was a life goal.

A huge life goal.