Mentored in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

It was probably panic. Panic had made me numb.

I awkwardly spun and pulled my magic around me, putting on the brakes slowly at first, and then more quickly, seeing the ground rushing toward me. A couple of football fields to go. I had time.

Almost there, I heard. Archion was trying to be everywhere at once, clearly battling the handicap of a new rider all on his own.

Sparkly pink caught my eye, coming closer on the right, Cahal rushing to save me. It was then I noticed the sky around us, glittering color everywhere. What must’ve been every dragon in the area was currently flying, probably watching the mock-battle between Lucifer and me. That, or they’d taken to the air to impress the boss.

Slow yourself a little more, I heard. Cahal’s dragon banked, leaving the air clear for Archion to rush in.

I did as he said, my energy draining rapidly, although I had plenty left to get down if I needed to. But I didn’t.

Metallic blue-gray slipped right below me before putting on the brakes for a brief moment. I released my magic and fell the rest of the five feet, hitting his back and latching on tightly.

Sorry about that, I said as he immediately climbed, no time lost. Beginner’s foibles.

Do not be sorry. He straightened out, heading for Lucifer. That was masterful. Not many would allow that move, knowing they would need to fall.

I didn’t realize what you were doing, or that I would fall, actually. But it’s not like I can’t catch myself. I’d do it again, no problem. I shrugged.

You are courageous. Your father must be very proud.

I didn’t mention that I was just an heir to Lucifer, or that I felt like preening again because a dragon, a dragon, was complimenting me. Instead, I leaned forward, gearing up for another attack.

Lucifer pushed up until he was basically standing on his dragon’s back. He held his palms together in front of him and then pulled them apart, his gesture of peace.

Archion slowed, and Lucifer glided past us once, and then again, a smile on his lips. Cahal trailed us.

Fantastic, Lucifer said, and gave me a thumbs-up. Excellent! You are a natural. You were born for your post.

Pride welled up in me and I shrugged, still not accustomed to praise.

Let’s go for a ride, shall we? he said. Let’s grace the skies with our presence. It’s time we officially show you off as the rightful heir and princess of the Underworld.

I tried to ignore the thought: You’re entering the point of no return.

Instead, I focused on my dragon, and how completely at home I felt on him. This was a good day, regardless of what tomorrow would bring.

Sixteen

“We got dragons.” Penny pointed at the sky from within her bush, just at the edges of a large weeping willow in one of the rest spots. She didn’t necessarily need to be in a bush, but just in case her invisibility spell wasn’t working, she wanted to take extra precautions. That spell worked for almost every type of demon, except for the crazy-powerful ones, and neither she nor Emery could figure out why. It would take Reagan to patch the hole.

They’d left the demon sex club, thankfully, after staying for nearly a week and having way too much dirty sex in too many positions. They’d even done it in public a few times! She’d given herself to Emery, over and over, completely sober. Drunk on ecstasy. On his body. On the forwardness of the place and the beings in it. It had been sexy and dirty and taboo and fun and oh my God what would her mother say…

The number of times they’d gone at it with Darius in the room…

She shuddered, feeling her face redden. Darius hadn’t seemed to notice, and obviously vampires did that kind of stuff around each other all the time, but still…she was mortified if she thought about it for too long.

The drink must’ve had lasting effects. That was what she was blaming it on, anyway. Certainly not the allure of getting the green light to let it all hang out…

“There’s three…” Penny squinted into the azure sky, the colors changing depending on the area. It was like always living in a painting. “And two are bigger than I’ve seen yet. They must be important.”

Emery scooted to the edges of the tree line and looked up.

Darius didn’t move, crouched near the base of the tree, thinking. He was going over every possible route to the next sect, a violence one. Back when the whole place wasn’t looking for them, they’d planned on taking a fairly straightforward route. That option was no longer afforded to them. Darius’s demon guide had met them at the lust sect and point-blank told them there was nothing it could do. Their cover had thoroughly been blown with the stunt at the entrance, and Lucifer’s minions were turning every sect inside out, starting with the more political ones, trying to find them. It had given Darius’s spells back and walked away.