Mentored in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

And maybe I’d never get all of that. Fine. Then I’d make the elves and Lucifer both terrified to mess with me. Plus I’d steal a bunch of those gold bars on the walkway to the elves’ castle, smuggle it back to the Brink, and live out my days however I wanted. There would be no compromises. There would be no more confusion. Mama wasn’t playing anymore.

I made it to my room and slammed air into the doors, throwing them open. I turned and shouted, “Do not bother me unless it is an emergency. And let that druid go hungry. See what he thinks about death when he’s starving. I bet it won’t be so attractive then.”

I slammed my doors behind me, putting the most intricate air lock on them that I could devise. Over that, I created a fire illusion, a way to lock my fire magic into place without actively feeding it. Thanks, Dad, for the training. It would serve me well.

I couldn’t wait to ring Penny’s bell. Assuming she hadn’t learned more than me down here and threw whatever I dished out back in my face. That would hurt. Still, I couldn’t wait to see her again. All of them again. I even wanted to hug Roger, of all things. This place had knocked a screw loose.

It took me five full seconds to realize something was dreadfully wrong in my room, and another two to realize I was fucked.

A grisly monster hand grabbed my throat and squeezed. Pasty white and old as sin, the creature shoved me up against the nearest wall, pinning me there. The fecking thing was blindingly fast, and I hadn’t been even remotely ready.

This was what happened when you let your guard down for weeks at a time. Death by old-ass vampire.

Its black eyes stared into mine as it hissed, saliva dripping down long canines. Three other vampires were stationed around the room, ready to attack should I fight back.

”My, my, Grandmother, what big teeth you have,” I said, walling the other vampires off. The one that had me didn’t squeeze any harder. If she’d meant to kill me, she would’ve done it already. “What are you doing here, Ja?”

She pulled back a little, releasing my throat, and then changed into her human form. Small and petite, also now naked, she looked like a stiff breeze would blow her away. Dainty features and large eyes hid the predator within. Vlad had nothing on this vampire, I was sure of it. None of them did.

“Reagan. So nice to see you.”

“There, you see?” I winked at her. “When vampires say it, they don’t really mean it. There’s something reassuring about that. When Romulus says things like that, he actually means them.”

“The fae’s kindness makes them facile. They are practically asking to be used by smarter beings.”

“Good gracious. Tell us how you really feel.”

She put out her hand, indicating the sitting area in the corner of my bedroom, where a bottle of demon whiskey sat, half-full.

“Don’t expect this to taste like Irish whiskey,” I said, heading over and taking a seat. “It’ll disappoint you.”

She followed me, but I put up my hand when she bent to sit.

“Cover up your junk. I want to come back to these rooms someday, and I don’t want your ass crack all over my furniture.”

Her feral gaze made me grin. I had missed vampires. What fun they were. What a rush. Lucifer would get a real kick out of them.

She didn’t comment, but she did wait for me to allow one of her minions through my air wall so it could hand over a sparkly red dress. I waited for her to slink it over her person before taking a seat and reaching for the glasses.

I held up my hand again. “None for me, thanks. I’ve got places to be.”

“Is that so?” Ja sat back and crossed an ankle over her knee. I wasn’t sure if she was intentionally flashing me or what, but it wasn’t the choicest of views. “You do not plan to stay holed up in this fine castle like a little pet?”

“Oops. Your judgment is showing.” I let seriousness take over. Time was ticking. Cahal and I had to get to the dragons before midnight so we could be well ahead of Lucifer, whom I assumed would be leaving in the morning. I hoped he would, at any rate, or the battle was going to kick off a lot sooner than I had expected. “What are you doing here, Ja? And how the hell did you get in?” It dawned on me. “It wasn’t Vlad who snuck in at all—it was you and your people.”

“You would’ve realized that long before now had you been paying even an iota of attention.”

“I had my own demons to see to.” I waggled my eyebrows. “Get it?” Her flat expression said she didn’t care. “How’d you get Lucifer to think it was Vlad?”