Battle With Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

“Very. If she doesn’t get help, she’ll die,” she said, desperation and terror clawing at her. “She will die!”

“I won’t—”

Penny doused her in a nulling spell. The currents of Lucifer’s magic hit Reagan like a punch in the face, snapping her head back. Clearly her father was taking a second out of his busy schedule to play a little game of chicken, one that would cost valuable lives on all sides. That dangling ball sac obviously didn’t give a horse’s dong about anyone but his fun.

Demons rushed around them, going straight for the elves. They didn’t bother their crew, though, so right now Penny didn’t care.

Using a spell to carry her words, she yelled to Lucifer, “She’s hurt badly. If you are going to take her, take her now.”

“No!” Reagan shoved Penny off, unraveling her spell. She’d gotten really quick at it, unfortunately. “I am not leaving. We’ll finish this.”

“You tried. You failed,” Penny told her. “It was always a long shot.”

“No.” Reagan sent her magic at Lucifer. Three of the downed demons that had been flying with him rose into the sky. Dragons swooped down around them, lighting the world on fire. Demons rushed in, joining the fray. From the direction they were coming, they weren’t going through the shifters, mages, and fae to get here—they were going around. At least that would spare some people. It wouldn’t spare the elves, though. That battle was clearly lost, and maybe the world with it. Penny wondered what that would mean for the Brink. Reagan had had the right idea—there needed to be balance, and Lucifer controlling two worlds probably wasn’t it.

Not like they could do anything about it, though. Someone stronger would have to take up the fight.

“You’re hurt, and if you don’t get help, you’ll die. Is that what you want?” Penny asked with tears in her eyes, nulling Reagan again. The demons shoved by them, apparently not realizing the heir was in the mix. Hate filled the magic in the air.

“Hurry,” she yelled at Lucifer as Reagan threw off her arm again. “Stop fighting me, Reagan.”

“I can’t go,” Reagan said. “I doubt he’ll spare enough dragons to save very many people. I can probably take a couple of you, but what about the others? What about Roger and Callie and Dizzy? I will not leave this battlefield while they are still on it. I will not leave them to die without doing everything I can to save them.”

Penny’s heart broke. She knew the truth of those words. But damn it, Reagan had already risked so much to help them. The shifters, mages, and fae had a chance—they had powers and abilities of their own and might still walk away. Maybe Penny and Emery and the others, too, if the demons let them fight their way out. But if Reagan didn’t go now, she wouldn’t have a chance at all. Penny was no nurse, but that much was obvious. If Reagan didn’t get help, she would very soon be beyond it.

Lucifer appeared above them, looking down. He reached a hand out, and Penny ripped her spell away so he could grab Reagan. He might have to wrestle her magically, but it seemed he was adept at that. He was more experienced. He’d get her out of there.

He’d save her.

“Go,” Penny said, looking at her friend for what was maybe the last time. This time, though, Penny wouldn’t have anything to regret. She wouldn’t be the one looking back as she escaped. This time, she was the motherfucking savior.

Twenty

Horrible fear drenched Lucifer as he pulled his daughter up from the throng of people fighting with her. Fighting for her. Her face was incredibly pale and bloodless. Her energy had flagged, and while she was still fighting his hold and his magic with skill, her power had greatly diminished. Blood dripped from her leg in a nearly solid line as he pulled her up.

“What have you done?” he said, pushing higher with her, turning her so he could look at her leg. “Stop fighting my magic, Reagan. You’re hurt.”

“I’ll live. Put me back.”

Tatsu soared near them, looking on. A lick of pain crept up his spine. The miserable elves were not smart enough to know when they were beaten.

She is dying, Tatsu said, each syllable jackhammering into Lucifer. I can feel the slide of her being toward the never. Her will is strong, and she is using her magic like a crutch, but her energy is all but sapped. Once that is gone, she’ll lose the grip on her magic and fade with it. Did you not feel this when you were battling her?

That sounded like an accusation, and Lucifer bit out a response before he could help it.

No, I didn’t fucking notice! I am in the middle of a battle, being attacked from all angles.