Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
~ Princess Blake ~
“ I s it just me, or do they look like toasted marshmallows?” Shade asks as we fly toward the battle.
“Are you seriously comparing the burning homes of angels to sweet treats right now?”
“I’m just saying,” she defends. “I mean, they’re small white domes with charring on top. Don’t tell me you don’t see it.”
Of course I do, but I shake my head and instead focus on the images being sent to me by the hundreds of birds I’ve called from the surrounding forest. While the trees around the portal are completely dead, it seems that death didn’t spread too far. When I’d reached out with my magic, I’d sensed a large flock of the small white birds not too far away. Like the Pecos birds in The Haven, the creatures responded when I called, and now they fly up behind me filling the air around us like a giant white cloud.
“Oh, there he is! And that healer guy is there, too,” Shade’s voice intrudes in my mind.
“Who?”
“Prince Callan is below us and he’s with Theon, the archangel we met in the Perstalian ruins. Yeesh, he doesn’t look too good right now, though, buuut I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
Frowning, I peer down only to find Theon now left behind, propped against a rock, and Prince Callan running with Alaric and Dante. The archangel looks annoyed as he stares up at me, and I grin and give him a little wave. He might not realize it yet, but we’re about to save this situation.
My attention goes to Nate as the giant cat leaps into the air, pouncing on another witch. His powerful jaws clamp onto the witch’s head and tear it off before tossing it away. My lips thin. Truthfully, now that I know the history of King Celzar stealing from the witches, it’s hard to look at them in the same way. For a brief moment, I wonder if I should call my shifter mate off. If we could declare a ceasefire, maybe I could talk with the witches. Maybe we could find a way to come to some sort of an agreement. But just as I think about yelling out to Nate, I spot Dad on the opposite side of the town.
The demon king stands with at least a dozen demon guards, the group of them enclosed by a circle of witches who are chanting, their hands outstretched before them. Whatever they’re doing, it can’t be good, because the king and the soldiers look like they’re in pain. Dad tips his head back bellowing in agony as he falls to his knees, and my heart stutters.
“No!” Snarling, I point in the direction of the witches.
Following my internal command, the doves shoot past me, dropping into a dive and streaming through the town houses, attacking the witches.
Before, I had wondered if I should spare the witches, but now all I can think about is spilling their blood and stopping this. When Sebastian had talked about Dad leading the demons to defeat the witches in Perstalia, I’d imagined him as he always was—strong, powerful, and a force to be reckoned with. But now, surrounded by the witches, the demon king looks…weak.
Nate snaps happily at some of the doves as they pass him, like he just can’t help himself, but the doves avoid his jaws, and he goes back to tearing through witches.
Dante and Alaric are with him now, moving like harbingers of death, sweeping through the town. I hardly see Alaric’s blades move before they’re embedded in another witch. Around them, my doves make quick work of the other witches. Multiple birds attack each witch, swarming them until they’re covered in white, and it’s not long before the dove’s feathers turn black with witch blood. Prince Callan lifts into the air, following me, and we all drop down close to Dad.
Mason’s face is hard as he lands, his wings flaring wide as he drives his sword into one of the witches standing in the circle. The female screams, already blinded by my birds who are clawing at her face.
A projectile flies at me, but I dodge to the side, and it slams into the building behind me. The explosion throws me forward, and when I look up again, there’s a witch before me. Dead birds are littered around her feet, and she lifts her hands, a crooked grin on her face. Cackling, she sends power rushing at me, but before I can even think about deflecting, Nate leaps over my head. She screams as his fangs sink into her flesh, and then she’s silent.
I jump to my feet, and my mates form up around me as we attack the remaining witches. Many of them are still chanting, my birds bleeding on the ground around them, and I snarl, anger pulsing through me. A few of the witches try to redirect their power and attack us rather than trapping my Dad and the demons, and the moment their chanting changes, the king and the demons are freed from their magic prison. Dad bellows, lunging for the closest witch, and the demon soldiers help us to disband the rest of the witch circle.
When there’s only one witch remaining, she stares in horror at her sisters, and her shrill wail cuts through the air. She draws her hands together and glares at the king, whispering something in a language I can’t understand. I expect Dad to take care of her, but he just straightens, his face lined with fatigue as he merely watches the female. Her magic surges toward him, and he doesn’t even try to fucking move. I’m caught off guard, and I know I’ll be too late to stop what’s about to happen. For a moment, time seems to slow, and I watch as Prince Callan’s blade cleaves through the witch’s abdomen.
It doesn’t stop the rippling ball of magic that shoots toward the king, but before it can slam into Dad’s chest, Mason is there, grabbing the king. The pair of them tumble to the side, and I shout as the witch’s magic flies past, crashing into the building behind them and setting it alight with green flame.
Breathing heavily, my gaze scans the area for more threats, but the witches around us are all dead, and going by the cheering from the angels in the air and on the ground, I’m guessing the witches have all been defeated in the township.
I move to the demon king, but Mason is already up and has his hand out. Dad’s dark gaze assesses the winged centaur, but then his lips twist into a smile and he takes Mason’s hand, letting him lift him to his feet.
“And you would be?” King Dalton asks casually, as though we weren’t just under attack.
“Mason,” my mate replies.
“He’s from Perstalia,” I say, going to stand beside Mason.
Dad stares at my centaur like he’s trying to decide if my mate is a friend or foe.
“Turns out, not all of the Perstalians died,” I explain. “They were just underground.”
King Dalton turns toward me, his gaze softening. “Ah, I was wondering when you’d join me, daughter.” His voice is as affectionate as I’ve ever heard it, and I wonder if it’s because the battle has worn him down.
I clear my throat. “I would’ve been here sooner if it weren’t for…” I trail off before saying, “well, we can discuss that another time.”
His shrewd gaze sweeps over me and my other mates. “Yes, I heard you had completed your task and left with your mates,” he says slyly.
I don’t miss his insinuation, but I choose to ignore it. “If by my ‘task’ you’re referring to the competition of survival you threw me into so I could find my mates, then yeah, I guess so.” I would be more irritated at Dad for orchestrating the competition if it hadn’t in fact led to me discovering Nate and the others, and even Mason.
“But I didn’t exactly leave with my mates,” I mutter, though I don’t explain further. “None of that matters right now. Can we please talk about the fact that you shouldn’t be fighting? What are you doing here?”
“I’m fine,” Dad says with a dismissive wave of his hand, but when he stumbles, I grab his arm to steady him.
“You’re not fine,” I chastise, staring at his pale face with concern. “Why isn’t the angel queen here?”
He pats my hand, but his eyes darken. “Queen Vespera refuses to believe the witches are a real threat. Even though the witches have now attacked numerous cities and townships around Toralyn, the queen believes it’s an angel problem that she’ll be able to easily manage.”
I stare incredulously at the carnage around us, including the mass of dead witches and angels. “Easily manage? Has she forgotten what happened the last time the witches declared war?”
“She’s always been stubborn,” Prince Callan says, stepping close. “And in all fairness, until recently, we had thought the witches had been eradicated.” I’m not sure if it’s because of the sunlight glinting on his golden wings, but my archangel looks even more princely than usual. “I’ve been advised that my brothers and the majority of our forces are busy protecting other more important cities around the realm.”
My brows lower even more as I continue staring at the damage around us.
King Dalton grunts as he stretches his body, moving his head from side to side until his neck cracks.
“Queen Vespera should call on the allied realms,” I say. “Before the angels are overwhelmed. Clearly, there are more witches than any of us would have imagined. Do we know why the witches are in Toralyn?”
“Whatever the reason, Queen Vespera is determined that this is an internal problem they can solve without intervention,” Dad replies grimly. “As to the why…I was hoping coming here would shed some light on that, but so far, I’ve discovered nothing.”
I turn my attention to Prince Callan. “Is there something special about this town?”
“Nothing that would be of use to the witches,” he replies.
I think on this, but I can feel Dad’s eyes on me.
“So, is he one of yours, too?” the king asks with amusement, distracting me as he scrutinizes Prince Callan.
I don’t answer, mostly because I’m not sure what to say. Despite everything, Prince Callan still doesn’t believe we can be mates.
The prince dips his head, and I wait for his answer, but he ignores Dad’s question entirely. “I appreciate your assistance here, King Dalton,” he says instead.
Dad merely looks intrigued by his change in subject. “Of course. And I trust you’ll pass this on to your queen.”
Prince Callan wipes the blood from his swords and sheathes them. “It will be recorded that you aided in the battle for this township.”
Dad hums his approval, and he turns his attention from Prince Callan to where the others have formed up behind me. “Four mates, daughter? I had suspected you may have more than the common number for a demon, but it looks as though you’ll have your hands full.”
Shade snickers in my mind. “He means hands, and mouth, and…”
“It’s a surprise for all of us,” I say with a tight smile, cutting Shade off. Listening to that while having a conversation with my dad is just plain wrong. I don’t correct Dad and explain that I actually have five mates. Alaric is nowhere to be seen, but given his hatred for demons, I’m not surprised.
King Dalton nods, looking to where Nate now stands naked, back in his non-shifted form. “Yes, these are some very interesting matches that will undoubtedly lead to…interesting times.”
I’m not sure ‘interesting’ is the word I’d use, but I’m just glad he doesn’t seem to disapprove of my mates from the other realms.
“However, I am confused that you have not yet bonded, my daughter. These are trying times, and you need all your power.”
And of course he had to ask. I groan internally. “Not bonded? What makes you think that?” I reply casually, hoping Dad will drop it.
The demon king’s eyes sparkle with mischief, his gaze roving over my reddening cheeks. He points a long finger at my archangel. “Because if you were bonded, our princely friend over here wouldn’t be standing apart from you like he’s not sure what to do with himself. That is not how a bonded mate would act. Not when their female is so close.”
Nate stifles his grin, and Prince Callan scowls, looking supremely uncomfortable.
Shade, of course, cackles in my head. “Oh, I have missed our demon daddy. Why don’t you tell him about Alaric? That asshole could use a chewing out, too.”
Despite the fact Prince Callan and Alaric are still my reluctant mates, I suddenly feel the need to defend them. I mean, they did just fight by my side and saved my dad. “Firstly, don’t call him that because I don’t need that in my head right now,” I tell Shade, “and secondly, something tells me now isn’t the right time to explain that I also have a Drozac assassin as one of my mates.”
“What’s wrong with demon daddy?” Shade counters. “I’ve always told you I think King Dalton is ? —”
“Nope,” I cut her off before she can explain further, and I give Dad a tight smile. “It’s complicated. This isn’t something any of us expected.”
“It never is,” King Dalton replies, his eyes getting a faraway look, and I get the feeling he’s thinking about mom—his bonded angel mate. The thought makes me squirm. Despite all his talk about how mates are supposed to act toward one another, my parents were mated and mom still dumped me as a baby and left my dad. The idea of any of my mates one day leaving me makes my stomach churn.
“I suppose I should thank you for your efforts,” King Dalton says, staring at Mason. “You saved my life, and I’m in your debt.”
My centaur mate smiles. “No thanks necessary, your highness. I would do anything to protect my mate.” He pauses, wrapping his arm around me. “And of course, her family.”
Nate groans and mutters under his breath. “Kiss ass.”
I smirk, glad that at least one of my mates won’t embarrass me in front of my father.
King Dalton’s lips quirk up. “As it should be. Nevertheless, you have my gratitude.”
I’m busy thinking about Mason’s hand on me when Theon stumbles forward, moving to Prince Callan’s side. His wounded wing is now half healed and still slowly regenerating. I’m glad the healer will make it, but seeing his wounds is enough to pull my thoughts back to the witches, because that’s what’s important right now.
“Do we know what the situation is back in Seral?” I ask Dad, drawing the conversation away from bonding and my mates.
King Dalton frowns. “Peace between the clan leaders has been fragile since I mentioned my retirement, but there had been no more signs of the witches before I left. That was days ago, and I cannot be sure how General Josek has fared in my absence.”
My mood sours when I think of the unhinged demon general currently in control of the demon realm. Only Lady Fate knows what the male has been up to while on a witch hunt.
Nate looks over his shoulder, and a moment later, Sebastian and eleven other demons march closer to us. “Our king!” Sebastian barks when he draws close, slamming his fist to his chest and falling to one knee. The other demons do the same, and King Dalton arches a brow at me.
“I told them to follow us here,” I explain.
Prince Callan folds his arms across his chest. “What are your plans now, King Dalton?” His expression is hard, and I can tell the prince is keen to keep moving.
Dad lets out a heavy sigh. “Unfortunately, unless Queen Vespera agrees to receive aid, there’s not much more we can do here. I will return to Seral before matters get out of hand at home.” He fixes me with a stare. “But now that you have the archangel prince as your mate, I must request, daughter, that you travel to the queen and implore her to reconsider. Perhaps, when she learns what transpired here, she will be more receptive to hearing the truth.”
Prince Callan stiffens, tucking his wings in tighter. “Your highness, I must insist that Princess Blake returns with you to the demon realm. Queen Vespera is not known to be the most hospitable to?—”
“I will, my king,” I blurt, cutting Prince Callan off. Truthfully, I don’t care much to see the angel queen, but it’s obvious Prince Callan is going there, and the fact that my archangel mate suggested I leave him is pissing me off. Besides, Dad is right. The queen needs a wakeup call.
“Callan might be right in suggesting that Blake should return home,” Nate says, looking uneasy.
I cut a glare his way, and Nate lifts his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m just sayin’, Queen Vespera is prickly on a good day.”
“We’re only going there to pass on the message,” I say. “We’ll keep our stay brief, and then we’ll be off to the demon realm.”
No one argues with that, but Prince Callan’s temple pulses with irritation.
When my archangel stays silent, Dad smiles. “Good. Then it’s settled.”