Chapter 12
I’d already had one million mysteries to solve, and now I also had about ten urgent problems to resolve.
Owu was either at the shack by himself or wandering the desert. Or worst-case scenario? Planning to kill his grandparents and find his mother. If he did, then Carmine would get word of the boy with crimson scales whose demon powers were present at five years old, instead of the usual sixteen.
Owu would die.
A Luther child was now in my care, and though Carmine had assured me that no harm would come to the pup, he’d made those assurances as the calm version of himself. The monster wouldn’t hesitate to control me by using the boy.
I didn’t even want to think about the rest of my issues, which ranged from a lack of communication with my sister to the unread book on demon cults stuffed in my wardrobe.
A portal opened—a tiny one that Carmine sometimes favored. And his mother.
A tiny scrap of paper was shoved through.
I stooped to pick it up.
Steth suspects.
Goodie. I blew out a breath. Another problem. Steth suspected Athira was working with me. Had she seen Athira and me talking?
Oddly, that issue was a third of the way down my list in terms of lethal priority.
I had to leave the fortress to find Owu, and as soon as I did, Carmine would portal to join me—or watch my movements from afar.
I jerked at a sudden knock.
Yellow scale.
“Come in,” I called, scrunching up the paper.
The door opened, and I glanced over at the yellow, then whipped to look again. “Tsan!”
He grinned. “Miss me?”
I thought about that. “Actually, yes. Can’t say the same about Tiers.”
He hummed. “I’m not sure that I can say the same. Tiers gave me purpose. Or hope. Now here I am for the same reasons. I came as soon as the invitation arrived.”
“I’m glad you did. Come in.”
“Will the demon king kill me if I do?” he asked.
I lifted a shoulder. “Always a risk.”
Tsan came in and shut the door, and I grinned at his mini rebellion.
“Why am I here?” he asked.
So much to say, and Carmine could be listening.
I drew forth my single Magus affinity, and soon a circle of my ancestors surrounded us, linking arms. They ranged from my great-grandmother and extended back through the centuries from her.
I’d never summoned my mother and grandmother.
I wasn’t sure my heart could take it. Initially because of their violent end, and later because I’d started a mating ritual with their killer.
I didn’t have as much attachment to my older ancestors.
“Where do I start?” I released a breath and sat. “I made you a promise a while ago. Do you remember?”
Even with my ghost sound barrier, I didn’t dare speak too openly.
Tsan nodded. “I do.”
“I need help with that.”
Tsan wasn’t dumb. The color of his scales alone would indicate his cunning. Yellows and whites used to rule demonkind for a reason. Even for a yellow, Tsan noticed a lot. And he was a quick thinker. In addition, he was the luckiest demon I’d met.
This gal needed some luck.
I rubbed my face. “There’s a lot to do.”
The yellow-scaled demon walked further into the room, looking around. “So where do we start?”
“Remember Owu?” I murmured. “Athira abandoned him. He might’ve gone rogue.”
A fist boomed on the door.
Crimson. And something else entirely.
“Not Carmine,” I said to the wide-eyed Tsan. Phew.
I released my circle of ancestors and opened the door. “Gratia.”
She was holding my Luther “son” by the scruff of the neck. “If you’ve claimed him, then you look after him.” She shoved the boy inside.
The Luther glared, then found the nearest corner to slink to.
“Another escape attempt?” I asked Gratia. “That was less than thirty minutes.”
“I have things to do,” she said haughtily.
My new son had given a powerful demon the slip, and the powerful demon didn’t like it. “Are you late to rake dirt with friends?”
Gratia had given me a cold shoulder since I threatened to destroy her mating. Some people couldn’t take a joke.
She scowled. “If you must know, I’m going with Raes to visit his family down in the realm today.”
Really? How fortuitous. Suddenly I had a ticket to the realm. “Try not to look like a total fool.”
I slammed the door.
Gratia stormed away, and Tsan snorted. “Who was that?”
“Carmine’s sister.”
He blanched. “Princess Gratia?”
Yes, that was how I spoke to princesses. Not in general, but when playing the part of a possessed mate.
I crouched in front of the glaring boy. “I had to escape somewhere once, did you know?”
The four- or five-year-old ignored me. His chubby face had thinned to the face of a boy overnight.
The panic he must be burying. At least Adeuto had gone to stay with my sister, who he shared a tether with.
He also possessed some divination affinity, which would reassure him about his Magus surroundings.
Being that bit younger, my son still retained ample innocence about life and large changes.
This pup was older and more aware, more like Owu.
“You’re best to figure out a way to escape in secret before leaving,” I added.
The little Luther looked at me. “How do I do that?”
“Watch. Listen. Pretend you don’t want to escape so everyone lets down their guard.”
The Luther muttered, “You let my cousins go. Why couldn’t you leave me too?”
“That’s a big question, young Luther. But what I can tell you is that the babies wouldn’t have fared well here. You are strong enough to withstand time apart from your people.”
More searching silence.
I smiled. “You just managed to sneak away from one of the strongest demons in this realm.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I sneak away from the pack all the time. If I can get away from Sascha, then I can get away from anyone.”
From the boy’s tone, I could tell that he looked up to the pack leader in a big way.
“Are you ready to tell me your name?” I asked.
He narrowed his gaze. “Axel.”
“Do you know my name?”
I’d wondered how much he recalled from what I’d said to Andie and Sascha.
Axel shook his head. “Demon queen.”
“That is what I will be. My name is Syera, and I will look after you.”
Which was a monumental task in itself. I had so much to do that I couldn’t think straight, and now I’d gained a child who wasn’t as resilient to this world as Owu and my son had been.
Demon children naturally sought to understand danger and pain as their parents—hopefully—nurtured them.
This boy had been surrounded by love his entire life, and I sensed that his resilience was yet to be tested.
He'd also snuck away from Gratia on day one, so I had a good feeling about the pup.
“What do you want to know?” I said.
“Is my mama alive?” he whispered. Tears slipped from his eyes and his bottom lip trembled.
“She is safe and well.”
Though I was fairly certain some of her pack had physically removed her from the clearing when I’d taken her son.
Axel lowered his head to his knees and his shoulders shook.
I glanced back at Tsan. “I wouldn’t have minded your company out in the realm today, but I have a task for you.” I tilted my head at the Luther.
Tsan wrinkled his nose. “It smells. What is it?”
“A Luther. Werewolf.”
“A real one?”
I stared at him, and Tsan grunted. “Stupid question.”
Axel’s stomach gurgled, and Tsan’s brows rose. “We have that in common.”
“Kitchens are on the next floor down,” I said, then said to Axel, “Young Luther, I will not deter you from escape, but think on my earlier words. Watch and listen. Most importantly, stay with those I leave you with. Not every demon will treat you well. Most will not. And most here have never met a supernatural like you either.”
Axel wiped his eyes, and I was sad and also relieved to spot the fear in them.
Tsan glanced at me. “Where are you going?”
“A chance has presented itself to find our friend. I think Gratia and Raes need a chaperone for their visit to his family. Her virtue must be protected.” I smirked after. “She’ll thank me for it one day.”