10. Damon

Chapter 10

Damon

" W hat do you mean she's gone?" I asked, standing in the middle of the living room where my mate should've been waiting for me.

The wolves cowered before me, even though I hadn't raised my voice. I didn't need to. I'd let my full demon form take over the moment Lorna's connection disappeared. As soon as I realized I could not feel her presence, could not feel her irritation and suspicions, could not feel her pain over losing Kenrid, my natural instincts kicked in. Whoever took my mate from me would suffer a long and painful death.

"Alyssa showed up through a portal and stole her away," one of the wolves replied, focusing on the floor. "She said they weren't allowed to go back to Fairie. That's why Brance took Kenrid. Those were her words exactly. Or close to it anyway."

He was rambling, but I didn't care. He'd answered my question.

The fae had taken the most important people in my life. Lorna and two of the only friends I had in this world. As long as they were still on Earth, I would find my mate.

"Did you hear anything else?" I asked.

"No, these four distracted us." The shifter pointed at the four fae lying unconscious on the living room floor.

I nodded, then grabbed the two fae closest to me. "I'll be right back."

"Damon."

Elliott's hand landed on my shoulder, and I paused. He flinched when I looked at him. He would see Hell's fire burning in my eyes and feel the dark magic pulsing from the runes carved on my scales. I could smell his fear, but it didn't matter. These two would talk and the other two would die.

"Don't leave them in the Underworld," Elliott said. "They may not have had a choice in this."

"There is always a choice," I stated. "They chose the consequence they felt was less damning. No one forced them to act as decoys."

Elliott's brow drew together, but he remained silent. I refused to feel pity for the fae, nor would I show mercy.

Stepping away from Elliott, I drew on the magic that would send me to the Underworld. The portal opened, and I stepped through with my latest victims.

The familiar feel of my home world softened the edges of my anger. I drew in a deep breath, absorbing the power that was natural to me and my kind. The magic welcomed me in a way my people never would. Magic didn't have prejudices, nor did it hold grudges for millennia. It merely filled the gaping void in my soul.

The magic also woke my captives. I tossed the fae on the rocky ground and reveled in their fear when they realized where they were .

"Damon, please!" the nearest one begged, rising onto his knees. "I had no choice. Brance would have killed me if I'd denied his wishes."

I sneered at his whimpering and looked at his companion, a female whose name I didn't care to know. She stared at the open canyon that stretched beyond the horizon with not a single tree in sight. Her eyes shimmered with tears, and her entire body trembled.

Vegetation didn't grow in this part of the Underworld, which is why I'd chosen it for the fae. There was no water, no food, and no chance of life. Only the demonic predators who would enjoy a short hunt and a tasty snack.

"He told us he'd found a way home," the male continued. "I tried to find a lie in his words, but he truly believed he'd found a way. I didn't deserve to be exiled. I'd been wrongly accused with no chance to defend my actions." His voice trailed off into a whisper. "I just wanted to go home."

"Where are they?" I asked. "Where are my friends and my mate?"

"At Alyssa's home," he replied immediately, rattling off the street name and address. I recognized it as one of the gated communities on the outskirts of the city. "The house is warded with multiple layers, each created by a different person. They didn't want anyone hearing or seeing anything they shouldn't."

He glanced at his companion, who was still frozen in shock, and shook his head.

"We should have known better," he whispered. "Fairie's magic doesn't make exceptions, but the mere hope of going back made us stupid."

I tore my eyes from the pathetic creature begging me for mercy. I wanted to leave them to die. They needed to pay for their traitorous acts. If Nathan didn't survive… My blood boiled with anger. He was my family. The first one on Earth who'd earned my trust and never betrayed it.

Elliott quickly followed in Nathan's footsteps. He'd also become my brother and friend. He wouldn't hesitate to show his disappointment in me if I left these two to die. It wouldn't surprise me if he hadn't already moved the others to a secure location so I couldn't kill them.

What would Lorna think if I left these fae in the Underworld? She would never rest if she found out, would always feel guilty for some reason. I'd have to hide it from her. I frowned. I'd just forced Kenrid to reveal his secrets because of my own convictions about hidden truths between mates. If I killed them, I'd have to tell her. Confess my sins.

"Damn," I muttered and glared at the creatures I'd have to take back with me. "Let's go."

Thirty minutes later, Elliott parked outside of the address the fae had given me. It looked just like all the other homes on the street, an old Tudor Style in shades of brown and white situated in the center of an elaborately manicured, two-acre lot. It mattered little to me. The only details that concerned me were the tall hedges surrounding the property that gave it some semblance of privacy and the absence of any other people—fae or otherwise.

The peaceful facade only fueled my anger. If Brance and Alyssa really did bring their captives here, I would bring Hell to their doorstep. They would never know peace again. Fear and death would be their new bedmates.

I refused to lose two trusted friends and my mate.

I slid out of Elliott's truck and strode across the yard. I'd reverted to my human guise, regardless of how much I wanted to storm the property in full demon mode. I had no desire to pay the consequences for revealing myself to humanity. I was angry, not stupid. I'd release my demon once I was inside .

"Damn," Elliott swore from just behind me. "The magic surrounding this place is crazy."

The fae I'd interrogated—and, yes, brought back to the shifters—hadn't misled me about the power poured into the wards on the house. I wondered if even the humans could feel it emanating from the property.

I glanced over my shoulder at Elliott and noticed the dozens of shifters and witches pouring out of the vehicles behind us. We'd asked for volunteers to join us, but I hadn't expected so many of the clan members to accept. After the vampires' discussion about feeding from Lorna, I worried that Nathan hadn't swayed their opinions.

I shouldn't have doubted them, though. Nathan provided a safe haven for many in the supernatural community, not just the vampires. No one wanted to find out what would happen to the clan without their leader.

Yes, it was nice to see the clan supporting Nathan and Kenrid, but should we have brought so many witnesses? What if Lorna had given in to her dhampir? The clan wouldn't accept her, and any trust they had in us would be gone. We'd most certainly lied to them about what she was.

No. She had to know I would come for her. I had to trust that she wouldn't risk exposing herself.

"It's not a concern," I said, finally responding to Elliott. "There is no magic on Earth that can keep me out."

Elliott raised his eyebrows at me. I answered his silent question with a shake of my head. No, I wouldn't explain myself to him. He would witness it along with everyone else.

"Let's check the back," I said, pointing toward the wooden privacy fence that disappeared behind the house. "Stealth is not my intent, but I'd prefer to avoid the neighbors if possible."

"Good idea." Elliott motioned to the others to follow as we made our way into the backyard .

The gate on the fence was not locked, not that a simple lock would've stopped me. The urge to tear the gate from its posts and throw it across the yard nearly overwhelmed me, but I drew in a deep breath and kept moving forward. I had to remind myself that I didn't want a bunch of humans coming out to investigate. The numerous cars parked on the street were already reason enough for the neighbors to be curious.

The backyard was indeed enclosed by a tall privacy fence and numerous trees. I stretched out my senses, looking for magical traps. Kenrid always placed them around his own home, so it wouldn't surprise me to find them here as well. Sure enough, several magical trip wires were scattered on the path to the large deck at the rear of the house.

Once again, I noted that there were no fae to be seen. No guards, no patrols, no one lounging on the deck next to the pool. If it weren't for the fae magic and traps covering the property, I might've thought we had the wrong location.

I stopped just short of the traps. Elliott stood next to me, with the others standing a few feet back.

"Shouldn't there be guards or something?" Elliott asked.

"I had expected some resistance," I replied. "I don't think we were lied to, but something here isn't right."

"Maybe they just assumed that no one could break through those wards"—Elliott gestured to the house—"and so they didn't think they needed any guards."

"Possibly, or it's only a handful of the fae who still follow Brance's agenda. Maybe he doesn't have enough followers to leave a guard. After yesterday's meeting, most of them apologized to me," I said, recalling the line of clan members who filed by me after Lorna's incredible display of self-control. "Stand back while I clear these traps, then I'm bringing down their wards. "

As soon as Elliott took several steps back, I released my hold on a sliver of my demonic magic. A bank of dark fog rolled out in front of me. When it hit the first trap, the detonation rumbled through the ground. The next two went off simultaneously and a mushroom of dark magic blossomed in the air. Another rumble shook the earth beneath our feet.

Several of the people behind me gasped. I smiled. No doubt they had also felt the strength of the fae magic and wondered how we would disarm the traps. Being the only resident demon on Earth made it easy for me to hide my magic. No one knew what to expect from me. It felt good to display my strength, to show these lesser beings that nothing could match the might of the Underworld.

I shook the thoughts from my head. Visions of grandeur were what led to the demise of my own family and future. I did not see my allies as lesser, even though they technically were.

A sharp pain in my chest pulled me back to the present and my current task. How had I let myself get distracted? Another sharp tug alarmed me until I realized it was my mate trying to find me. I followed the thread straight into the house and reached for her through our bond. A wall of fear and helplessness nearly knocked me over.

All of my doubts and caution were swept aside in an instant. I released my demon and charged the house, following the thread connecting me to my mate. The dark fog of my magic swirled over the fae wards, revealing a large dome about three feet from the exterior walls.

I dug my claws into the ward and tore into it. The magic screeched as I pulled it from its base and ripped a gaping hole in the ward Brance had surely thought was invincible. Within seconds, the broken ward flared in shades of green, purple, and red before it fell to the ground in cascading sheets.

"No!" a man screamed from inside the house .

With the wards gone, it was easy to hear fighting. The smell of something burning wafted from the house, along with a renewed surge of fear from my mate.

"Lorna!" Elliott cried.

I flared my wings, preventing him from charging into the unknown. I could withstand a magical attack from the fae, but he could not. I was certain it was Brance I'd heard inside the house.

"Move!" Elliott growled.

Rather than argue with him, I jumped through the nearest window before he could push past me. Glass shattered around me, but I didn't notice it, nor did I care. All I could see was Nathan hanging limp from the ceiling with a pool of blood at his feet. Gaping wounds covered his exposed torso, and I couldn't tell if he was still breathing.

The fae would die today. There would be no mercy for them.

I tore my gaze from Nathan only to find Kenrid huddled in a corner. Burn marks covered his bare chest and bruises darkened his face.

Yes, the fae would die today.

I finally turned my attention to Lorna kneeling next to Kenrid. She didn't appear hurt, but her fear still pulsed through our bond. Her eyes transitioned from blue to green to black so quickly, it was nearly impossible to follow. A good indication that her dhampir was barely under control. I'd had complete faith in her ability to keep it all together, but I was still relieved to see her intact.

A low growl rumbled from my chest. It was time to kill the fae.

"Elliott, get Nathan down," I commanded, not taking my eyes from Lorna. "Little d'laej, stay put."

She nodded. The fear radiating between us worried me, but I didn't have time to address it. I needed to take care of the traitorous fae.

"Watch out!" Lorna squeaked, pointing at something behind me .

I spread my wings to their full width, blocking whatever spell someone had thrown at me. Heat washed over my back and wings with a wave of fire. My runed scales absorbed the magic easily, making them glow bright for several seconds. I slowly turned to face my attacker.

Brance.

I bared my teeth at him. When his face paled, I chuckled. His clothes hung in tatters from his body. Apparently, he'd already been in a magical duel with someone. I glanced around and found Alyssa crawling across the floor—away from me. She'd obviously been beaten, both physically and magically. Her aura was so weak, I doubted she could pull off the simplest of spells. I dismissed her as a threat and turned back to Brance.

"Your magic cannot hurt me, foolish little fae," I taunted. "If it makes you feel better, try again. Just know that I will have my turn when you're finished."

Brance pulled his shoulders back and snarled. "I've sacrificed everything for this! I will not allow you to stop me."

He pressed his palms together, a faint glow emanating from the contact. I could feel his magic building, but it was weak like a tingle across my skin. While Brance couldn't hurt me, he might decide to target one of the others. I closed the distance between us just as he released his spell. A pulsing ball of electricity exploded from his hands and veered to the left - straight toward Nathan and Elliott.

I lunged, trying to get my body between the spell and my friends. I wouldn't make it—I was too far away—but that didn't mean I couldn't intervene. Tendrils of my own magic shot forward in a dark cloud, blanketing Brance's spell. It detonated the same as the traps outside, sending a plume of power in every direction.

The backlash blew Elliott off his feet and sent him tumbling into the nearest wall. Brance flew in the opposite direction, sliding on his back through the shattered glass on the floor. Nathan swayed from his bindings. He moaned as his body spun, but I was there a second later to stop the movement.

"I got you," I said, gripping him as tenderly as possible.

I glanced up at the rope holding him, wondering why Elliott hadn't yet released our boss. I cursed when I saw the spelled rope. Of course they tied him with bindings that couldn't be broken. I reached up and jerked the rope, pulling the anchor from the ceiling along with several chunks of wood and plaster.

Nathan fell against me, and I lowered him to the floor. Elliott was there a moment later.

"Get away from him!" Lorna yelled.

My head snapped up at my mate's panicked voice. Surely, she wasn't talking to me.

No. Kenrid lay sprawled on the floor next to her with blood oozing from a deep cut on his head. Brance kicked another male fae in the stomach and blasted him with the same spell he'd thrown at Nathan. The male fell to the floor beside Kenrid, his hair and clothing smoldering.

Lorna stood over Kenrid's unmoving body with her knees slightly bent and her fists up and ready to fight. A swell of pride pushed aside some of my fear for her safety. She was obviously scared, but she was brave, and she wasn't backing down.

Neither was Brance. I should've realized he'd used that attack on Nathan as a distraction to get to Lorna. This whole thing was a trap for Lorna. Brance must have been the one to issue the contract to find her.

"Come with me and I'll let them live," Brance said, extending a hand to Lorna. He was only a couple of steps from her. He could have her in his grasp within seconds.

She snorted. "Yeah right. Damon's going to kick your ass. "

I wanted to be thrilled with her faith in me, but I hated how close she was to Brance. I was fast, but I worried I wouldn't be fast enough. Any magic I used would also hit my mate, unless I could get closer.

"He can't reach me before I get to you." Brance turned to face me with a smug look. "Isn't that right, demon? I'll teleport us both out of here and you'll never see her again."

A swell of shifter magic pulsed next to me—Elliott shifting to his wolf. Tendrils of my magic trailed along the floor toward Brance and Lorna. They were too far away, though. I wouldn't reach Lorna before Brance took her. He couldn't take her back to Fairie, but I had no idea what other realms he could access. I doubted he would stay on Earth.

"What do you want?" I asked, trying to stall. I needed to find a way to get Lorna away from him.

"Her!" Brance exclaimed, snapping his fingers at my mate. " She is my ticket back to Fairie. The queens have already agreed to rescind my exile if I can deliver the dhampir."

I took a moment to consider his words while my magic inched closer. Or rather the queens' words. Brance in his desperation must not have understood what they'd told him. The realm's magic wasn't controlled by anyone. The queens had no say in who could enter. They thought they controlled who they exiled, but they really didn't. The Fairie Realm was just as magical as the Underworld. The Realm decided who was unworthy.

I shook my head.

"They can rescind whatever they want, but that doesn't mean they have any control over the magic governing Fairie," I said. "Do you really think the realm's magic would listen to your queen?"

"But—" he whispered, but I could see him thinking it through.

He glanced at Alyssa, who'd managed to crawl to the door. She leaned against the wall, hugging her knees and glaring at Brance .

"You're a fool," Alyssa said, her voice grating. "I never should've listened to you."

"They told me if I delivered the dhampir, I could reinstate the research," Brance insisted, dropping his hands to his side. "That's always been done in the Winter Kingdom. The research must be done in Fairie. Where else would they do it? They must have a way to get us home."

He once again straightened his spine and turned to face Lorna. I knew he'd never change his mind. He would never see reason. He would never give up trying to get back home. Lorna must have seen it as well. She closed the space between herself and Brance, then cupped his face with her hands.

I took a step toward her, gripping the fur on Elliott's back. His body vibrated with each low growl rumbling through his chest. I understood his anger and frustration, but I had a hunch about what Lorna was doing.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Her magic tickled my senses despite the distance between us. She was trying to use her newly found ability to manipulate Brance's mind. Brance leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. It looked like Lorna might get into his head and convince him to stand down. I only needed him distracted for a moment, which she'd given me. I wouldn't wait to see if she succeeded in breaking through his mental barrier.