Chapter 9

Julian loathed the thought of allowing the rescued wolves to fight in battle, but they'd insisted on retribution. He didn't know them as people, yet the wolves were irrevocably tied to him forever. The bond between an Alpha and pack wolves had already begun to sprout roots in his psyche.

Though unexpected and overwhelming, his wolf celebrated, finally released to lead as he was always meant to do. The Prince of Wolves' destiny had been determined by fate, and Julian accepted his charge with pride.

The sound of Cassia's voice broke his contemplation and he smiled up at her, watching as she braided her hair.

"I can feel you, my Alpha. Do not worry about the pack. This is their decision to fight. This storm will pass," she assured him.

"How can you know me so well when we've just met?" Julian smiled, his heart tightened. You're not alone.

"I can feel you as you probably feel me. I may be chameleon but I'm your mate."

"The wolves seem to be recovering, but there are at least fifteen who aren't in condition to go anywhere. I had to order them to stay back … I took them to Logan's. I understand Makoto's perspective but I explained that their presence would put the rest of us at risk. There're ten wolves I'm allowing to come with us, but I still have concerns about letting them go."

"You will have to use your power to control them. Kenji and Makoto may have their opinions based on their own experiences, but you are Alpha. If they, at any time, become a liability, you can order them to retreat. They will submit. I trust you will do what is best for your pack … meaning all of us. Rafe. Greyson. Sayuri. You've honed your leadership with Rafe … and you are the Prince of Wolves … this is your nature." Cassia sat beside him on the edge of the bed. Her palm cupped his cheek. "I want you to know that if at any time you need me to shift into something other than what I choose, let me know. You know how to communicate with me. I promise I will listen. I'm not wolf. And yes, I'm independent but we go into battle as pack. You are my Alpha as well."

"Cass …" Warmth in his chest bloomed with emotion … with love for his mate. Guilt threaded through him. "This is going to be over soon. I promise I'm going to make up for this chaos. You and I are going to build a beautiful life together. No more demons. Just you and me … settling down, growing roots. We'll build a new house. And a pack house. And we'll do it somewhere where you can fly or run or gallop … whatever your form, you'll be free. We'll be free."

Cassia smiled and leaned into his embrace, her forehead touching his. "I can't wait."

"Cassia …" I love you.

"Julian …" I love you too.

Julian captured her lips with his, pouring all of his love and power into their kiss. There was no other option but to win the battle. More than good versus evil, he'd fight with his own life to protect his mate and his pack. Laser-focused on his goal, the Alpha set off to war.

* * *

"What the hell,dude? It's windy as fuck up here. And cold. I swear you like freezing my ass."

"You must toughen up, wolf," Greyson told him, zipping his leather jacket.

"Why the hell are we up so high? I'm sure there's a warmer place we can catch a demon. They are in Hell, after all."

"We are on Mount Aso," Sayuri explained. "This is a sacred place … the veil to the underworld is thin."

"You sure this baby isn't going to … you know." Rafe held his hands near the sides of his head and stretched his fingers, "Because I'm as down with a good hike as the next person, but with the looks of the steam coming out of this volcano, I'd say she's restless."

"She is a breathing, living entity." Kenji's expression remained serious. "We cannot predict her temperament."

"It will be fine, Rafe." Julian placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, sending his wolf the power of the Alpha. "I need you focused tonight. As my beta, you must get the others out of here should things go south. You must submit and do as I say even if your vampire side tells you otherwise. Do I have your word?"

"Yes, yes you have my word." Rafe locked his eyes on Julian's and nodded.

"Good, wolf. We must protect our pack." Julian gave a nod of confidence to Rafe.

"Agreed." Rafe quieted his concerns.

"Dominque. Xavier. Greyson. Are you ready for what's about to go down? You don't have to stay. You can leave right now if you want. This isn't your fight."

"Well, I do have an appointment this weekend for a facial," Dominique told Julian, a lilt of amusement to her voice. "No, I'm good. We have many families in this world. Now you're part of mine. Like it or not."

"You're pack, Dom. I appreciate your help today. I promise this is the last leg of our tour. You'll make that appointment." Julian inwardly chuckled at Dominique's failed attempt to conceal her emotions.

"This is one of many battles. We cannot allow demons to walk this earth in any form. The humans who engaged with the demons must return to their master. I'm here for Dominique. If she views you as family, then I lend you my sword, so to speak." Xavier's fangs descended.

"I appreciate the help … both of you."

"We all do," Greyson told them.

"Grey-man. You good? Ya top off your fuel?"

"Well fed, Alpha, well fed." Greyson flashed him a satisfied smile, his fangs in full view.

"Makoto. How about you?" Julian sensed the chaotic chatter in his mind. Rage and desire for revenge stoked the fire within him.

Makoto glanced at Julian but gave no response. Julian would allow him to fight but he'd flash him out the second he became a liability.

"Sayuri. I think we're all good to go. You're on."

"Tonight we don't need salt. Mother Aso is ocher. Ripe with iron oxide, she breeds the natural minerals that will contain the demon and other creatures of its ilk. Keep your minds clear and focused. Do not let the demon influence your thoughts." Sayuri, wearing a black silk jumpsuit and leather boots, reached behind her back and withdrew her sword, and balanced it on her fingertips. "My katana. It is my father's tachi forged by my mother's brother in the Heian period. Kenji has its twin. They have been infused with the blessing of the Goddess, sacred steel meant to slay demons."

Julian nodded. "Use it well."

Greyson inspected it without ever touching it. "Nice."

"I have killed many demons while searching for my brothers. Each time in battle, she doesn't fail me." Sayuri held it up to the sky. The wind changed direction, blowing hot steam from the springs into their path. Kissed by the spray of the mountain's sacred hot spring, it was a warning. "When the time comes, I will slay the demon. It is the only way to bind it back to Hell forever."

While Julian wasn't usually impressed with theatrics, Sayuri's skills had been established in the tradition of her craft. A demon slayer, she'd help keep all of them alive.

The Alpha reached for Cassia's hand. The air grew thick with the scent of sulfur and he nodded to her.

"Every battle requires sacrifice." Sayuri sliced open her palm and squeezed the blood onto the ground. Smearing her sword red in her essence, she held it up to the air. "Jibun no chi to karada o gisei ni shimasu. Watashi no katana ni watashi no chi no chikara o chūnyū shite kudasai. Megami ni kansha shimasu."

"Kenji." He offered his hand to his sister. She made quick work of spilling his blood. "The bait has been set."

"Alpha. Tonight the blood of my bond shall bind the demon forever." She slid her finger across her sword, and painted a bloody stripe across his forehead. Sayuri turned to Cassia and repeated her action. "This demon came for you. For my brother. We shall fight with the blood of all my ancestors. My sword will forever bind him to Hell. But I must get close enough. You must fight … but don't kill him. He will only re-create. Wound him in every way. Vampires. You may tear the humans he brings but do not drink the blood. Stay away from the cambion. My brother and I will slay them.

"It's time to raise Asmodeus from this earth. Are you ready?"

"Do it." Stand by … it is coming. Do not jeopardize your life, Julian told the wolves who remained a mile back from the crater. Come only when I call you.

"Ready your weapons. I'm going to pull this wretched demon from the dirt. He will summon those who owe him favors. They will not be able to escape the crater." Sayuri turned to the bloodstained dirt and raised up her hands. "Hac nocte in tua gratia convenimus ut daemonem ad gehennam alligamus. nomino daemonem. Asmodeus. Virtus deae te vocat in aequora. In potestate deae tibi terra mandatur. Surge Asmodeus, surge. Surge nunc!"

Immediately the ground beneath their feet began to shake. A geyser sprang its boiling water high into the air. Under the light of the full moon, the wolves howled in the distance, their foreboding cries warning of the evil to come.

"Can you feel that?" Cassia asked.

"It's coming. Be ready to shift. I sense cambion. At least five," Kenji warned them.

"Surge Asmodeus, surge!" Sayuri repeated, a wicked smile on her face. As the ground began to split open under her feet, she jumped aside. "It's here."

"Who calls my name!!" The demon's voice boomed from every direction.

The great roar shook the trees. Nearly thirty feet away, the demon ascended from a crevasse. Half man, half bull, its long spiked tail flailed viciously, whipping into the air. Its eyes glowed red with the evil of the devil. Its three-foot-long tongue whipped out of its mouth as it spoke.

"How dare you summon me? Who are you to do such a thing?" Its beady eyes honed in on Kenji. "This is about the hounds … the hounds you stole from me. I will turn all of you and then take turns splaying you open. A slow torture until you beg me to kill you."

"We're binding you to Hell, to Satan. You will never walk again on this earth … you will never command minions," Julian told him.

It zeroed in on Cassia. "The chameleon. You may have slipped from my fingers but you will be mine. I'll fuck you till you split open and make the Alpha watch."

"Go to hell!" Julian yelled. "This ends tonight."

"This is hardly a fair fight, Alpha," It released a diabolical growl, spitting and snorting. "You bring dragons. Wolves. And my bitch chameleon. So perhaps," it hissed, its tongue flailing the air, "it's time for my friends to join the party."

"Cambion!" Dominique ducked as it flew at her from above and clipped her arm with its tail. She withdrew a silver athame and stabbed at it as it flew by until it crashed to the ground. "Jesus, these fucking things are annoying."

"Get down, Dom!" Xavier yelled as another cambion flew directly at them, and pointed to a rock formation. "Take cover!"

The cambions attacked. Sayuri and her brothers sliced them open one by one. Greyson flashed, catching one midair and tore off its head.

Julian waited patiently, never taking his eyes off of the demon. The cambions stayed at bay. He looked to Cassia. It wants us alive.

I want him dead.

Humans are coming! Patience, patience … here they are.

Several humans materialized around Asmodeus. Their heads whipped toward the Alpha and his mate.

"Shift now!" Julian yelled at Cassia. Attack now, wolves, attack! He commanded his wolves, sending them running toward the humans.

Within seconds, Cassia transformed into a lion. A deranged human woman rushed toward Julian with a cleaver, Julian shifted into his great wolf, and tore out her throat. A large heavyset man ran towards Cassia, wielding a silver hatchet. She ducked as he swung the blade down upon her. In a rage, Julian leapt at him, and tore off his arm.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sayuri and her brothers battle the cambions. Their swords sliced through the winged beasts thick scaly skin. One by one, they slayed the cambions, but a dozen more swarmed them.

Asmodeus laughed maniacally as Julian and Cassia systematically destroyed the humans. The demon wielding its tail, attempting to splay open Dominque and Xavier as they attacked the humans.

Julian shifted back to human and flashed to Sayuri. "We must do the spell now before he has a chance to call more cambions."

"Just one more," she cried as she sliced off her opponent's head. "You must get me close to him."

"Cassia. I need you to shift. Fly!"

A human pointed her gun at the lion. Cassia narrowly escaped a silver bullet as she morphed into an eagle.

"Die, you fuckin' vermin!" Greyson yelled as he slayed another human.

"Take out the one with the gun," Julian called back to him as he ran closer to the demon, dodging its razor-sharp tail.

"Ahhh," Kenji cried, slaying the last cambion. "Let's go, Otouto."

Makoto raised his katana up into the air, wearing a celebratory smile. "Shōri!"

"Makoto!" Sayuri screamed. "No!"

A human woman ran out from beneath a mound of dirt, and sliced open Makoto's legs with a silver machete. Makoto stumbled to the ground. With a final blow, she stabbed him in his head, driving it clear through his skull.

Rage tore through Cassia, recognizing the woman from the party. Sophia Preston. She attacked, diving straight toward the woman. The human released a bloodcurdling scream as the eagle's talons clawed deep into her skull. Cassia pecked at her eyes, tearing at the woman's face until the human rolled to the ground. Releasing her magick, she transformed into a lion and mauled her throat until she went limp.

As she dropped her prey, pleased with her kill, she searched for Sayuri. Hunched over her brother's lifeless body, she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Stay with Makoto, "Julian yelled to Cassia. Though tempted to continue the fight, she obeyed the Alpha.

Kenji ran to his brother. "Makoto!"

"He's dead," Sayuri cried.

"Sayuri." Kenji put a hand on her shoulder. "He is gone. You must grieve later. We need your help."

She ignored him, refusing to leave Makoto's side.

"Sayuri. I will take care of him," her brother promised. "You must do your duty. Slay the demon."

"Asmodeus!" Julian called as the demon again flailed its tail and sprouted wings. The Alpha sensed the grief in the air, but if they didn't all kill this fucker, they'd all be dead. "Sayuri! Kenji! We have to do this now! It's going to fly. We must kill it now … banish it back to Hell."

Cassia transformed to human and set her palm onto Sayuri's shoulder. "I am sorry for your loss. Makoto fought with honor. Please … we need you."

"He's dead!" Sayuri cried.

"Sayuri, we need you now," Kenji told her.

Julian ran to Kenji who stood over his brother's body. Though all the humans and cambions had been slayed, the demon rallied, growing larger. The sound of Asmodeus chanting echoed throughout the mountaintop, its wings growing larger.

"Kenji. I need you to drop the sword and monitor the sky. If you've got a dragon in there….it's time."

"I don't know if I can do it," he admitted.

"I need your sister to slay Asmodeus. More cambions will come soon. Greyson had to take most of the injured wolves back. It's getting too dangerous … Kenji. Cassia. We need air support. Rafe, stay on the ground. Take out any stray humans that pop up."

"I'll try to fire up my dragon," Kenji promised, his voice shaken. "It's been a long time."

Cassia locked eyes with Julian and nodded, her palm on Sayuri's shoulder.

"Look what they did to my brother. How will we ever defeat Asmodeus? It's too late." Tears streamed down Sayuri's face.

"Let me worry about taking him down. But I need you to bind and vanquish him. You must use your sword. You have pledged your service to me and my pack. As your Alpha, I command you to rise and fight now." Julian touched her shoulder and released his magick. As his energy flowed to her, she lifted her head, her grief replaced with rage. "You can do this."

Asmodeus stretched his wings and roared, his body growing over twenty feet tall. Though still tethered to the earth by the spell, it attempted to fly.

"We've got to move now." Julian raised his arm and nodded to Cassia. She morphed back to eagle and flew up onto his wrist. Rafe ran to his side, waiting on his next command.

"I'm doing this for Makoto. That monster is never going to be released from Hell again." Sayuri nodded to her older brother.

Kenji closed his eyes and within seconds the great dragon emerged. The silvery green beast flapped its wings and took off into the sky.

Julian looked to Cassia. "Be safe, my courageous mate. Let's get this over with so we can begin our beautiful life."

Cassia took flight next to the dragon. In the distance, more cambions flew toward them and they began the battle.

"Rafe. If more humans come, take care of it. Grey-man will be back any minute." The wolf growled and barked in acknowledgement .

"We need to get close enough. Don't let his tail get you. Let me take him on first."

"I'm ready." Sayuri wore a somber expression, rage flickered in her eyes.

Julian transformed to wolf and took off running toward Asmodeus. The demon spat streams of acid at them, stinging the ground. Julian dodged the spittle, his hackles singed by the spray.

He'd have one chance to take down Asmodeus, to allow Sayuri enough time to slay it. Rafe took off after a human who attempted to flee. Above him, Cassia and Kenji fought an army of winged cambions. Outnumbered, they had only minutes to destroy the demon.

Julian transformed and held out his hands, conjuring the power of his ancestors and his royal bloodline. Asmodeus roared with laughter, but Julian's concentration remained unfettered.

"Come on, come on, come on!" He called on the power, the light glowing from his fingertips. "Yes, yes, yes … get ready Sayuri … one more …"

The wind ripped all around him and Julian steadied his stance. Rolling his arms around his head, he whipped the energy into a frenzy and targeted the demon. The Alpha's magick detonated from his hands, the white light exploding like a missile. Asmodeus flailed but was no match for Julian's magick. It stumbled to the ground, growling and cursing the wolf.

"Fuck yeah. Fuck you Asmodeus! Die! Die now!!!" The Alpha kept his beam of light aimed at the demon, holding him to the scorched earth. But as Julian glanced above, he caught sight of Cassia fighting a cambion. It tore at her feathers, and he struggled to keep concentration on the monster. "Now, Sayuri, now!"

Without a word, Sayuri leapt onto the demon and stood on its neck. Through the din Julian heard her release her vengeance.

"Asumodeusu! Sosen no ha to watashi no kekkan ni yadoru chikara de, watashi wa anata o shibari, horoboshimasu. Watashi no otōto, Makoto no kioku ni, anata ga satan ni yotte sen no jigoku o keiken shimasu yō ni. Itte, jigoku ni eien ni shibara re nasai!"

Sayuri swung the blade, cleaving open its throat. As she raised her sword again and dealt a final blow, she lost her balance and fell backwards onto the demon. Kenji, the great dragon, flew down from the sky toward Sayuri and scooped her up in his arms.

Julian once again directed his powerful light at the demon. Twisting the magick, he released the ancient power until the demon exploded, disintegrating to ash.

The Alpha searched the skies for Cassia, who flew down to meet him. She touched down on the ground and transformed. The Alpha ran to her and embraced her in his arms.

"It's okay, sweetheart." Julian released Cassia to inspect her, his heart crushed, worried she'd been injured.

"I'm okay. The cambion are all gone. The humans too. It's over." She fell into his arms once again.

"Wait … where's Rafe?" Julian asked, his heart pounding in his chest. "No, no, no."

Greyson materialized in front of him.

"Where's Rafe?" Julian's voice edged on panic. He couldn't sense his beta anywhere.

"I'm sorry I missed the action, but the wolves. We managed to save a couple of them but one didn't make it," the vampire explained.

"Greyson!" Julian yelled. "Where is Rafe? He was just here with me."

"Did Asmodeus take him?" Greyson tilted his head, looking at the pile of ash. "Where's the demon?"

"Sayuri sent it back to Hell. She did the spell and I used my light to destroy it. The last time I saw Rafe he was chasing a man. A human. Shit."

"Where is the human?" Greyson swiveled his head, scanning the area. "I don't see any."

"I don't feel him. Not at all. He's gone. I don't think he's here. A human couldn't have done that to him … couldn't have flashed him out of here. No, no … something else. If I didn't take him and you didn't take him, something else came for him and it wasn't a demon."

"Is he dead?" Tears formed in Cassia's eyes.

"I don't know, sweetheart. I don't feel him here but … I don't know what just happened." Confusion swept through Julian. Rafe had been his responsibility and he'd lost him.

"You say he was going after a human, huh?" Greyson asked. "What did he look like."

"I don't know. He was a tall guy but no match for Rafe. I didn't see a weapon."

"If he were in trouble, it's possible Viktor could have sensed him…flashed him out of here."

"I need you to go find out. I'm ready to get the fuck off this mountain and back home. I want to know where my beta is, and I want to know now. If Viktor interfered and took him, I'm going to kick his ass."