I threw my arms around Quinn and pivoted to shield him. Fire wouldn’t bother my dragon hide, but Quinn couldn’t boast the same protections. Quinn’s scream terrified me, but it also woke a rage that I hadn’t felt in a long, long time. I roared while sheltering him with my body, felt him go limp in my arms. This was no regular fire ball. I was going to take Nyx apart. Piece by piece.

I felt for a pulse at Quinn’s neck, relieved it beat strong and steady. It took me a second to realize the fire had disappeared. I was afraid to spin around, though, with Quinn in my arms. Leaving my back unguarded, however, also wasn’t a wise idea. I looked over my shoulder, trying to get a better idea what I was up against. A curtain of smoke clouded my ability to see anything. Of course it did. What was it with villains and smoke screens? Couldn’t they come up with something more original?

We’d have to retreat until Quinn came around. I wouldn’t risk him. I tossed him over my shoulder keeping one hand free if I needed it and hustled back down the steps. I’d only dashed down one turn in the staircase when I heard them. Orcs. A lot of them. Still at the bottom. It wouldn’t be long before we ran into them, though.

While I wasn’t worried for myself, I wasn’t sure I could protect an unconscious Quinn. I’d have to risk the turret. Spinning on my heel, I charged the doorway at full tilt, hoping my speed would take whatever was in that room by surprise. As I entered, I dodged to the left, slamming the door shut behind me, Quinn bumped on my shoulder like a sack of rock potatoes. I was breathing too heavily to hear whether the door latched behind me. One could only hope.

I felt a charge in the air. Dammit.

I dropped Quinn. Cringed when he hit the floor with a thud. I hoped I hadn’t injured him further. No time to check.

Another fireball struck me straight in the chest and I took the full brunt of the blast. It tickled more than hurt, but the force of it knocked me against the wall. I almost tripped over Quinn’s crumpled form before I pushed myself away.

If the turret wasn’t so small inside I’d shift, but there wasn’t enough room. I had to handle the danger in this body. Leaving Quinn on the ground, I charged forward, trying to draw the fire away, the smoke still so thick it was hard to make out the source of the magic. I could guess, though.

“Show yourself, Nyx.” I growled as another fireball struck me. I staggered sideways, my body absorbing the energy of the blast. It came from a different direction than the last one.

A high-pitched titter in the direction where it originated sent me changing course and skidding on the floor.

Another fireball struck me in the back, knocking me to my knees. I hopped back up, scanning the area. I could really use Quinn’s ability to clear smoke at the moment. Squinting, I tried to pinpoint any movement. Another laugh and then another fireball. This was getting old.

“Coward,” I spat as I crouched to get my bearings. I closed my eyes and listened. Movement to my right. Ah, basilisk balls. I sprang in front of another fireball that aimed for where Quinn lay unconscious. Fucker was going down.

I listened for a moment. Silence filled the room. I needed Quinn to wake up. I could protect him if he could move, but otherwise we were both sitting ducks.

Pounding on the door startled me. Great, the orcs have arrived.

Tunneling through our link I looked for any sign of Quinn. I wasn’t sure whether I could nudge him awake, but I needed to try. If he got hurt I didn’t know what I would do. I let him feel my fear for him and that I needed him.

I heard him gasp, then groan. I moved just in time to intercept another fireball.

“Twig?” he wheezed.

“Baby, you all right?”

“I-I think so? Where are you? I can’t see a thing.”

“Can you clear this smoke away? I need to see what I’m fighting.”

He muttered and I felt him drawing strength from me. I backed toward him to make sure I shielded him no matter where the fireballs came from.

After a moment the air near the door started spinning and the smoke was sucked into a funnel-like cloud before it slipped under the door. I heard loud coughing on the other side and the sound of bodies tumbling down the steps.

I smiled at Quinn’s cleverness.

Quinn shuffled over, holding his head.

“You okay?”

“Headache like you wouldn’t believe.”

We scanned the room. Nyx leaned against a wall, his tiny form relaxed. Next to him sat Brandsome’s horn. But that wasn’t what caught my attention. A large pentagram with a sizable demon in it was definitely more concerning. The demon’s skin was mottled red, its eyes large and bloodshot, its teeth gnashing as it hurled itself against the pentagram. Though it was naked, it didn’t seem to have any genitalia, so I couldn’t be sure if it was male or female or if gender even mattered. I never saw a demon like it before, though I was pretty sure it was a Red Fury. In other words, one badass motherfucker. Not good.

“Twig Starfig,” Nyx sneered. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Where you’re concerned it’s never a pleasure.” I stepped a little closer. When I got my hands around his scrawny little neck . . .

“Tut tut. Aren’t you glad to see your brother?”

I snorted. “Like a pox.”

“Then we’re even. Though you do have impeccable timing.”

The whole time we bantered the demon threw itself over and over against the pentagram, its eyes fixed on Nyx, harsh shrieks tearing from its throat each time the pentagram held. Nyx had definitely made a powerful enemy. Not that I could blame the demon. I wanted to tear Nyx limb from limb, too.

Quinn started muttering behind me and energy raised the hairs on my nape. He was about to go all badass wizard on Nyx.

Unfortunately, Nyx seemed to know it, too. He snapped his fingers and glowing bars shot up around us, caging us. If they were made of fire, they’d never hold me. I reached out, but Quinn yanked my hand back.

“Don’t, Twig,” he hissed. “They’re bars of vampiric malady. It will drain the life force from you if you touch them.” I steadied him as he swayed on his feet, his face pale. “It’s already draining my magic.”

I concentrated. Yeah, it was draining my fairy magic. Since my other side was dominant it didn’t seem to affect me to the same extent as Quinn.

“Your little human is smarter than I expected. I wouldn’t think you’d care about brains in a bed slave.” Nyx eyed Quinn up and down like he was a tasty piece of pie.

I growled. “He’s a wizard and you know it.”

Nyx smirked. “Yes, and you brought him right to me. I’ve always wanted a pet wizard. I bet he’s good in bed, too.”

I forced myself to laugh. “Okay, short stuff, since you hardly come up to his ankle, I don’t think that’s likely to happen.”

Nyx hated to be reminded he was little. He was average sized for a fairy, but ever since I showed up on my father’s doorstep he’d been incensed about his diminutive stature. I guess he hated not being able to look down upon me in a very physical way.

His face turned bright red—not a pretty color on him. “Father managed with your mother”—the way he said it dripped with venom—“so I’m sure I’ll have fun trying.”

“I never pictured you as an ankle humper. No, I’m lying. I did.”

“You shut up!” Nyx stomped his foot like a petulant child. It probably didn’t help that the demon stopped throwing itself at the pentagram and started guffawing. Who knew demons had a sense of humor? “You think you’re so superior—”

“Because I am.” I held my arms out so he could get a good look.

“—but you’ll be sorry. You’ll all be sorry.”

“Quinn, if there’s one thing my half-brother excels at, it’s monologuing.” I pitched my voice high. “I’ll get you all. You’ll all pay. Blah, blah, blah.” I dropped the voice and refocused on Nyx. “Don’t you ever get tired of listening to yourself? I know I do.”

Quinn panted in my arms, leaning heavily against me now. “Maybe you shouldn’t bait the crazy fairy when he’s in the process of draining our magic? Just a thought.”

I tightened my grip on him, held him close. “Don’t worry, he should get to the point soon. I hope. So how about it, Nyx? What evil plan are you cooking up this time? You planning on impaling yourself on the unicorn’s horn? I gotta say, I think that would be a fantastic idea.”

“Ha, you wish, brother dearest. No, you’ve never appreciated my genius—”

“If you want Quinn to appreciate it, you should probably get a move on with your story before he passes out.”

Nyx sneered. “Fine, fine.” He wrapped his tiny arms around the unicorn horn. It was almost twice his height. Dragging it across the floor until it was between our cell and the pentagram, Nyx smiled. “Let me demonstrate.”

Quinn sagged against me, unable to hold his own weight anymore.

“Demon,” Nyx intoned, pointing the horn toward the pentagram. It hissed and drew as far away as the pentagram would allow. We were both caged and neither one was happy about it. I don’t know who wanted to kill Nyx more. The demon gnashed its razor sharp rows of teeth—it had three—and crouched in a defensive position, its enormous black claws extended in a threatening manner. It wouldn’t hesitate to kill Nyx and I couldn’t blame it.

“What’s your name?” Nyx held the horn steady as it began to glow. The demon fell over and writhed on the floor as though something was attacking it, a red foamy substance bubbling from its throat.

“Dust and ashes, Twig!” Quinn gasped, his fist gripping my tunic. “He’s planning to control it with its name.”

My eyes widened. Son of a banshee. That’s why the demon fought so hard—the unicorn’s horn forced creatures to tell the truth.

Nyx grumbled. “Come on, come on. I haven’t all day. You’ve already given me the first part. But I need it all.”

The demon’s frantic gaze locked with mine, a grimace of pain as it thrashed on the floor. It was losing the battle. That much was clear.

“Hey, short stuff,” I called, trying to draw Nyx’s attention from the demon. If he got control of a Red Fury we were all screwed. Red Furies were the berserkers of the demon world. Ugly, stupid, and aggressive, they enjoyed tearing whole towns to pieces. My mother once told me about the now-extinct Bindog Clan who’d foolishly tangled with a Red Fury. No way even a dragon had a chance against so fierce a fighter.

Nyx’s face screwed up in concentration as he kept the horn pointed at the demon. I needed to up the ante. I whistled, and Nyx glared at me over his shoulder.

“You really think such a puny fairy can tame a Red Fury? Dad would be laughing himself silly right now. No wonder I’m the favorite.” Yep, low blow.

And very effective.

Nyx whipped around in my direction, his eyes glittering. “Once the demon is under my command, I’m going to turn it loose on you. I’ll have it kill you slowly. But don’t worry, I’ll keep your little wizard friend. Between a Red Fury and a wizard, our father’s time on the Elder is coming to a close. And so is yours.”

Quinn who’d gone limp in my arms, raised his head with effort. “I’ll never be your wizard. I belong to Twig.” His voice sounded reedy, but a note of certainty ran through it. He meant every word. If we weren’t in such dire circumstances, I’d kiss him senseless.

“You’ll do as I say, wizard. I’ll break you, just like I’m going to break this big brute.”

“Pshht. You can try, Tiny.” Quinn wheezed, but managed to smirk.

Nyx approached the bars. “Watch your mouth, slave. For that disrespect, I’ll let Twig watch as I break you, then you can watch Twig get torn apart by my new pet.”

I lunged at the bars, swiping at Nyx, coming within inches of the bastard. But not near enough. He sprang backward.

The moment I touched the cage my body lit up with pain so intense I howled. Quinn yanked me back and we sprawled on the floor, my muscles spasming painfully. We lay there in a pathetic heap. I don’t know where Quinn found the strength to pull me away. He lay still, his eyelids fluttering, his energy spent.

“That’s what you get!” Nyx shouted. “Hahaha! You’ll never best me, Twig. Our father was a fool to favor you.”

I lunged toward the bars again—making sure not to touch them—and snarled. Nyx squeaked and stumbled back before realizing he was a hairsbreadth from stepping on the pentagram. His arms cart wheeled in a comical fashion as he fought to keep his balance. I held my breath hoping he’d fall over the line and sever the magic holding the demon. No such luck.

When he regained his balance, the fucker smirked at me as he crossed his arms over his chest. Enraged, I blew out my breath in a harsh stream knocking him backward from the force.

Unfortunately for him, his heel crossed over one of the pentagram’s lines and the demon seeing opportunity hurled itself at the weakened boundary. Nyx squealed as it crashed through. Before Nyx even thought to flee, he was hefted in a meaty fist and tossed into the Red Fury’s gaping maw. The sounds of crunching bones and Nyx’s screams made me cringe a bit. Though not too much. After all, he was a dick and had it coming.

The demon’s throat convulsed as it swallowed Nyx. A large belch followed. Then it turned its glowing eyes on us. Made me glad we were behind the life-sucking bars. I had no idea how we were getting out, but I was glad we were inside and it was outside.

The demon glared at the bars and bared his teeth. I inched back, moving closer to Quinn. The demon gave me the creeps. I’d also never come face to face with a predator—other than another dragon—that could be a real threat to me. But this thing was.

It reached out a black claw that had to be longer than my hand and lightly touched the bars. A shock raced up its arm until it yanked its hand away and roared.

I crouched low over Quinn, all my instincts telling me to protect my mate. Maybe the shock was enough to discourage it? Or maybe it would keep trying and the bars would drain its life force? One could only hope, because I knew for a fact if we tangled, it might not come out alive, but I definitely wouldn’t. Though if that was what it took to keep Quinn safe, I would attack the horrid creature.

The demon seemed to be studying the bars, which surprised me. Were Red Furies even able to reason? All I’d ever heard about them was that they were killing machines. Even other demons feared them, and it was whispered they had no soul.

Usually I would growl at anything threatening me. Except I knew it would accept the challenge. I just wanted it to go back where it came from. We’d have to wait it out, hope it grew bored.

Rushing the bars again, the demon threw its whole body weight against the cage. The bars shuddered and my teeth and claws automatically extended in preparation. Not enough room in the tower to shift into my dragon form, but if I had to I’d try. Maybe I could launch us in the air before it got hold of us.

The bars repelled the demon once more and I smelled charred flesh. It snarled and launched itself in another attempt. This time the bars flickered before throwing the demon back. Large steaming black welts rose on the demon’s red skin. It refused to quit. Two more tries and the bars gave way, disappearing much like the pentagram did once the magic was broken. I rose, facing the demon, needing to time this just right. If I could break through the ceiling. . . .

The Red Fury tilted its head to the side like it was waiting. It tapped its grotesque foot. “Well, aren’t you going to say thank you? Those bars hurt, you know,” the demon said in a petulant rumble.