Page 39 of Birthright

“Nah, it’s just that he can feel you there with him, like you can when you communicate with Tynan.”

Howard took a deep dive toward the ocean and plunged in his talons in an attempt to snag a fish near the surface. I gave a gasp at the quickness of it, the speed of his movements. I felt a rush from the sensation of traveling with him, the feeling of freedom as he circled the prey he had missed on the first try. I could see half of WildLand from this height. It was a breathtaking, moonlight-silver landscape from his point of view.

I opened my eyes to see Manus looking at me. “That was incredible.”

“I’ll bet. We’ll have to try it for me someday.”

“We need to get back, I told the others we would be training. But I think Tynan knows better. No need to make him worry yet.”

Of course, Tynan knew exactly what I intended to do—he just didn’t know when.

CHAPTER 17

That evening, Doran had a meet for the Demons, as they didn’t care much to mingle with other species. Outside of Doran, Feldema, and me, there were a few Gremlins—whom the Demons insisted attend as witnesses—and our consorts and guardians.

Doran was trying to determine where the tricky beasts’ allegiances fell. We filed into the room with the usual entourage and took our seats with the very small audience of Gremlins. Doran then went to the center of the room and cast a circle, staying outside of it. Then she uttered the chant to summon the first Demon.

The circle surged black and filled with smoke. In the smoke stood a huge, bat-winged creature that held the air of death around him. I felt it and shuddered. Tynan put his hand over mine for support. I should be used to all this spooky crap by now, but every now and then…

I glanced over to Feldema. She looked more bored than anything else. The Demon greeted Doran and waited to be invited out of the circle. At her request, he gave an oath to behave himself and stepped out before the circle filled with smoke again. Before long, there were four of the most powerful Demons from other realms in the meet room. They made the air heavy with death and magic.

Doran asked them her carefully planned questions and they answered, mostly with other questions. It all seemed very futile to me. They were vague but polite, considering they were Demons. When she finished, they moved around the room to greet and talk to the Gremlins. I left Tynan talking to Doran and strolled to the nearest open window—the Demons’ presence was so stifling that I needed fresh, clean air.

Karackos, who was rumored to be an Atlantean Demon, came to my side. My skin crawled at his nearness. He looked back over his shoulder at Feldema, and I saw a wash of longing cross his face. Interesting.

In contrast, the look he gave me was one of pure disgust.

“Priestess, I have something you might want.” He was watching my expression. I tried to keep it blank. “Something you may want very much.”

“I have no need of anything you may wish to barter, Karackos.” Demons barter everything. It’s their very existence. Summon a Demon to do your dirty work, and you owed him something. If you didn’t negotiate the terms properly, that was your problem—possibly endangering your soul.

“I beg to differ with the lady. It has to do with your mother and your friends on Thule.”

I gaped at him.

Damn. I had shown a sign of interest. He wouldn’t let it go now.

He had turned to watch Feldema as she stood talking with a Gremlin. I could see the yearning in those disgusting eyes. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. I still tried to keep my face steady.

He brought his gaze back to me. “Can we talk alone?”

“Yes,” I said. And before I knew it, I was being drawn from the room and spinning into blackness.

Damn! I forgot to set the boundaries. I was in trouble again.

I was jarred from the darkness as I landed in an open wheat field. Off in the distance was an old southern antebellum home. The warmth that the bright sun should have provided wasn’t there. “Where are we?” I demanded.

“This place is an illusion for your benefit, since the actual place of my existence would be…uncomfortable for you.” He waddled rather than walked closer, huge wings stretched wide from his body. They were the color of an old bruise, black and blue and yellowish, and his talons made those on the Slaugh look like thumbtacks. With a face like old, loose leather hanging from his bones and red eyes, he was the stuff that childhood nightmares are made of. It was hard not to step back from him or let him see how much he disgusted me.

“What do you have to barter, Karackos, and what do I have that you want?” I folded my arms and tried to look unimpressed. It was sickening to watch his loose skin swing from his chin as he talked.

He pointed a talon to the side and an image of Feldema shimmered into view. Somehow, I managed to keep the poker face. “I can’t trade you for my sister. She’s not mine to give.”

“I can help you get your father and that Imp off Thule.” He watched me carefully for a reaction. I didn’t give him one. “They are both alive.” It was a token he offered, a gesture of good faith. I knew bargaining with Demons was dangerous. You had to be very specific or they would use any loophole you left them.

“Knowledge I already have.” I tried to sound bored again.

“Knowledge you suspected. I tell you it is true.” He was watching my face carefully.