Page 18 of Fatality on the Field

“Hey, how did you know that?” The two-toned panda demon frowns, giving her a wounded look. “Is that what KK told you?”

“It is not.”

I chuckle as Kat defends both herself and the ancient, yet super immature demon royals simultaneously. Clearly, they very much took her to the damn plant without explaining it first. However, I don’t think that’s the real dirt in this scenario.

What happened when they did is far more interesting, I think.

“So what happened?” I give the demon boys a pointed look, waiting for them to respond. “Tell us. I don’t know if it’s important, but it could be.”

“I touched a branch with one finger and the damn thing zapped me into next Tuesday,” Kat grumbles. “When I woke up, a bunch of these dudes were freaking out around me, and then I freaked out so… It didn’t end well.”

“You never told us what was floating around your noggin afterward,” Salem says as he ruffles her hair. “We were even good—no one told Jas, and we didn’t pressure you. I feel slighted.”

“I feel lied to because you assholes all swore there were Bone Trees all over the realms in secret places, even Faerie. Liam is acting like he has no idea what the fuck you’re talking about. Did you say that just to make me feel better about touching the demon bullshit or what?”

Morgana’s eyes narrow as she looks at the demons, and Anton holds his hands up in protest. “Don’t be angry! We were taught from a young age that they were scattered throughout the realms to help find supernaturals who were special or royal. There was no reason to assume that was untrue.”

I pause, considering what the peacock is saying before I ask, “Are you talking about the weird, half-dead bushes that catch on fire?”

“Uh, mine didn’t catch on fire, I don’t think…” Kat looks at the two demons, and they shake their heads. “Why? Do you have some sort of prophetic burning foliage we should know about?”

“In fact, we do,” I say with a grin. “They’re guarded by acolytes of the deities and are not permitted to belong to any Court. Sort of like the Deity realm has oracles, we have these bushes and a few animal spirits that can function similarly to what you say this tree does. The animals are usually more about quests and shit, but Elder bushes uncover those with enormous potential based on pricking their fingers.”

Jasper stops ahead of us, turning to give our lagging group a withering glare. “It’s not hard to figure out that those are the same plants, but in a variety more palatable to your lands Prince. The rest of you should have been able to figure that out without the shrimp feeling deceived. For fuck’s sake, Annie, you’re the genius.”

His abrupt halt gets the attention of Lucas, Archie, and Kaspar, all of whom seem confused. If pressed, I would say the dragon was watching our surroundings, always concerned about my safety. The two shifters have so much in common that they’ve been chatting quite a bit, so they weren’t listening in to this conversation. Unfortunately, now everyone is looking at us and waiting for someone besides the prickly demon prince to respond.

“I think Jasper is correct, and I believe that the tree you consult in Hell is mirrored in other forms elsewhere. That would make them primordial creations, and their powers would be linked to the originals and the fickle Fates.”

Morgana grunts in irritation, and Kat does the same as she crosses her arms over her chest. It’s clear neither of them are happy with the idea that three mutable women might run the show for beings who left this realm so long ago that almost no one remembers them. However, it doesn’t matter if they like that or not—that’s what the myths say is true, and it’s how the realms came to be. None of us can change that, even if we hate it and them for doing so.

“Well, our version of the stupid thing knocked me into the next dimension, and didn’t tell me a goddamn thing about my fucking lineage. It must be on the fritz or something.” Kat huffs as she darts her gaze to the dragon demon, and I wonder if she’s fudging that statement because he’s listening now.

Hoping to help, I shrug as I give everyone a brilliant grin. “The time my father took me to visit the Elder bush, I set half the surrounding forest on fire when it spooked me. You’re not the only one who didn’t have a pretty fantasy experience with superpowered plants.”

The difference is, of course, everyone present knew my enormous pulse of magic was confirmation of my royal bloodline, and I don’t think anyone here has figured that out yet.

eleven

MORGANA

The trip across campus ends when we reach a huge, sprawling house with a fenced area behind it. It’s not fancy, but the energy radiating from this place is strong enough that even I can feel it. There’s a set of iron gates a ways past it, and I assume that’s what the demons refer to as the Wastes. I have no plans to go anywhere near that, so I turn to Li and murmur, “Is it just me or do you feel the darkness coming from over there?”

He smiles, brushing his lips against my ear as he replies, “Oh, Salaadir. That must be the equivalent to the four areas of Faerie where the Courts built their prisons.”

I tilt my head, considering that statement. There are supernatural prisons in locations around the globe on the surface: Bay City, South America, the Far East, and in the jungles of Africa. I’ve never had a reason to research them, nor to find out what earns you a spot there versus a judgment like mine. I also didn’t think about what might lurk in the other realms, though I assume Hell and Faerie have much scarier ones than we do. The higher-tier realms must be unimaginable, given the powers our friends saw at the Apalachin.

No fucking thanks. I’ll leave that shit to whoever is in charge of it forever if I can.

“Come on, Morgana! I want you to meet my other friend,” Kat says as she breaks away from her protective demons to grab my arm. I’m a little surprised when she does so, but her guys look so damn pleased that I allow it. “Arces is known as The Keeper because he works with the animals and teaches people about familiars. Or… that’s what I know about it. There’s probably more—he’s a big deal war hero from forever ago.”

Blinking, I look over at the peacock, the prince, and the panda, who nod at her description. I guess this demon is what Kat thinks he is, though with a setup this grand, I also believe there’s more to his story. “Okay. If he’s your friend, I’m sure I’ll like him, too. Your doctor pal is fantastic.”

Jasper looks aggrieved, and his fellow demons snigger. I get the sense that Kat has wormed her way into the good graces of demons who others find terrifying, and it pisses the suspicious prince off. My suspicion is confirmed when he huffs and stomps up to the enormous door, banging on it with his fist.

It swings open, the entire frame filled by a giant ginger man who looks absolutely delighted when he sees me with the pretend boy and the kinkajou. “Kit! What a wonderful surprise—visitors two days in a row, along with our prince gracing me as well. Come in, come in. I’ll make some tea.”

Lucas doesn’t look surprised by the jovial reception, but Kaspar and Archie frown in confusion. Liam gives me a little push, propelling me forward as Kat tugs on my arm. Her familiar is riding on the panda’s shoulder at the moment, but Dottie chitters happily, which makes the bird in Archie’s sling scream at the top of its lungs.