Page 23 of Dancing With Demons
Even I can feel the magic humming in the cold metal. “Right,” I say, flipping it over in my palm. “You and your tricks.”
He only offers an imperceptible shrug.
* * *
“I thought you were supposed to be resting,” I say to Piper, annoyed that I searched the entire tower before finding her in the gardens, with none other than Ulstrath for company. “And you,” I say to the volvath. “Who allowed you into the tower?”
“Tolmond,” he says with a decisive air. “And you?”
I ignore his pointed question, raising my lips in a true snarl. “Getoutbefore I make you swallow your tongue.”
His amusement fades, but Piper stands to join me. “There’s no need to be rude.”
“There is when we’re short on time. Let’s go.”
We leave Ulstrath behind and I lead her in through the tower again. She sticks close to me, offering a little wave at the volvath before shooting me a look. “What’s this about?”
“We’re going to Protheka.”
That stills her, and she stops in the doorway.
I turn to collect her, noting how the blood is draining from her beautiful face, though her lips are warm and inviting. Does she have to make it impossible to resist her? I can think of a thousand things I’d do with those lips, but something about her expression makes me falter. “I- don’t want to go down there.”
“I know,” I say, keeping my distance lest I catch another waft of her scent. “But it will only be for a short time. We’re going to go collect your doll.”
Her eyes flare with surprise.
“Tolmond told me about it. And I’m sure we’d both like to make this trip quick.”
“Yes,” she finally says on an exhale, “that makes sense.”
I nod, hating that I have to put her in this predicament. “We’ll be home before you know it. And I’m not keen on dallying too long anyway.”
“Me, neither.”
We share a brief smile before her expression sobers. “I guess- we should get it over with, huh?”
I snort softly. “Yes. I suppose we should.”
The flight down is easy.
I forgot how good it was to have her with me again, knowing that she’s safe in my embrace. Her slender arms link around my neck as she watches the ground below, the whoosh of air all around us stealing her soft exclamation of wonder. But my keen ears still pick up on it. “It’s beautiful, from a distance.”
Yes, it is,I think, hating what the inhabitants have done to her to make her so jaded against her own kind. I am glad, though, that I was able to end her odious uncle. As I consider this, I drop below the sparse tree line some distance from the settlement, Camp Hope.
It’s anything but hopeful.
This place is as barren as I last remember, the ground hard and cold. She slips from my arms and stands on her own two feet, looking far better than when I first swept her up. She looks to me when I don the ring, though I’m not quite sure the effect it will have.
It could have rendered me invisible.
Instead, Piper lets out a little gasp when my form changes to something…human. My flesh appears soft compared to demon skin, and though I’m not sure what features it has granted me, Piper is staring.
She blinks, and a smile spreads across her face. “Not bad.
“But I still prefer you the way you were.”
Her simple words stun me, and when she reaches for my face, I stop her with a very human looking appendage. “Don’t. It was Tolmond’s idea.”