Battle With Fire by K.F. Breene

Twenty-Two

Deep shadow drapedacross the familiar surroundings of my bedroom when I opened my eyes. Darius sat in the corner with an ankle over his knee, his gaze focused on a romance novel he must’ve pulled from my shelf. Moonlight streamed in through the window, and I could just see a smattering of stars spread across the slice of sky in my view.

“Getting some pointers?” I asked, taking stock of my body.

He lowered the volume and allowed it to close around his thumb, holding his place. “No. This one is ridiculous. The supposed hero is a pushy ape who speaks in grunts. I’m expecting him to grab the heroine’s hair and drag her back to a cave at any moment. If I were in the story, I would kill him instantly and take his prize without breaking a sweat. The heroine clearly does not know that if she would like to flirt with danger, there are better options at her disposal with a lot more charm and tact.”

“Are you forgetting that it’s fiction, or is there a sore point in your past I’m not aware of?” I pushed to sitting and marveled that I didn’t ache anywhere. Sliding back the covers, I saw that my leg was in tiptop shape, no marks or scars or pain whatsoever. My arms didn’t have any bruises from fighting, and my energy was in full force.

He reopened the book and went back to reading without comment.

I laughed softly, stretching. No sore muscles. Better and better.

The last thing I remembered was Michael telling me he would help. Clearly he had healed me, and someone had brought me home.

I checked the time. Three o’clock.

“What day is it?” I asked, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. A tank top hugged my torso and only panties covered my lower half. Darius must’ve dressed me for bed, then. He knew this was my normal sleeping attire when I wasn’t planning on getting lucky. Not that that would have stopped me.

He flipped a page. “Friday. You have been sleeping for nearly two days.”

“And you?”

“I am on the second book in this accursed series, and I need to know how it ends.”

“So you haven’t slept, then?”

“No. Once you were healed, I took some of your blood. I apologize for not asking, but Michael assured me that it would do you no harm, and I assumed you wouldn’t want me to take from another.”

“You assumed correctly,” I muttered, thinking back to that pretty unbelievable scene in the sky.

“He is repulsed by me, by the way. He is not a fan of vampires in general. It did not trouble me in the slightest.”

I laughed. I could definitely see that. It would probably make my father like vampires that much more.

“That really happened, huh?” I shook my head, gazing out the window but not seeing what lay beyond. “My father called down angels to help me. Angels.” I gave Darius a wide-eyed look he was too distracted to notice. “There is a fourth world—which I’d been told about, sure, but seeing is believing—and there are actual, real, honest-to-God angels living in it.”

“Yes. And now they appear to want to take more of an interest in the worlds. I would hazard a guess that it is because Lucifer will be doing his own dabbling.”

“The dislike is strong, yes.”

Darius shut the book with a click and pushed it down to his lap.

“Aw…” I crossed the room, took the book, tossed it onto the bed, and then lowered into his lap. He put his arms around me. “You’re tearing yourself away from the book to focus on me?”

He gazed up at my face. “I nearly failed you. If it hadn’t been for Penny, you would’ve died on the battlefield. I felt your pain, but you didn’t seem troubled by it. I’m sorry.”

I rolled my eyes at him before grazing my lips against his. “I didn’t realize it was as bad as it was. That didn’t hurt as much as the torture.”

“Those who torture aim to cause pain, and they can do that without blood loss. This was a different kind of wound.”

“Oh, so you have twenty-twenty vision on past events, too? Amazing. I thought I was the only one.”

His lips curled upward, and he ran them against my throat. “I feared I would lose you. I couldn’t get up to you.”

“I asked my dad to bring you up so I could say goodbye.”

His arms constricted me, crushing me to his chest. He held me that way for a long moment, his chin resting on my head. Turbulent emotions rolled through the bond, but he didn’t comment further.

I changed the subject. What happened was in the past. Might as well move on.

“How did the battle end?” I asked. “I saw the field but went lights out before the end.”

“One moment we were in the battle, having just decided to force our way off the field, and the next we were coming out of a daze with angels flying above us. They have immense power…which Penny quickly circumvented when she panicked.”

I felt a grin work up my face. “What’d she do?”

“She harnessed their magic and forced the nearest three from the sky. Just ceased their wings from beating. Then she blasted spells every which way, opened an avenue for escape, and tried to drag Emery out. It took Michael to subdue her by landing in her path and speaking reason. Though he got a blast of demonic fire for his efforts, followed by some sort of slicing spell that ruined his outfit with blood.”

I was laughing so hard that Darius loosened his hold on me a bit. “Do not surprise Penny. Now everyone in the worlds knows it.”

“The elves and their people were protected and moved away,” Darius went on. “The angels struck down those they felt wanting.”

“On the spot?”

“Yes. Half of them fell, right then and there. New leadership was chosen.”

“Seriously? Literally right then and there?”

“Yes, though I have a feeling it took longer than the blink it felt like, as with what happened with you.”

“Ah, got it. Yeah, probably. They take forever to get things done. Or, at least, they do when they’re enjoying a good bicker with my father.”

“And I’m sure they did. He had a hand in the end of the battle. He pulled all his people back, although the unicorns stayed with our group. It seems Lucifer—”

“I know. I saw all that from the sky.”

He nodded. “New terms were drawn up. It seems…your desires were the blueprint used.”

I crinkled my nose. “What does that mean? Half-naked cabana boys for everyone?”

His eyes narrowed. Apparently he didn’t find that hilarious.

“Magical people will be free to come and go throughout the Realm, the Underworld, and the Brink,” he said. “Lucifer had already opened up the Underworld, and it will be left that way. The Realm will allow demons within their borders, providing they follow the rules.”

“Each world will have a set of rules?”

“Yes. Lucifer’s code is well established, but the Realm, under new leadership that includes an ambassador from every race, will go into talks to nail theirs down. The fae, as in days of old, will uphold the new rules.”

“Law and order,” I said. He nodded. “Every race will have an ambassador?”

He nodded again, and his eyes sparkled with pride. “The angels agreed that it was a justified desire. Not just in the Realm, though.”

“In the Brink as well?”

“Just so. There is a large magical community in the Brink, and it should be better organized. New rules will be established, and the shifters will do more to uphold them, relying on the Magical Law Enforcement offices when the magical community needs direct communication with human law enforcement.”

“Similar to what it is now.”

“Yes, though they are no longer under the elves’ employ. They are an independent faction that will be paid by all three worlds. They’ll have a separate Brink governing body, the leadership of which has not yet been defined.”

I formed a duck bill with my lips. That made sense, and it wouldn’t require the system to change too much—just who was funding it.

“Lucifer will not be immune to ambassadors,” he said.

“He already communicates with the different sect leaders.”

“If vampires will be living there, or trolls, they will need to have a voice.”

My eyes widened. “And he went for that?”

“No, not as such. He will relent when the angels open their world and allow ambassadors as well. I wouldn’t hold your breath for that to happen. But he did mention that he’ll need someone to manage other races that choose to live in his kingdom—so he can hear their pleas and ensure they are following the rules.”

“He has a bunch of demons to choose from.”

“I think it is a half demon he had in mind. One with the power and bravery to assert her will. One with connections across all the worlds.”

I could feel the color leave my face. No thanks was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

Darius didn’t push. He probably felt my rush of excitement through the bond.

“I’d like to go see him,” I said.

“And you will. Just now, he is probably getting everyone settled from the battle, but once that is done…”

“What about Archion and the other dragons? How is Penny and everyone?”

“The dragons went down to the Underworld with their peers for now. They are allowed to travel freely between the magical worlds, though, so you can reconnect with Archion wherever you choose. Even in Roger’s shifter commune, if you’d like, since it is a closed section of land with no worry of human eyes.”

“I’ll meet him in the Underworld and see what he wants to do.”

Darius nodded. “Both dual-mage pairs are downstairs. They’re eager to see you. Roger, Romulus, and Charity probably have their hands full right now, what with the changes to the Realm. They didn’t lose nearly as many as they could have. The unicorns kept good watch over them. Maybe too good. Roger wasn’t incredibly excited that he was kept away from the heart of the battle.”

“Sucks to be ground-bound, I guess.”

“Indeed. The Red Prophet has gone missing. Karen has signed on with Roger as a consultant.”

“And the vampires?”

“Vlad is in the Underworld just now, scouting areas that we will entrench. The vampires’ main lair will be moving, and each of the elders will recommend their choice of location. They are eager to hear what I have to say, but I’d like to speak with Lucifer first, if you would arrange it.”

My stomach flipped, and a dopey grin lit up my face. “You’re moving to the Underworld?”

“I will maintain my homes in the Brink, of course, and my network of spies in the Realm. I can live anywhere and be content, Reagan. Anywhere you decide to stay, I will be there. It’s time for me to realize my promise. It’s time for us to put down roots and see what grows.”

My stomach flipped again, and I kissed him deeply. “That isn’t a very grand proposal…”

“How dare you assume that was a proposal.” He scoffed. “If it were, I would be no better than the fool within those pages.” He gestured at the book on the bed.

I laughed and stood, retrieving the book for him. “Here you go. See you downstairs when you finish. I’ll go say hi to the mages.” I dressed but paused in leaving. “Oh, and did you speak to Vlad about…his role in your past?”

He hesitated, looking at the outstretched book. With an annoyed sigh, he grabbed it and leafed open the pages. “No. I didn’t want to leave you.”

I nodded and left him to his book. I wouldn’t tell him that the author planned to do a bait and switch, and he’d be much happier with the outcome than he thought.

A chorus of voices greeted me as I neared the kitchen. Inside, Penny and Emery sat on one side of the table, their faces closed down in anger. Dizzy sat across from them with a half-full glass of wine. Callie was cooking something at the stove.

“I definitely think he’s more powerful, Emery,” Penny said, pointing at some distant location. “He froze everyone, not to mention time, could rifle through people’s heads, fly—”

“Lucifer can fly,” Dizzy said.

“Lucifer can’t rifle through people’s heads,” Penny responded.

“Reagan can hover,” Dizzy intoned.

“Reagan can’t rifle through people’s heads either, or see their memories. Lucifer cannot freeze freaking time, Emery, give me a break,” Penny said, her face red with anger.

“All I’m saying is that everyone has different powers, and you have no idea how many angels were helping with all that,” Emery replied. “It wasn’t just Michael doing that—it couldn’t have been. Lucifer is a fallen angel, clearly, and Michael’s his brother, Penny. His brother. They have the same power scale, just different kinds of magic. Lucifer can fight godly—or angelic, I guess—magic. Remember?”

Michael was my uncle? Gross.

Penny scoffed. “You’re being obtuse.”

“Hey,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. “Made it, huh?”

Penny and Emery’s faces snapped up. A huge smile glowed on Penny’s face, although it quickly crumpled into anger again.

“Are you stupid, Reagan Somerset?” she yelled, her voice so high that all the dogs in the neighborhood were probably barking. “You nearly died!”

“Whiskey or coffee?” Callie asked, turning from the stove.

“I’m surprised Darius didn’t insist on making a meal,” I said, sliding into a chair next to Emery. I didn’t trust Penny not to throat-punch me.

“He was watching over you. Where is he?” Emery asked.

“Reading.” I pointed upstairs. “Coffee, please, Callie.”

“Well…you brought about change.” Penny sighed and sagged back into her chair. “You did it in the stupidest way possible, but you brought about change.”

“The angels were clearly the big secret the Red Prophet was keeping,” Callie said, handing over a mug. “And I have to say, it’s good she didn’t say anything, or it might have gone down very differently. Which would’ve gone all sorts of terrible.”

“Because Reagan almost dying wasn’t all sorts of terrible?” Emery asked with a crooked grin.

“You know what I mean.”

“The Red Prophet has been involved in two decisions that nearly got us killed,” I said, and sipped my brew. “I’m a nope on any more of her shenanigans. In fact, no more Seers, period. No offense, Penny, but I’ve had my fill.”

“I get it.” Penny held up her hands. “I’d like to take a break on battles for a while, too.”

“Let’s take that vacation,” Emery said, reaching a hand over the table. She took it, and her expression softened. “We’ll take a long honeymoon.”

“Oh!” Dizzy beamed. “Did you two set a date? How exciting! I love weddings.”

Emery’s thumb slid over the top of Penny’s hand. “As soon as possible.”

“Whatever happened to Ja?” I asked. “I forgot to ask Darius. She wasn’t with his contingent of vampires. Was she with Vlad?”

“Nope.” Callie turned back and put a fisted hand to her plain gray sweatpants. I wondered whether I should be worried. “From what I overheard Darius—”

“You shouldn’t eavesdrop, hon,” Dizzy said.

“Well, how else do you think we’ll get information? He certainly doesn’t ever come clean and just tell us,” she replied. “Anyway, it seems she was found skulking through the Underworld by Lucifer himself. She was given a choice to help him or die. She chose to help him, obviously, which was why she called up those demons at the compound. The thing with Reagan’s ex and Darius’s past was just a little detour. The vampires can’t find a trace of her, so Darius isn’t sure where she went.”

“He’ll need to stay allied with Vlad,” Emery said, “or they run the risk of her gaining too much power in their faction. She is…dangerous.”

“Yeah, keep the hits coming, Emery.” Penny pulled her hand back from his grip. “I didn’t mean to wake her up or whatever, okay? That wasn’t my fault. That was Darius’s fault.”

“Don’t mind her,” Dizzy told me. “She’s awfully wound up.”

“My ex,” I said softly, having forgotten about that issue. “What do I do about that?”

“Nothing.” Callie moved a pan off the stove and turned the burner off. “That’s a vampire issue. We can all give Darius credit for not killing him before now, but obviously that line has been crossed, and now you just need to look the other way while he sorts it out, Reagan. I mean, hello? That idiot vampire challenged an elder. How has he even made it this long? Reagan, honey, you ended up picking a good guy—for a vampire—but your choices in the past were less than exemplary.”

“I wasn’t in it for the conversations at the time,” I said.

Dizzy patted my hand. “You can’t have that sort of thing following you around like a fart. Callie is right: you’ll just need to look the other way. It’s just a vampire, after all, and quite a dumb one at that. No big loss.”

I should’ve known what their stance would be on the issue. After all, they’d offered to kill Darius in the beginning.

“Well then.” I wiped my hand over my face. I was still tired, but not just from surviving the battle. Ever since my mother had died, I’d been living from one day to the next, surviving. Sometimes I’d have to hide, and sometimes run headfirst into battle. My situation had gone from counting on one person to several, one home to possibly many, one world to a few. I had some big decisions to make.

A path to choose. A life to begin. A future to chase.

But all of that could wait until tomorrow. Right now, I would sit with my closest friends and give thanks that I had them in my life.

“What’s for breakfast—or dinner? I’m famished.”