“What will the fairies think of you now?” He shook his massive, silver head in revulsion. Raising his voice, he asked, “Do you now see that she is evil?”
“If summoning Mavros makes me evil, then we are the same.”
He lunged.
Mavros knocked me to the ground. Argentum clutched Mavros’ body in his jaws. Black blood ran down Argentum’s jaws, sizzling as it dripped onto the rocks.
My eyes widened in shock. Had I just sentenced Mavros to death? The magic pulsed under my skin, seeming to have a mind of its own. Pain ripped through me as my body transformed. Bones broke and rearranged themselves. Leathery wings tore through my back. My neck lengthened. Long fangs jutted out of my mouth. Two more necks stretched out of my massive shoulders. I pinched my eyes shut. The influx of information made me sway on my feet. A tail swished behind me. Thick legs ended in wicked talons.
I turned one head, marveling at this new body. My flesh was mottled blue, and I looked like the demon version of Mavros.
I darted forward, and Argentum stumbled back. His eyes widened, and Mavros slid from his slack jaws.
One of my heads lunged for Argentum’s neck. He dodged it but didn’t notice the other head snaking up from underneath. I struck him. His blood poured into my mouth. I tore into his flesh with sickle-like claws, shredding his scales.
His tail slammed into me, trying to force my jaws from his neck, but I held on with razor-sharp fangs, digging in deeper with every movement he made.
His claws tore into my hide. Pain lanced through me. I snapped at his paw with another head.
Malcolm and Cash latched onto his neck.
Argentum’s massive body collapsed. His blood coated my lips and ran down my throat. I savored the taste of it. Ancient power.
His strength waned, and my other heads sunk their teeth into his neck.
Instinct took over, and I tore at his flesh. With every drop of blood that ran down my throat, my power multiplied.
Malcolm nudged me.
I growled and snapped at him, protecting my kill. Flames exploded from my hide. The blue and black blaze danced along my body. Malcolm and Cash backed away, their eyes widened with fear.
“He is gone, Dacia. He cannot hurt you anymore.” Aurelia’s soothing aura calmed me, breaking through my bloodlust. “Let him go.”
I stepped back and surveyed the cavern. Mavros lay crumpled on the floor. Russ, Val, and Arianna stared at me. Their eyes were wide. Purple and black hazes surrounded Cash and Malcolm. Tears lined Aurelia’s golden eyes.
My body shrank, becoming my own. I fell to my hands and knees and retched.
Malcolm held my hair and patted my back. “You’re okay, Dacia. It’s okay.” His words were laced with soothing magic.
My eyelids drooped, growing too heavy to stay open. I wobbled, and Malcolm caught me, clutching me against his body, mumbling indecipherable words in calming tones.
D
Fairies covered me from head to toe. Their iridescent wings fluttered incessantly, and they chirruped. Their voices were too high pitched for me to make out what they were saying. Other conversations drifted over to me.
“She gonna be okay?” Concern clouded Cody’s voice.
“She’ll never forgive herself.” Malcolm’s words were clipped, angry.
Aurelia looked like somebody who’d just seen their puppy get run over. “We must help her.”
Rayne hovered in front of my face. “Demon energy does not mix well with human power.”
“I—” My voice was froggy. I cleared my throat.
“She’s awake.” Relief and fear seemed to mix together in Cash’s voice.
“I didn’t know.” My words were barely whispered, but Rayne heard them. “I just wanted to save Aurelia.”
“He held back.” The other fairies flew off, becoming tiny lights against the cave’s ceiling. Rayne landed on my chest and folded her arms. “Otherwise, you would be dead.”
I pressed my eyes shut. When I opened them, my friends stood around me. Dragons, humans, and demon. Mavros stood with his hands tucked in his pockets. He smiled at me and lifted his shoulder. “I couldn’t allow you to die, not when I could save you.”
“Thanks.” My throat was scratchy and burned.
Cody sat on the ground and lifted my head into his lap. “How’re ya?”
I looked at Rayne.
“You will be fine once the dragon blood is out of your system.”
Dragon blood. I clutched my stomach as the memories flooded back to my mind. Rayne zipped into the air, hovering over me again. I rolled onto my hands and knees and heaved. Silver blood coated the rocks.
“Oh, my, God.” I sobbed, clutched my hair, and rocked back and forth.
Cody rubbed my back, but I pulled away from him. “Don’t touch me. You have no idea what—”
“It’s okay, Dacia.” He reached for me again, but I jerked away.
“It’s not. I—” I remembered savoring his blood. I leaned over and threw up again. The room spun. My heart pounded against my ribs. The air rushed out of my lungs. I gasped.
“I can make her forget.” Mavros’ voice was low.
One of the dragons growled in response.
Do you want me to make you forget? He sounded like he genuinely wanted to help, like he was concerned for me.
Cody wrapped his arms around me. With his mouth right up against my ear, he whispered, “Breathe, Dacia.”
You’ll remember him dying, but you won’t remember the bloodlust.
I sucked in a breath and choked on it. I stared into Mavros’ eyes. “I don’t know.”
“What?” Cody asked.
I pulled out of his embrace and climbed to my feet. “Are you done with me?”
Rayne nodded. “Do not let the demon mark you again.”
“I never let him mark me.” I looked from her to Mavros. Once again, I wondered if I was an idiot for trusting a demon. “I don’t know how he does it.”
He knelt at my feet. “I vow to you, Dacia KayLee Wolf, I will never again mark you.” He held my hands in his. “Please let me take the memory from you. Let me take the pain … like you took mine.”
“Your demon is sincere.” Rayne flitted
