Outside, the rain pelted the garden, filling the air with the smell of earth, and lightning struck nearby.
Esher twisted free of his grip and dread washed through Daimon as he lunged for him, fear that his brother would leave and destroy anything that stood in his path. Wind howled through the house as he managed to grab hold of Esher again and his brother turned and slammed his palm against Daimon’s throat, grabbed him and hauled him into the air.
Daimon locked his hand around Esher’s wrist.
And hesitated.
His brief reluctance to use his ice against his brother cost him.
Esher slammed him into the nearest wooden pillar and the air burst from Daimon’s lungs as fire rolled across his back.
His vision tunnelled as he fought to breathe, struggling to get air into his burning lungs, and fear swamped him as his heart began to slow.
No.
Esher sneered at him, red invading the blue of his stormy eyes.
Daimon’s thoughts blurred and he tried to prise Esher’s hand from his throat, his actions sluggish and body slow to respond as his blood crawled through his veins and his heart stuttered.
Esher was using his power over water to control Daimon’s blood.
His brother was going to kill him.
Cass would be next.
That thought had icy talons forming over his fingers and he growled, the sound half-pain and half-rage, as he clawed at Esher’s arms, spilling blood that instantly froze in jagged red icicles.
Esher released him and he crashed to his knees, gasped in a breath. He stumbled onto his feet and staggered left, determined to reach Cass before Esher could and get her and himself away from his brother. He glanced back at him.
Esher roared and lunged for him.
Their mother appeared between them in a swirl of black smoke that spiralled downwards to blend into the layers of her dress.
She seized hold of Esher, gripping his shoulders in both hands.
Esher growled and lashed out at her, a vicious and savage beast as he clawed at her, drawing blood as vibrantly scarlet as her hair.
His nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath.
He suddenly stilled.
Stared at her.
Through crimson eyes.
Daimon sank to his knees, unable to believe what he was seeing.
He had never seen Esher’s other side calmed by anything. He had never seen it so docile.
Persephone was soft and gentle as she lifted her hands to Esher’s face and framed it with her palms. “Let go. You have the wraith now, my love. You can rest.”
Esher drew down a breath, was still for a tense moment where Daimon didn’t dare move, and then he nodded and passed out. Persephone caught him as he fell, bringing him down gently to rest with his head on her knees. Outside, the weather instantly calmed.
“I do not have much time,” their mother said, her voice as soft and light as a summer’s breeze as her green eyes came to rest on Daimon, the flecks of gold in them sparkling. “The Underworld has been in an uproar. We have been trying to catch up with Esher from the moment he entered it, but whoever we sent to stop him ended up dead. In the end, our only hope was that he would find the one he was hunting so I might have an opportunity to reach him.”
She gently stroked Esher’s matted black hair and looked down at him, her gaze overflowing with the love she held for him and with relief.
“I wish I could stay longer,” she whispered.
Daimon glanced at the garden. The seasons were at war with his mother present, flowers attempting to grow as if it was spring and birds singing mating calls even as the autumnal colours remained.
She looked at him. “Take care of him. He has been through so much.”
Daimon nodded.
Persephone lingered.
He dropped his gaze, aware of the reason she was hesitating to return to the Underworld. Long gashes cut across her shoulders and her chest, seeping blood. His father was going to be furious with Esher when she returned and he saw the state of her, and she didn’t want to get Esher into more trouble.
She stroked Esher’s cheek, bent over and pressed a kiss to his dirty forehead. “Rest. Get better.”
And then she was gone.
The ground shook violently, the tremor rocking Esher where he lay on his back on the golden straw mats.
When the quake stopped, Daimon pulled his phone from his pocket and fired off a message. In less than a heartbeat, his brothers surrounded him, together with Caterina, Megan, Eva and Marinda.
And Aiko.
Tears spilled down her cheeks and she sobbed as she darted forwards.
Keras grabbed her arm and held her back.
She looked back at his brother and then at Daimon.
Daimon nodded. “Mother was here. He won’t wake for a while. It’s safe.”
Keras released her.
Aiko sank to her knees beside Esher, caressed his cheek and murmured things to him in Japanese.
She lifted her head, her dark eyes bleak and tears glistening on her cheeks. “We should clean him.”
Daimon wanted to do that too, but he shook his head. “Esher needs to rest right now.”
He didn’t want to risk disturbing his sleep.
“I’ll take him to his room.” Keras moved around Esher, stooped and carefully lifted him, and when he looked at Daimon, Daimon nodded at him, silently thanking his brother for doing it for him.
Aiko followed Keras, and Daimon trailed after them, leaving his brothers to guard the wraith.
When he reached the door of his room, he slid the panel open.
Cass immediately turned to face him, relief filling her blue eyes chased by anger as they narrowed on his nose. “Oh, that beast.”
She hurried to him and he didn’t chastise her about the term she insisted on using for Esher as she fussed over him, was too relieved to see she was safe too. His nose ached as she brushed her fingers down it and then the pain was gone, the stuffiness clearing and allowing him to breathe through it again.
“I could get used to having you around,” he
