Daimon (Guardians of Hades #6) - Felicity Heaton Page 0,100

drew down a deep breath and looked at the closed wooden door of the mansion.

This fight was just beginning.

He could feel Esher inside, sense the rage that beat within his brother, darkness that pulsed like a wave over him.

Daimon took hold of Cass’s hand and led her towards the door, nerves rushing through him as he closed the distance between him and it. He wasn’t sure what to expect. Chances were, Ares had ordered everyone to leave the moment Esher had returned, and that was the reason the message had been so short.

Ares didn’t know what state Esher was in.

The scent of foul daemon blood hit Daimon.

His eyes widened as he realised he couldn’t only sense his brother.

He could sense the wraith too.

“I need a barrier, some sort of containment spell.” He looked at Cass.

She nodded. “Coming right up.”

It was handy having a witch for a partner.

“I don’t know what we’re walking into, but if there’s any distance between my brother and the daemon, use the spell on it.”

“And if there isn’t?” Light glowed from the palm of her free hand, casting a green hue across it.

He wanted to say to do it anyway, to encase both the wraith and his brother within the barrier, fear that Esher might attack Cass getting the better of him.

“Give me a moment to get Esher away from him. If I can’t…” He didn’t want to finish that sentence.

She nodded. “I got it.”

He stopped, turned and gripped her shoulders, holding them tightly as he stared into her eyes. “As soon as the wraith is caged, you go to my room and you don’t come out until I come for you… no matter what you hear.”

“But—”

He pressed his finger to her lips to silence her. “I know you can handle yourself… but Esher… You. I can’t bear the thought he might hurt you.”

The soft light that entered her aquamarine eyes told him that she understood. He didn’t want Esher to attack her. He didn’t want to have to fight his own brother, not when Esher wouldn’t be aware he was doing something wrong and would be acting on instinct.

Wanting to protect Daimon from someone he viewed as a threat.

Daimon stepped up onto the wooden porch and removed his boots, and waited for Cass to remove hers before he opened the door.

His heart pounded in his throat as the main room came into view.

Esher stood in the middle of it, clutching the right ankle of the unconscious black-haired male sprawled on the tatami mats behind him.

Relief hit Daimon hard, but it was short-lived as he took in the state of his older brother.

Dried blood and dirt caked every inch of him, streaked across his bare chest and arms, and matted his black hair and thick scraggly beard.

Cass tensed, the barest twitch of her hand in his as rain lashed down outside and thunder pealed overhead, the typhoon hitting out of nowhere.

He glanced through the open panels that revealed the garden.

Not a drop of rain touched it or the house.

It gave Daimon hope.

Hope that Esher was aware on some level that Aiko was liable to be here in the mansion and he didn’t want to hurt her. Hope that he could get through to his brother.

Daimon’s gaze briefly darted to Cass. She shook her head, silently telling him that she couldn’t cast the barrier while Esher was holding the wraith. He nodded and released her hand, held his palm up to her to silently tell her to give him a moment and to stay where she was.

He stepped into the room, drawing slow deep breaths to keep his nerves in check, closely watching Esher. He doubted his brother would broadcast his intent to attack, but it didn’t hurt to watch for the slightest twitch. There was a chance he could reach Cass and step with her before his brother managed to strike him down.

Esher continued to stare straight ahead, his face placid as he breathed hard, bare chest straining with each one. Daimon checked his wrists. Both of the braided black bands that limited his power were still in place. That was good. He lifted his gaze, fixing it on the trident inked on the inside of his brother’s wrist—his favour mark from Poseidon.

It was as black as night.

Not so good.

Daimon’s eyes leaped to the arrowhead pendant that hung from the black thong around Esher’s neck. The stone was tranquil blue. Daimon breathed a little easier with the knowledge that the moon was on his side at