“You shifters are rude.”
Jovan rolled over, letting out a blubbery snore. Not long, and he’d wake. Eilea was out of patience. Mumbling an incantation, she raised the wand, and the demon rose like a puppet on a string.
Her jaw dropped. “How did you do that?”
Eilea glared at her. “What is your demon name?”
The demon laughed shrilly. “As if I’d tell a witch.”
Warmth infused Eilea’s hand as she made a winding motion with the wand, pointing it at the demon’s bruised neck. “Tell me.”
The demon sputtered and gasped like a fish out of water, clutching her throat while Eilea cut off her air.
“Balban,” she finally rasped.
Eilea released the spell. “Didn’t I already banish you to hell?”
“I found my way back.”
“And what is your master’s name?” she asked, and when Balban clamped her lips shut, held up the wand in silent threat.
Balban clutched her throat, making a face. “Sitri.”
“How many demons are there?”
Her lower lip trembled. “Two.”
Balban was holding back information. Eilea felt it in her bones. Someone was helping them.
“And guards?”
“About a hundred.”
It was as she feared. Too many protectors would be slaughtered if she enlisted their help. She’d definitely have to do this alone. “Take me to Sitri.”
Balban blanched. “I told Master you were too powerful.”
“I am.” Eilea laughed, feeling the magic in her fingers. “And now he shall learn the hard way not to fuck with my family.”
Chapter Nine
EILEA DROVE UNTIL THE narrow road ended at a blockade and climbed out of the truck. A shiver wracked her when the icy wind stung her face. The gray skies and heavy air were ominous harbingers of the impending storm.
“How far is it from here?” she asked.
“Less than a mile,” Balban said with an unusually serene smile.
Eilea resented the creature for stealing Tatiana’s body. She prayed to the Ancients she wasn’t too late to save her friend. Her stepsons would go mad if they lost her.
Eilea’s heart twisted when she spotted her mates come out of the forest.
Boris stopped as if he’d run into an invisible wall. “Tatiana, you’re alive?” Chest heaving, he plowed through the snow toward them. “Eilea, what are you doing here?”
She gave Balban a warning look. “I’m saving our daughter-in-law.”
She didn’t want her mates going with her and risk getting shot. Though they were brave and skilled fighters, they were no match for the castle’s heavily armed guards. They would insist Eilea get behind them or just stay home, which was foolish, because the guards were no match for her.
Boris looked at Tatiana again, examining the bruises on her face. “I don’t understand.”
Shielding her mouth with a gloved hand and clutching her wand with the other, she whispered a sleeping incantation, projecting it outward while waiting for Geri and Marius to catch up to them.
They finally reached them with heavy-lidded eyes.
Marius stifled a yawn. “Eilea, what are you doing here?” he slurred, his shoulders sagging.
They sank into the snow, looking at her as if she’d kicked their kitten.
“I’m sorry, my loves,” she said, emotion welling as she wondered if they’d forgive her.
Balban asked, “Why did you give the others tea instead of using that spell?”
“I don’t need to explain my magic to you,” she snapped. As if she wanted to tell the demons all of her secrets, but the tea knocked them out longer. Her sleeping spell didn’t last more than five minutes, which was good because she didn’t want them lying in the snow too long, vulnerable to attacks.
They wordlessly trudged toward the castle, Eilea stopping every so often to rub her lower back. No amount of magic seemed to help that pain, and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold off the baby much longer. When they reached the gate, Balban hailed the guards, who pointed massive guns at them. Eilea was growing impatient and aggravated. After reciting the sleeping spell, she waved at the guards, who crumpled to the ground.
Stepping over them, she pointed her wand at their guns, pleased when they melted into liquid, burning holes through the snow.
Balban gave her a sideways smile. “My master won’t be able to control you.”
She twirled her wand again, and Balban grabbed her neck, coughing and sputtering.
“Not a word about my magical powers, Balban” she hissed, using the demon’s name to strengthen her power over her. “Do you understand?”
The demon’s cheeks flushed, but she nodded.
Another contraction struck, and she bit her lip hard to keep from screaming. After it passed, she glared at Balban. “Take me to Tatiana.”
TATIANA BLINKED AT the bloated demon that