Page 39 of Madness of Her Mages

“Is your mistress a demon like you?” Urgency punctured my words as blood flowed like raging rivers out of his eyes.

“She is a demon,” he cried out, “but not like me.”

“Why?”

His eyeballs began to bulge as if something in his skull was pushing them outward. “She does not have a mortal host, and she is far more powerful.”

“How powerful?”

His low, dark laughter was like a rush of venom to my soul. “She will turn this world to ash.”

I knew we were almost out of time. He couldn’t possibly survive that amount of blood loss much longer, and after my harrowing night, my strength was quickly depleting. “How do we get the demon out of Bertram?”

He let out a roar before the words were torn from his lips. “A tau stone will silence the demon. Then you need a vessel.”

I jerked the stone out of my pocket, hoping I could stop the demon from destroying Bertram. “Open your mouth,” I commanded.

He opened his mouth and then erupted into flame. Drae pushed me behind him, and then Malvolia threw out a burst of smoke, trapping the demon in a gray bubble that looked like a translucent egg.

The demon let out an otherworldly screech like a dying dragon and then exploded, blood, bone, and meat splattering all over the inside of the bubble.

I could only stare at what was left of Bertram in shock.

“What in elements’ name?” Drae hissed.

“Maiadra was said to have destroyed them,” Malvolia ground out, “but I’ll be damned if the demons haven’t found a way back.”

Drae squeezed me to his side. “We’ll all be damned if we can’t find a way to defeat them.”

I DIDN’T KNOW WHERENikkos had procured the warm lemon and honey tea and oatcakes, but I thanked him with a kiss and then ate and drank, doing my best to swallow small bites through a burning, tight throat. After I finished the cake, I wiped my fingers on my skirts, wishing I had another, though I feared I’d vomit if I ate too much. The lemon tea was certainly soothing, and my throat was already feeling better, which meant I wouldn’t need to ask Nikkos to heal me.

Nikkos sat beside me on a fallen log, his wing draped over my shoulder as we stared at the dwindling fire while mages and witches tore down camp around us. Drae and Blaze were within eyeshot, breaking down our own tent. The girls sat on my other side, sharing an oatcake and tea between them while silently watching the bustle like curious mice. At least they were being good about sharing, though it was probably terror that made them so.

The crowd parted for Malvolia and Mortimus as they passed through camp, my aunt leading her horse by his reins. Blood dripped from the horse’s maw, and pieces of fur were still stuck in its fanged teeth.

Mortimus stopped a few steps from us, bowing his head and letting out what sounded like a cross between a horse’s neigh and a lion’s roar. The girls both jumped up and ran behind Nikkos, shielded by his wings.

“It’s okay,” I mouthed while looking over Nikkos’s shoulder at them.

I sighed when they shook their heads and huddled behind Nikkos’s back.

Malvolia dropped the reins, patting her horse’s inky snout and flashing a pained smile. “He thanks you for saving him.”

Nikkos squeezed my shoulder. “It was our pleasure.”

The horse neighed again. For a heartbeat we locked eyes, and I saw his intelligence reflecting back at me as he gave me a nod of acknowledgement. Had I gained Mortimus’s respect? I almost reached out and petted his snout but thought better of it. I’d gladly settle for a respectful nod while also keeping my hand attached to my wrist. At least he didn’t appear so frightening anymore, despite his bloody mouth. Perhaps the horse and I could become friends, or at the very least, he would tolerate me. I’d take that as a win.

My aunt gave me a pointed look. “You swallowed a tau stone?”

I watched Drae approach out of the corner of my eye.It’s okay,he projected to me.

I cleared my throat, looking directly into her stony gaze. “It was in my supper.”

“Lord Inferni,” she said to Drae as he stopped beside me, “gather everyone for questioning.”

He made a curt bow. “Yes, My Queen.” He went into the center of camp and let out a sharp whistle, waving everyone forward. Blaze flanked him, giving the crowd hard looks.

Malvolia turned back to me, accusation lacing her words. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

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