The Dragon Leader looked at the blood soaked tuft of hair in Rory’s hand and then the wound on his arm that seemed to be getting worse instead of better and said, “Damn, I’m sorry you got hurt, but thanks for keeping some of the beast. And you make sure Niall and Sam look at that arm as soon as we get back.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ll be fine,” Rory teased, but Rian could see the pain in the lines around his eyes and the tension in his mouth when he spoke.
“Do what Rian says, Ror, or I’ll have to kick your ass and I really just want to see Kyra…alone…for about a month or so before I have to deal with you again.”
Laughing at his brothers’ bickering, he read through the journal entry and Kyra’s notes one more time. When he was sure everything was in place, he cast the Circle of protection as he’d been taught and called the Guardsmen to attention.
I’m getting to be a pro at white witchcraft, something I never thought I’d say.
“We’re ready. Step to the line, hold hands, and repeat after me. Dear Universe, Goddess of All, God of Heaven, the Guardians of the Corners and the Elements, and the Sun God Lugh, hear our request. We humbly ask your favor upon our return to the Earth. We ask for your Blessing, your Power, and your Guidance.”
Turning his head, he looked at Kayne and said, “The one known to us as Kayne, our brother in arms, in blood, and in fealty. We call upon your fire and the power given to you by your father, the powerful Lugh. We humbly ask you, Daibheíd MicLugh, a thabhairt do dóitéain! Guide us home!” Rian was glad Drago had known Kayne’s given name because the golden dragon was still having difficulty speaking.
A flash of light—not lightning, but an actual ray of sunshine—shot from the Focus Stone in all directions, filling the cave with its bright cleansing light and momentarily blinding the Guardsmen. An explosion of thunder shook the cavern, holding the tribute to Hades, and as their vision cleared, Kayne walked towards the Focus Stone, lifted it over his head, and gave a mighty roar as a brilliant stream of pure dragon fire shot from his mouth.
The trembling of the ground beneath their feet grew, making it difficult to stand. Watching the statue of Hades tipping from side-to-side, Rian was just about to order a retreat when the stone figure cracked in a perfect line down the middle and the two pieces slid apart, showing a brightly lit corridor. Kayne’s fire immediately ceased and the Guardsman hit the floor, unconscious once again.
The scent of wildflowers and nature assaulted their senses. Rian scooped Audrey up at the same time Drago threw Kayne over his shoulder and together, they exited the cavern following their brethren.
Speeding toward home, the tunnel they were following made an abrupt turn into a stone wall. The Guardsmen immediately began to draw their swords, ready to take the wall down, but Rian called out for them to wait. He remembered Kyra telling him there was always a hidden, last step to every spell, especially when dealing with pure evil.
Pushing his way through his brethren, he had an idea. Approaching the wall, he saw the emblem of Persephone and knew he was right. The writer of the journal had said they had to have a love greater than the evil they faced and there was no doubt in the Dragon Leader’s mind that what he felt for Audrey was stronger and more powerful than anything even Hades himself could drum up.
Letting Audrey slide down his body until her feet touched the ground, he pulled her close, took her hand in his, and placed their joined hands on the symbol. Looking deep into her eyes, he said the first thing that came to mind. “I love you more than life itself. You are the very air that I breathe. Without you, I would cease to exist. I thank the Universe with all my heart and soul for you and vow to give all that I am to your happiness and wellbeing.”
As soon as their lips met, the earth shook, a gust of wind tore around the cave, and every one of them was lifted off their feet and thrown through the air. Caught in a cyclone, one by one the Guardsmen disappeared through the stone wall as if it wasn’t there, and found themselves floating in total darkness. Rian held tight to Audrey as he felt her panic rise.
The low grumble of Kayne’s gravelly voice shot through the darkness, “Scaoileadh dúinn go talamh!” immediately followed by a flash of dragon fire and the sensation of falling.
Grunts and groans accompanied the thuds of bodies hitting the ground. Rian opened his eyes to shrieks of delight from the witches. The mated Guardsmen were reuniting with their mates as the others checked out everyone else.
Looking down at Audrey, he immediately jumped to his feet and yelled, “She’s not breathing! Oh my Heavens, help me!”
Running toward Niall as fast he could, he stopped right in front of the Elder Healer as Royce shouted, “Rory’s breathing but he’s not responding and he’s hot to the touch!”
Damn! Took me less than a day to kill both my mate and my brother. Some Leader I turned out to be.
14
Rian paced back and forth as Niall and Sam examined both Audrey and Rory. There had been a few long tense moments when both the Healer and young doctor were administering CPR to Audrey that the Dragon Leader was sure he’d lost her forever. He prayed with every fiber of his being that she’d be okay. He’d even dropped to his knees at the base of the White Ash and asked for his mother and father’s help from the Heavens where they rested.
He had no idea what to expect, but when his father’s low voice filled with all the authority Rian remembered from his youth sounded in his mind, the Dragon Leader had to smile. “You are not responsible for the condition of your mate or your brother. Audrey is suffering from the effects of the demon Adramelech placed within her upon her entrance into hell. Luckily, the little beastie is not very powerful and should be dealt with easily enough. The death of the Chancellor and her deliverance from the Underworld has set him free within her. Now that she is breathing, you need to have Royce’s witch perform an exorcism as quickly as possible. She is a strong woman but a century in hell is hard, and she needs you to get her though this. Use your talents with memory to be there for her.
“As for Rory, he is a warrior just as you and your brother are. It is how we raised you. One of the many ways you have made your mother and me so very proud. He knew the risks and gladly accepted them to help you, your mate, and Kayne. It’s the poison of the hellhound that bit him spreading through his body that caused his condition. His dragon will hold it off as long as the beast is able, but he will need to be cured. Niall knows what he needs. Make sure my youngest son gets it before it is too late.
“Remember we love you and your brothers and are very proud of the fine men and Guardsmen you have become. Live long, love strong, be fearless.”
Thanking his father as he jumped to his feet, Rian ran to Kyra who turned as he approached and said, “I know what it is,” at the same time as he said the exact same words.
“It’s demon. Grab your mate and let’s get to your basement and the Devil’s Trap. We need to get that sucker outta her. Now!”
Spinning on his heels, he raced to Audrey, gently lifted her off the makeshift examination table Niall and Sam had set up in preparation for their return, and ran to his home. He could hear Royce ordering everyone to follow.
Arriving at his home in record time, Rian kicked open the back door, raced to the basement stairs, and all but flew to the bottom. Gently laying Audrey on the cot he slept on more nights than he cared to remember while waiting to summon his mate to his side, Rian hurried to collect the supplies Kyra was screaming into his mind.
He had to laugh at the tiny white witch. She may be only five foot nothing, but Kyra was a powerhouse in every way, the perfect match for his grumpy middle brother. Rian heard footsteps overhead just seconds before they all appeared. Calysta went directly to Audrey, anointing her forehead and pulse points with Red clover oil for protection and increased power of their magic for the exorcism.
Rian remembered they’d used the power of twelve, along with a very old Banishment spell, to get rid of a nasty little demon that had been placed inside Hannah by Cleland, an evil wizard who’d thankfully been killed right after they’d rescued Drago. He had no clue what Kyra had planned but there was way more than twelve in attendance. Rian looked around the room and counted twenty-two, not including his beloved.
