Fighting panic, Ginny quickly weighed her options. Dax was down and bleeding badly. Eddy’s leg had a deep slash. BumperWillow was either unconscious or dead and Alton was clinging to the bull’s back without HellFire. Ripping off her skirt, Ginny stood her ground in her white camisole top, black lace panties, and red platform sandals, waving the red fabric in front of the bull like a matador’s cape.

She didn’t know if demons liked red or not, but this demon-powered bull was putting his head down and blowing huge blasts of hot air from bleeding nostrils—thank you, Bumper. And he was glaring at the billowing red skirt.

Alton flashed her a thumbs-up and nimbly jumped from the bull’s back. He reached for HellFire. The sword burst out of the dirt directly into his grasp. Alton held his weapon high and raced toward the bull. Just as he got within striking distance, the animal swung his head.

One of the long horns ripped into Alton’s side and lifted him high overhead. Ginny screamed. She felt Alton’s agony through their mental link as the horn sliced deep into his body. The bull swung his head and Alton tumbled over his broad back like a rag doll. HellFire once again landed in the dirt, but this time Alton lay beside his sword, unmoving.

Ginny searched for his thoughts and found nothing.

Then the bull charged.

Ginny stood her ground as best she could with her sandals sinking into the torn and shredded dirt. The bull lunged toward her red skirt. She whipped it out of the way as the animal passed and struck him across the shoulders with the flat of her blade.

A black wraith flew from between his horns—the second demon it had absorbed. Ginny lunged for it and barely caught the trailing end of mist. The demon burst into violet sparks as the bull raced by. Dirt flew when it twisted and slowed its huge bulk enough to turn and charge her once again.

She glanced toward Alton. Blood pooled around him but he hadn’t moved. Eddy was on the far side of the field, kneeling beside Dax. Both of them were covered in blood, and BumperWillow still lay in the dirt where she’d fallen.

Ginny was alone and the bull was coming back. Her white camisole top was stained with blood and her bare legs were covered in mud and blood and saliva from the bull’s last charge.

She linked with DarkFire and felt the power of the crystal pour into her as she faced the bull. The ground vibrated beneath her feet from his pounding charge and though he moved with the speed of a rolling freight train, he seemed to come at her in slow motion. Ginny stood her ground until the last second, then swung her red skirt to attract his charge. He lunged for the fabric and she ducked and rolled out of the way.

She came to a stop beside Alton. He lay in a crumpled heap in the dirt and blood poured slowly from a deep puncture in his side, but there was no time to check on him, no time to assure herself whether he lived or died. DarkFire seemed to vibrate within her grasp and she saw an answering glow in Alton’s sword. Bending from the waist, Ginny swept HellFire up in her left hand. She put her head down and, with a glowing sword in each hand, raced across the field, as far from Alton as she could get.

She stopped in an open space, far from Dax and Eddy, farther from Alton and BumperWillow. She couldn’t think about Alton now. Couldn’t allow her mind to travel through all the terrible possibilities of whether the man she loved lived or died. Focus. She had to focus.

The demon king must be stopped—she was the only one left who had a chance to do it.

The bull paused in its attack. It lowered its huge head and stared toward Dax and Eddy on the far side of the field. Ginny was sure he weighed the odds of getting to Dax before Ginny got to him, because he swung his head around and lowered it, staring at her out of flame-red eyes.

Once more he pawed at the hard ground, throwing clods of dirt high over his back and shoulders. Blood still dripped from his torn nose, and saliva hung in long, nasty ropes from his jaws. He bugled his banshee scream and charged.

Ginny screamed even as she attacked. Running directly toward the crazed beast, she flung her red skirt over the bull’s head and whirled out of the animal’s way.

Bellowing its ear-splitting wail, the bull stopped and twisted his head, trying to dislodge the fabric that hung from his horns and covered his eyes. The sharp horns came perilously close to Ginny and he kicked out. One hoof caught her square in the chest. She grunted, gasping for air as she spun to the side with DarkFire raised high in her right hand, HellFire grasped tightly in her left.

Then she lunged forward and brought the flat sides of both DarkFire and HellFire down hard, right between the bull’s horns. Power burst from both blades in a shower of amethyst and blue flames. The bull stopped as if stunned. He shook his head. Then, with a wrenching cry, the demon king burst forth.

Ginny lunged for the demon with both blades.

Caught in DarkFire’s purple light, the huge, black wraith burst to life in all its demonic shape and form. Both blades passed through its legs and the demon howled in frustration. The bull shook his head again, but he couldn’t dislodge Ginny’s red skirt still twisted around his horns and covering his eyes. He trotted away with the demon struggling, half in and half out of his massive body.

Even away from DarkFire’s light, the demon king was fully visible as a demon. A very pissed-off demon.

Still hanging on to both swords, Ginny raced after the bull. She leapt over the torn earth in a desperate dash to catch the demon king, but just before she reached him, he screamed a banshee cry and then with a horrible sucking sound, pulled his body entirely free of the bull.

She swung at the hideous shape with DarkFire. Sparks flew, but the wraith reformed as the one blade passed harmlessly through both his legs. She tried to reach him with both blades, but he was just out of her reach.

Moaning and screaming, the demon king hovered overhead for a moment, its four arms spread wide, its mouth gaping and fangs dripping saliva. Then with an even louder shriek it suddenly coalesced into a spinning tornado of sulfuric stink that collapsed in upon itself, growing smaller and smaller as she watched.

There was a tiny atmospheric pop and the demon winked out of sight. Seething with frustration and rage, unable to fully catch her breath, and absolutely exhausted, Ginny would have crumpled to the ground, but she knew that Alton needed her. Calling on her last bit of strength, she turned toward him with both swords dragging in the dirt.

It took her a moment to comprehend what she saw.

He had one hand pressed against his side and he was trying to sit up. Blood still ran from his wound, but he raised his head, caught her eye with a look that spoke volumes, and smiled at her despite his obvious pain.

He was alive. Energy surged and Ginny raced across the field on wobbly legs. She collapsed beside him. Alton reached for her and dragged her close. The warmth of his embrace and the love in his eyes was all it took.

She burst into tears.

 

He’d never seen anything more awe-inspiring than Ginny’s battle with the demon king. Holding her now, loving her with all his heart, Alton had no doubt she’d saved all their lives. He glanced over her shoulder, to the place where Dax lay in the dirt.

Eddy and another man were bent over the ex-demon. Willow had dragged herself over to lie beside them. At least Eddy wasn’t crying. Alton figured that was a good sign but he wasn’t sure who was with them.

Right now, it didn’t really matter. All that mattered was that Ginny was safe in his arms. Safe in spite of her bruises and her tears. His side hurt like the blazes, but as deep as the bull had gored him, he didn’t sense that anything vital had been injured. Already he could feel his wound beginning to heal.

He brushed Ginny’s hair back from her face. Her perfect braids had pulled loose, she was covered in blood and muck and dirt, and tears left dusty tracks over her cheeks. He’d never seen her looking more beautiful or wanted her so much.

He planted a soft kiss on her lips. She sniffed and turned away. He dug a handkerchief out of his pocket and she wiped her face and blew her nose. When the tears were gone, for now, anyway, she turned back to him. “Are you okay? You’re bleeding. Let me help….”

“I’m fine. And you? Ginny, you’re absolutely amazing. You did it. All by yourself, you stopped that bastard. I think you sent him away for a while.”

She sobbed and shook her head. “I couldn’t kill him. I tried, but…”

“Ah, sweetheart. You were magnificent. Absolutely magnificent. C’mon. Let’s go check on Dax.” Slowly he rose to his feet, but Ginny was up before him and helped him stand.

She grabbed HellFire out of the dirt and handed his sword to him. Then she slipped DarkFire into her scabbard.

They helped each other across the field. Dawson Buck, the vet, was kneeling beside Dax. “Are you guys okay?” He looked at Alton’s ripped shirt and torn flesh. “How bad is that? It’s bleeding pretty heavy.”

Alton shook his head. “I’ll be okay. How’s Dax?”

“Anyone else would need surgery, but he’s something else. Literally. I think stitches might help. He said he doesn’t want a doctor, but I can at least sew him up. I’ve got my kit with me, but I’ll have to follow you back to your place.” He glanced around. “It’s illegal for a vet to treat a human.”

Dax chuckled. “I’m not human. I’m an ex-demon. Alton’s Lemurian. I doubt the licensing board covers us at all.”

Dawson just shook his head.

Alton held tightly to Ginny. “Sounds good, Dawson. Let’s get out of here. I need to do some crowd control first. Ginny, can you get the car?” Alton kissed Ginny’s cheek when she nodded. He turned away and walked toward the crowd of curious onlookers, raised his hands, and let the compulsion flow from his mind through his fingertips.

Ginny headed toward the parking lot. Alton watched her walk slowly across the torn field wearing nothing but her stained camisole top, her tiny black lace bikini panties, and those silly platform sandals that made her long legs look even longer.

No one in the crowd seemed to notice. No, they were all talking about the great entertainment and what a wonderful show it had been. His compulsion had worked, but then with a vision like Ginny starring, it had to have been amazing.

Alton had to agree it had been a great show. They were all still alive. He went back and knelt down beside Dax again. His friend’s face was pale, but his eyes were open. “I’ll be okay,” Dax said. “We need to get out of here before the authorities arrive. Is the demon king dead?”

Alton shook her head. “No. But damn, Ginny was amazing. She fought him with both HellFire and DarkFire. Neither blade was able to kill him, though she managed to send him somewhere. I don’t know if he’s gone to Abyss or the void, but he feels gone.”

Just then Ginny pulled up in the SUV. She’d found the remnants of her red skirt somewhere along the way and had it tied around her waist, but when she climbed out of the Yukon, she still looked a little shell-shocked by what had happened.

Dax reached for her hand when she knelt down beside him. “I hear you were the hero of the day. Thank you.”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t kill him. Not even with both swords. And Dax, I could see him in his demon form, in your old form, without the light from DarkFire. Just before he disappeared, he was entirely visible. DarkFire wasn’t close enough to illuminate him. I’m hoping I sent him to Abyss or the void, at least for now, but he’s getting stronger. How do we stop him? There’s got to be a way.”

Dax didn’t answer. He merely closed his eyes and clung to Eddy’s hand. She looked at Ginny with tear-filled eyes and shook her head.

Alton and Dawson carefully loaded Dax into the SUV. Eddy climbed into the backseat beside him and held a towel they’d found in the Yukon over his deepest wound.

Alton didn’t even ask for the keys. His side hurt like hell and he was feeling a little light-headed from blood loss. Ginny helped him lift Willow into the back. Still feeling dazed, they headed back down the road to their casita with Dawson Buck, the veterinarian, following close behind.

 

Ginny carried cold beer and a fresh plate of cheese and crackers out to the back deck. They were all bathed, their injuries tended and bandaged by the local vet, and the worst of their wounds almost completely healed by Willow. Even trapped inside Bumper, she hadn’t lost her skills.

Dawson was still here, obviously fascinated by the stories Alton and Dax were telling him of the ongoing demon invasion and the lost women of Lemuria. Willow had parked her fuzzy butt against his leg and was shamelessly begging for treats.

“Thanks, Ginny.” Dawson took the beer she offered and turned his attention back to Alton. “How many days do you think you have before the demon king comes back?”

Alton shook his head. “We have no idea. He could return tonight, as powerful as he seems to be growing, but we’re hoping he’s gone for a while. We think all the portals to Abyss are sealed, so hopefully he’ll have to work harder to get back.”

Dawson frowned. “How’s that work? If the portals are sealed, how do they go home?”

Alton merely shrugged. They’d never quite figured that one out. “Somehow, they can be sucked back to Abyss or sent to the void without a portal, but they can’t get back into Earth’s dimension until they can find a functioning gateway. At least regular demons can’t. The demon king seems to have his own rules.”

“That’s no good.” Dawson took a sip of his beer.

Alton traced the condensation along the neck of his brew. “No kidding. Especially since he’s targeted Dax, and with all the other problems we have to worry about, the demon king is the last thing we need. We still have to figure out how to deal with the mess in Lemuria. Taron’s going to have the replicated swords ready in a week, according to DarkFire, which means it’s imperative that we get my father under control before then.”

Dax shifted in his seat. He was still obviously hurting, but at least he was able to move around since Willow and Dawson had treated him. “My suggestion is that we heal first and then worry about Chancellor Artigos. Eddy’s covered in bruises and still has a pretty deep gash in her thigh, BumperWillow isn’t any better, you’ve got a frickin’ hole in your side that needs to close, and Ginny’s a mess of contusions from that damned bull kicking her.”

Dawson finished his beer and stood up. “I agree. You’re all walking wounded right now, though it looks like you’ve got everything under control. At least no one appears to be bleeding.” He chuckled softly. It was obvious he felt a bit like Alice after falling down the rabbit hole. “I hope you all have a good night and get some rest. You need it.”

Alton stood up to walk him out. Dawson paused in the open door. “If there’s anything I can do to help, anything at all, please call me. It appears this is more than just a battle between a few demons and a small army of demon fighters. You hold the future of worlds in your hands. It’s a cause that affects more than any of us can imagine.”

Alton nodded. “I know, and believe me, we will call on you. We need everyone we can trust. Thank you.”

He stood in the doorway and watched as Dawson’s tail-lights disappeared in the darkness. Then he softly closed the door and went back inside to Ginny.

 

It was barely dark when Ginny and Alton crawled off to bed. Alton decided on another shower. His puncture wound had closed and no longer bled, but dry blood streaked his belly and thigh.

Plus, he insisted he had to wash off the last of the demon stink. He seemed convinced his first brief shower hadn’t done the job. Ginny couldn’t smell any sulfur on him at all. She wondered if he was trying to wash away the fear they’d all experienced this afternoon, the risks they’d faced, the dangerous attack that had almost cost lives.

She watched him leave the room, but the bedroom felt horribly empty with him gone, so she quickly stood up and followed him into the bathroom. He was just reaching for the faucet to turn the water on when she softly closed the door behind her.

“Ginny?” He turned and his eyes were troubled.

She didn’t want to know what thoughts filled his mind. Not now. Instead, she reached for his hand. “You’re hurt. I don’t want you to shower alone. I worry about you falling.”

He paused with one hand resting on the shower rod and reached for her. She clasped his hand and stood there, feeling slightly self-conscious in her worn flannel pants and stretched cami top.

“I don’t particularly want to shower alone, either.” He watched her with such intensity that she felt herself blush.

Then, before she lost her nerve, she let go of his hand and slipped out of her clothes.

“Nine hells!” Alton moved toward her so quickly she almost jumped back.

“I had no idea. Ginny…love, you’ve been hurt worse than I realized.” Lightly he brushed his fingers over the ugly contusions covering her ribs. The bull’s hoof had caught her square in the chest. The dark and bloody bruise covered most of her torso between her breasts and navel in a horrible map of black and blue and red.

“Ah, Ginny. This is awful.” He raised his head and gazed at her with troubled eyes. “Are any of your ribs broken?”

She shook her head. “No. Nothing’s broken. It doesn’t hurt. Not that much.” She felt embarrassed for some reason and stared at her toes.

Alton lifted her chin with his fingertips. “Why won’t you look at me? Ginny, what’s wrong?”

She felt her throat close up, fought the burning in her eyes, and cursed the tears that suddenly spilled down her cheeks.

Alton wrapped his arms around her and gently hugged her close. “Why are you crying, sweetheart?”

“I thought you were dead.” She sniffed. “I tried to reach you and there was nothing. No sense of you. Only the demon and the smell of blood and Dax so badly hurt and Eddy crying and BumperWillow lying in the dirt. I’ve never felt so alone in my life. Never.”

“I’m sorry. I must have been unconscious for a few moments. Not for long. I came to in time to watch you.” He leaned away and stared at her. “My gods, Ginny.” He tilted her chin up with his fingertip. “I wish I had that battle on video. You were amazing. So powerful and self-assured. Absolutely magnificent!”

She gazed up at the wonder on his face, but all she could think of was how frightened she’d been. Frightened and angry at that damned bull for hurting Dax and Eddy, for goring Alton. She’d wanted to kill the bull and the demon inside, even though the bull was innocent. The demon wasn’t, though. Damn him, he was still out there. Still trying to figure out how to steal Dax’s energy and how to kill the rest of them. Was there any way to stop him?

Alton kissed the top of her head. Then he reached inside the shower and turned on the tap, stepped in, and carefully dragged Ginny under the warm spray with him. The warm water soothed her aches and washed away her tears. She ran a soft cloth over Alton’s side and rinsed away the dried blood still caked there.

Even though he was healing quickly, she felt like crying again when she saw the size of the healing wound and knew how badly it must have hurt.

Alton gently dried Ginny with a soft terry towel before he toweled himself off. When they went back into the bedroom, there was no question of what bed they’d sleep in. No hesitation when they pulled back the covers and crawled in together.

And even though they both were hurting, there was no question of what they wanted.

Alton fluffed the pillows behind him, leaned against the soft pile, and reached for Ginny. He drew her close and she went to him with the certainty that this was where she belonged. At his side, no matter what was to come. There was trouble ahead. She knew that as well as she knew her name. Unseating his father wouldn’t be easy, but it would have to be done. She’d be there beside Alton, no matter the risk.

He cupped her face in his hands, drew her close, and kissed her. Then his fingers traced the swell of her breast and she felt his lips turn up in a smile against her mouth. “Ah, Ginny…I knew you were going to be trouble. Nothing but trouble from the start.”

She ran her hands over his chest, and carefully rolled and twisted until she straddled him without brushing against his injured side. His erection was trapped between them, held in place by the soft, damp folds of her sex. She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his perfectly shaped nose. “I bet you forgot the condoms.”

He chuckled and her body bounced with the soft rise and fall of his chest. He reached for the table beside the bed and held up a shiny foil packet. “Not me. I never make mistakes.”

Ginny grabbed it out of his hand and tore the edge with her teeth. “I knew you were arrogant, right from the start. Arrogant and cocky and such a bossy know-it-all.” She rose up on her knees until his erection sprang free. Carefully she sheathed his full, hot length. Then she lowered herself, but this time she positioned his shaft against her sex and slowly, so slowly took him deep inside.

They both sighed as she settled herself down over his full length. Alton wrapped his arms around her slim waist, nuzzled her neck, and kissed the side of her throat. “Did I ever tell you how much I love troublesome women?”

“No.” She sighed as she adjusted to his size, to his heat and the amazing connection that linked them—body, heart, and mind. Then she slowly moved her hips in a gentle rhythm with his. “But I’d really love to hear.”

Smiling, touching, kissing, laughing, and loving, he told her. In great detail. Over and over again.