Page 52 of Bedeviled

I gasp in a deep breath, forcing myself to sit up as I hear snarling and a wet, tearing noise. The demon is rolling with… I cannot tell. Not until I see a long tail.

I realize then that it’s, it’s…my familiar. Nero.

Goddess, no.

He’s shredding the demon, but the creature is now lunging for my panther’s neck. I stagger to my feet only to nearly fall again as the world spins.

Fuck, something is deeply wrong with my head, but I can’t focus on that. Not while my familiar is vulnerable.

I lift my hands, aiming my palms at the demon. My power gathers in me, and in an addled burst, I shove it out.

“Annihilate.” The spell knifes through the air, my orange magic streaked with black. I half expect to miss the demon, but the curse lands squarely against his chest. Power explodes against his form, blowing bits of his flesh apart as it throws him off Nero.

His mangled body lies still on the ground, and I cannot care to focus on whether he’s alive or dead. Not when Nero is slumped on the ground, his form much too still.

I trip over to my panther’s side, pausing once to vomit when dizziness overwhelms me. I fall to my knees next to him and check him over. There’s blood along his temple, but I don’t know where the wound’s source is. I slip into his form for a moment. It’s enough to realize my own mind isn’t thinking properly.

I’m going to need to heal myself when I return to it.

That thought only lingers an instant before I realize that not only is Nero’s head pounding with pain, one of my—his—legs is broken, and his chest hurts with every inhalation.

Returning my awareness to my own body is like stepping back into a crashed car. Everything makes less sense.

You have a concussion. I cannot tell whether Memnon spoke the words or my own mind did.

A concussion, yes.

And I was supposed to do something when I returned to it.

My gaze moves back to my panther. Of course.

I settle my hands into Nero’s fur. “Vakahi.” Heal.

My magic sinks into my familiar. I can sense it fitting together at least one broken bone and mending torn flesh. Nero’s chest seems to expand just a little when I hear low, evil laughter.

I glance over my shoulder just as the demon sits up. His shirt is in tatters, but the skin of his stomach is smooth, unblemished.

“You think that hurts me? I am powered by it.”

Cannot use dark magic on demons. The thought trickles in from the maze of my mind. It…only makes them stronger.

My neck pounds, and I’m swaying from where I kneel.

There was another thing I was supposed to remember

Est amage, heal yourself! Memnon demands—no, begs.

The demon rises. This time, he doesn’t bother coming closer. Instead, he eyes me from where he stands, his gaze flicking to my panther.

Hold fast, my queen, I am close!

I place a hand to my head. “Vakahi,” I incant again.

Slowly, the haze of my mind peels back just enough so I can think. I draw in a gasping breath and lower my hand.

Several drops of blood hit the earth, and beneath me, I sense the ground stir.

…Ancient queen… The words sound as though they’re spoken by several synchronized voices.