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I gave her a grateful smile. Just because Yssak worked for our father didn’t mean we were home free when it came to slipups like this. Father was tougher on us than any of our bosses.
Delilah had slumped onto the sofa. She looked pale.
“Excuse me, Honorable Assistant, but our sister was attacked by the creature. May I tend to her?” I hated standing on formality, but again—protocol. Father had drilled it into us from birth. Breaking free of his patterns when we were in the actual presence of the Court and Crown would be like having teeth pulled. Not so much fun to contemplate.
Yssak blinked. “Why didn’t you say so before? Good heavens, girl, I’m irritated, yes, but I wouldn’t have made you wait if you’d asked. Your father would have my head if I put one of his daughters in danger.”
He stood back as Camille and I knelt by her side.
“Are you okay, honey?” Camille took her hand, then felt for her pulse. She turned a worried look on me. “It’s rapid, way too fast. Shit, did that thing get its tentacles linked into her silver cord? I can’t read her signature, I’m too close to her.”
Roz pushed her aside. He tipped Delilah’s chin up, gazing into her eyes. Delilah murmured something soft. Roz whipped around. “Damn the gods—that thing is still attached to her. Her energy is being slowly siphoned off.”
“Can you take us onto the astral where we can fight it?” Camille asked. “Smoky can carry me over.”
“Smoky’s much more powerful than I am,” Roz said. “I can’t erect enough of a barrier to carry all of you during the transfer. But I can go find him. He’s out at his barrow.” Without so much as a blink, he vanished onto the Ionyc Sea.
Camille motioned to me. “Bring blankets. We have to keep her warm. Brandy or port, too—anything to keep her strength going. Hell, hell, hell. We have to find out what the fuck those things are and how to fight them.”
Yssak hurried over to my side. “How may I assist? Tell me.”
Frantic, I shook my head. “I don’t know. I don’t know. Stay with Camille while I go get the blankets and booze.”
He nodded—one curt bob of the head—and took up guard duty while I raced out of the shed, galloping back toward the house. Times like this, I didn’t mind being a vampire. My increased speed meant I could summon help a lot faster than either of my sisters.
I burst into the house to find Iris standing watch with Maggie, keeping her eye on the door. She was armed with her wand. Iris might be short, but she sure as hell could wreak a buttload of damage with that silver and crystal contraption.
I was relieved to find Vanzir there, too.
He frowned. “What’s going on?”
“Those fucking demons—one has hold of Delilah’s silver cord. It’s the same one that attacked her earlier. The beast must have traced her through the astral or something, because she’s losing energy. Iris, get me a warm blanket and some brandy or port.” I turned back to Vanzir. “We have to find out what they are and how to kill them, or we’re going to be in a world of hurt.”
Vanzir laid a gentle hand on my arm, startling me. He seldom touched any of us. I stopped, staring at him.
“I know what they are,” he said. “That’s where I went—to do some research.”
I paused. “Go on.”
“It comes from an ancient race of demons found mainly Earthside, on the astral plane. Summoned thousands of years ago by the great sorcerers of a culture that predated Sumer, they’re known as the Karsetii.” Vanzir looked pale. When a demon pales—especially one who has seen and done what Vanzir has—you know you’re in trouble.
“You don’t look so hot.” I glanced over at Iris, who had just returned with the blanket and a bottle of brandy. She handed them to me. “Stay with Maggie, Iris. We’ll be back in a few minutes.” Motioning to Vanzir, I headed toward the back door. I could run faster alone, though. “Meet me at the studio. Pronto.” And then, I was off.
Roz hadn’t returned yet by the time I reached the studio, so I helped Camille arrange the blanket over Delilah and fed her some brandy. She didn’t want it—she was conscious but seemed woozy—but we made her drink it.
“I wish her twin could help. She’s on the spirit plane,” Camille said.
“Yeah, but the spirit plane isn’t the same as the astral. Arial might not be able to cross over to the astral that easily.” The name still sounded strange on my tongue. We’d only recently discovered that Delilah had a twin who died at birth. Apparently her twin had been a wereleopard and was watching over her. The emergence of Delilah’s panther form might be connected to Arial, or maybe not. We weren’t clear on the whole situation yet, and Father only begrudgingly talked about it. Even then, he told us as little as he could get away with.
Vanzir showed up just as Kitten finally let me give her a shot of the amber liquor. He took one look at her and pressed his lips together.
Camille quickly introduced him to Yssak. “Vanzir works with us now.”
Yssak nodded. “So I have heard.” Turning to Vanzir, he said, “You’re a brave creature to undergo the Ritual of Subjugation.”
“Whatever,” Vanzir mumbled. “I was just telling Menolly that I found out what the demons are.”
Camille caught her breath. “Thank the gods. Finally, some good news. What are they? How do we kill them? Do you think they’re aligned with Shadow Wing?”
