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CHAPTER15
Riley turned as they coalesced on the veranda of their home. She could feel the anger and hatred of the demon pursuing them, but as their forms solidified, the breeze whipped her hair against her cheek, and the emotion dimmed. “Is it coming here?”
Colton stepped in front of her. “The demon has stopped. I believe it’s deciding whether it wants to pursue us on shadow land. The moment it exits the pathway the entire clan will converge on this location.”
“Can he hear us?”
“Yes,” Colton said.
Despite her ability to regulate her body temperature, goosebumps formed on her skin. She inched closer to Colton’s back, allowing his body heat to warm her. “You may want to remind our pursuer that Ferguson is making a necklace out of demon claws.”
Colton turned and smirked at her. “Our friend has reconsidered his advance. I no longer feel his presence.”
“I get the impression that the demons fear Ferguson as much as the shadows do.”
“He isn’t really making a charm necklace out of demon claws, is he?” Colton asked.
Riley pursed her lips. “Not yet, but I’m going to ask him to start.”
Colton put his arms around her shoulders. “I had no idea you were so devious.”
She chuckled. “I’ll use any means possible to deter the demons, but considering what we witnessed, they are ruled by fear.”
Colton led her into their living room, closing the door behind them. “Ashkara is something else. I expected the king to be powerful, but to be able to control his subjects is a new level. His consciousness is so evolved he can literally shed his body and take over another. I have no concept of how that is possible.”
Riley led Colton to the couch, waiting for him to sit so she could snuggle in his lap. The events at the cave had her seeking reassurance. Everything Colton said was true. Ashkara was far more powerful than any of them realized. “Sounds like he’s had to discard his body a few times. Do you think he has to take over a blood relative? Deruthel is his son, and we have seen no indication he has any other children.”
“If he did, Deruthel would kill them. The general seeks power and I think he had every intention of betraying his father. I don’t think he knew Ashkara could wipe his mind and take his body. That is a whole new level of scary.”
Riley laid her head against Colton’s neck. “While he has the ability to take over his son’s body, that appears to be a last resort. I am curious how that works myself.”
Colton was quiet for some time. “Ashkara said he didn’t want to be diminished. I am thinking that his current body has grown and evolved. If he takes over Deruthel’s, he is able to transfer his consciousness but not his power. He would be limited to Deruthel’s current skills.”
“I wonder why,” she asked.
“I’m not positive, but I’m thinking it’s something to do with the container. You can’t place two gallons of water into a one-gallon container. The vessel has to grow in relation to the power within it.”
Riley sat up. “That’s incredibly intuitive, and it makes sense. If we work with that theory, then it’s possible the king would have some skills that Deruthel doesn’t. Deruthel may not be using his vessel as you call it to its maximum capacity.”
“That’s highly likely. This only reinforces our goal to keep the king in his current realm. If he traverses the portal with his current body, we have zero chance of fighting him.”
“We will have to fight Deruthel and the demons and that could go either way as it is. If Ashkara took over Deruthel’s body there’s no telling what powers he would be able to bring with him. While he won’t have the enormous power he currently has, he would be far stronger than Deruthel. We need to cut off his access to this world.”
Colton rubbed his chin. “Deruthel was surprised the king had the power to take his body. He wasn’t happy about it. I think he would betray his king given a chance. Maybe there’s an opportunity to help him.”
“Are you suggesting an alliance with the demons?”
“No. But as you say, we’re fighting Deruthel one way or another. I prefer it to be him rather than Ashkara. We should consider a temporary truce until the portal is permanently closed.”
“How do we propose something like that?” she asked.
Colton’s head fell back, resting on the top of the couch. “I have no idea.” He rubbed his temple.
She leaned toward him. “Are you all right?”
He placed his hands over his eyes. “Just a headache.”
“That’s unusual for you.”
