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One of the few things that can kill a vampire in seconds flat.
I suppose I should be wary of Sophie—she could kill Casey and I right along with my maker—but I believe her story. I believe that she’s been working for our side, albeit in secret.
But are you willing to bet Casey’s life on it?
I don’t see that I have much of a choice. This is the best shot we’ve got. So, when Sophie staggers another step forward and her arms begin to recede into her body as her legs begin to swell, I don’t stop fighting or tell her to stop.
I take a step forward of my own and grunt, “I’ll get Casey on the ground if I can. Don’t strike until she’s clear of the flame.”
“I won’t,” Sophie whispers. “I’d never hurt her. I promise, I—”
She’s drowned out by a loud laugh from Casey. “Oh, please, Priscilla, don’t tell me you’ve never given head. I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care what you believe,” Priscilla says, propping her hands on her hips with a prim huff. “I don’t put my lips on places where pee-pee comes out, Cassandra. And the fact that you have makes me even more certain you aren’t the woman for Edmond. He’s a gentleman.”
“A gentleman on the street and a freak in the sheets, but you wouldn’t know anything about that would you?” Casey asks, holding Priscilla’s focus, giving Sophie enough time to finish shifting into a small, chubby dragon with powerful hind legs and no arms. “Since he’s avoided your bed like the plague for nearly a century?”
Priscilla draws her arm back, clearly intending to slap Casey across the face, but I stop her as I shout, “That’s correct. I’d rather fuck a rotting corpse. Run Casey!”
Priscilla spins to me with wide eyes and Casey launches into motion.
But she doesn’t run for the exit to the cave like I expect her to: she runs straight for me, launching herself into the air and tackling me just as Sophie blasts Priscilla with a burst of yellow flame. I hit the ground with an oof of surprise and instantly roll us across the cavern floor until I’m on top of Casey, shielding her from the heat.
But I can’t shield her from the screams.
“Oh my Goddess,” she says, her hands flying to cover her ears as Priscilla screeches, “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you all!”
I glance over to see her staggering toward us, a five-foot pillar of flame, but before she can get close enough to do any damage, Sophie blasts her again and Priscilla’s skin falls away.
It just…disintegrates.
For a moment, her bare bones are silhouetted in the blaze, the cock of her featureless face tipped an angle that seems to express sincere surprise that she’s not indestructible, after all, and then she’s gone. Her bones crumble to the floor in a pile of steaming ash and the flames wink out.
Sophie makes a warbling sound more like a giant songbird than the growl of a dragon and turns to us, her big gray and gold eyes filled with concern.
“We’re fine,” Casey says, scooting out from under me. “You saved our lives, but if Priscilla was telling the truth about that second battalion, it sounds like Amy and the others are still in danger.”
“She was, but we have forces on the way to meet them,” I assure her as I come to my feet and reach down for her hand. “Still, we shouldn’t count our victories before they’re hatched, and I won’t rest easy until Amy’s in our arms.”
“Me, either,” Casey says, her eyes shining. “We can go up the cliff path to the estate. Sophie, do you want to come with us? We’ll vouch that you’re not a traitor.”
Sophie shakes her massive head before motioning toward the swamp with one of her legs.
Casey nods and reaches for my hand, holding on tight. “Okay, but be careful. And if you come across the Shadowbanes, breathe fire first and ask questions later.”
Sophie emits another warble and runs for the exit on surprisingly nimble feet. I start after her, but Casey squeezes my hand and holds firm, stopping me in my tracks.
“Really quickly, just in case something happens, and we’re separated again before I can tell you,” she says, her eyes bright and hopeful. “You can break the curse. Your power is the cure. All you have to do is tell yourself not to walk into the sun on January 1st, and you won’t.”
I frown. “What?”
“It was never a curse, never a real spell,” Casey continues. “It was just Priscilla’s power mixed with a big fat lie she told because she knew if you figured out the truth, you’d be able to be free of her like that—” She snaps her fingers and I exhale a shaky breath. “A normal person couldn’t, of course, but you’re like her. You have the same gift.”
“You’re kidding, I…” I trail off, swallowing hard. “Goddess, I feel like such a fool. This whole time, I never even thought… I can’t believe I gave her power over me so easily. For so fucking long.”
“You’re not a fool and you’re not the only one,” she says, cupping my cheek in her cool hand. “Mental prisons are a real thing. Some we make ourselves; some other people forge around us when we’re too young or vulnerable to fight back. But that’s okay. The only thing that matters is that we see those lies for what they are and work to set ourselves free.” Pain flashes behind her eyes. “And speaking of free… If things have changed… If now that you know you have a lot longer to live than a few more months, and you want to reconsider promising me forever, I would understand. You know I love you, so much, but—”
I cut her off with a kiss, a deep, passionate one. I fist my hand in her hair and crush my lips to hers, assuring her with every sweep of my tongue that loving her is my choice, my truth, and my deepest honor.
