In fact, Griff was sparkling, and it was as eerie as it was breathtakingly beautiful.

  Griff’s wings extended out to close to a dozen feet on either side of him. His hands held white-silver flames encapsulated in orange and blue fire. He was a mix of magics and strengths.

  Blaze wanted to focus on him instead of the fact that Bonny was there, ordering daemons to come after him, lobbing her own fire and poisonous hatred at him.

  She’d helped raise him, for gods’ sakes. It hurt him to the core to have her turn on him in such a way.

  And it would destroy Fyre.

  Blaze had started to shift when something stopped him—a sizzle-pop of power shooting through him. Not a deadly one, nor an attack, but a familiar and welcomed one. In an instant, he held the Sword of Synchrony in his hands, and it sang to his blood as if it were a part of him. There was nothing awkward or wrong about how the sword fit in his grip now.

  The sword deflected Bonny’s fire and the current of electricity she sent at him. He swatted aside ice and daemons, sliced through them and filled the air with a fetid stench that overpowered the sulfur-fumes of dragon fire.

  Griff was battling through the daemons and dragons that Xelscior kept sending his way. Jade shrieked as he sliced off a dragon’s snout.

  Blaze didn’t know where Jade had gotten the sword he wielded nor did it matter. Jade was a deadly foe and Grlind was as well. Grlind threw back his head and roared, and the sound of it sent the closest daemons reeling back.

  Blaze locked gazes with Bonny, still in her dragon form. She was beautiful, strikingly so, and he dreaded their confrontation, because only one of them would survive it.

  And he would not be leaving Griff here to live out the rest of his days alone.

  Blaze had always been afraid of Bonny. He’d mouthed off, certainly, but he’d been afraid of her. She’d known it, too. Maybe she hadn’t always hated him, or maybe she had. Blaze wanted to think she’d been good once, and something had warped her over the past few years. He could remember a time when she laughed more than she scowled, when she’d reached for Fyre with tenderness instead of snapping at him with anger.

  When she hadn’t taken pleasure in hurting a young, orphaned dragon who couldn’t control his fire or his shift. Somewhere between then and now, she’d changed, and he didn’t know why.

  He suspected the why of it was important.

  If he had time to question her, that would have been great, but he didn’t and doubted he would get any answers from her anyway.

  He deflected a steady stream of flames from her, angling the sword so the fire shot off it and annihilated a half-dozen daemons and scorched a dragon that had been darting past to attack Jade.

  Someone cackled gleefully, and he wasn’t sure it wasn’t one of the people on his side. There was a glory in a righteous war for some people. Blaze felt only utter sadness and firm determination. He locked up the pain of such a deep betrayal and focused on what he had to do.

  Blaze only glanced away from Bonny to check on Griff as he cut through body after body. Gore splattered on him, and he ignored it, swiping off only what he had to to see and breathe clearly.

  Then Griff was at Blaze’s side and a little in front of him. Blaze could see Griff in his peripheral vision, but couldn’t see Jade or Grlind. He heard them, though, both shouting with every victory as they battled.

  Blaze felt stronger with each life he took, not something he was reveling in, but a side effect, he suspected, of the sword. It hadn’t been like that when he’d killed the fiends, but fiends were odd creatures, and he’d already killed more daemons and dragons in the current battle than he had fiends. Perhaps the sword grew stronger with more blood spilled, or certain types of it. Blaze didn’t know and couldn’t dwell on it.

  He hated taking a life, especially that of another dragon, and yet he did so without hesitation. It could mean the life of his bonded and their friends if he faltered.

  At least none of the dragons but Bonny were known to him.

  Bonny bellowed at him, her golden eyes narrowing as she backed up with his approach. If she took to the air, he’d have to shift, and the sword would be of no use then.

  Griff was almost to Xelscior, who seemed unwilling to flee. The evil fairy was pulling up large, jagged clouds of something malevolent. Just seeing them made Blaze’s skin crawl.

  Bonny clawed at the ground and arched her neck, tossing her head as she sent more daemons his way. The dragons were either defecting from her command or going after reinforcements, Blaze wasn’t sure which. He saw four of them shooting up into the sky and veering off to the north.

  Whatever they were up to, he had to concentrate on Bonny. Blaze held the sword up and took out the daemons with it and an incredible flame he exhaled at them. Never had he been so skilled at warfare, nor in so much control of his abilities.

  “What have you done?” he asked of Bonny as the ashes of her army fell to his feet. “What have you done!” he shouted, furious on Fyre’s behalf. “You have betrayed him!” Which was worse than her betraying him, much worse.

  Bonny didn’t answer with anything other than a rough, cruel laugh. Coming from her as a dragon, the sound was otherworldly and sent a shiver down Blaze’s spine.

  He took a step toward her, every hair on his nape quivering with unease as he tried to guess her next move.

  She leapt at him, her movement so sudden and without the warning of tensed muscles and flicked tail. Blaze sucked in a sharp breath and started to raise his sword.

  Bonny shot up out of reach—all except for her deadly tail. Had he been a fraction of a second slower, he’d have been headless instead of shouting as he ducked and stumbled aside. The flat edge of her tail caught him on the head, stunning him for a moment, but not disabling him.

  “Blaze!” Griff shouted.

  Blaze’s vision swam, but he shook his head and stood up, holding his weapon, ready to strike. He saw Bonny twenty feet past him.

  “Blaze!” Griff shouted again, alarm making his voice strident.

  Blaze jerked his attention from Bonny to Griff just as a dark, sharp object came at him. He swung the sword and hissed when Xelscior’s magic, whatever it was, divided into numerous smaller projectiles. “Shit shit shit!” Blaze flamed and managed to get most of them, but a couple hit his chest and scored marks on his flesh.

  The burning was not debilitating, the wounds not deep, but Griff’s furious shout promised retribution for Blaze’s pain.

  Blaze plucked out the first of the odd spiked objects and tossed it aside. He had to leave the second one in as Bonny turned and dove right at him. Her flames were hotter and heavier than before and buried in them was a magic not her own. Blaze could sense it, and he knew she was being aided, most likely by Xelscior in some way.

  She has always been his tool. She is not what she has presented herself to be. Bonny is not a true dragon—she is the concubine to Xelscior. The bitterness in Ahndwa’s voice said there was more to the story than that, but now wasn’t the time for it.

  Blaze didn’t question hearing her voice in his head—she’d chosen him to use the sword, after all, at least temporarily.

  Even knowing Bonny wasn’t what he’d thought her to be didn’t lessen his anxiety at knowing he had to kill her. Blaze’s heart pounded as he planted his heels in preparation of her attack.

  The sword held back her fire and magic, but it couldn’t do everything. She was soon close enough that her wings and tail were going to be able to harm him.

  Blaze moved the sword and tried to angle her fire back at Bonny, but it merely bounced off her scales.

  That was the thing about fake dragons, apparently—they had scales as strong as a real dragon, at the very least.

  But even a real dragon had chinks in their armor—notably any orifices and the less-scaly underbelly. There, the scales were looser and thinner, and it was possible to get a sword in between them if it was shoved against the grain of the scales.

  Blaze might not get so lucky, but he had to try.

  He waited until she was close enough to reach him, then dropped to his knees, rolled and swung the sword.

  Blood splattered down on him as Bonny shrieked. She caught his arm and chest with one of her back claws, but the damage to him was slight overall. Blaze rolled again and ended up behind Griff. He came to his feet and put his back to his bonded’s, readying for another attack from Bonny.

  Jade and Grlind were still alive and fighting, which relieved him. “Griff, are you—”

  “I am unharmed,” Griff said before chanting unfamiliar words.

  Someone screamed, a long, drawn-out, agonized sound that would haunt Blaze.

  Griff flapped his wings, and Blaze caught glimpses of Bonny circling in the distance. She seemed to be listing, and he realized she had one paw pressed to her gut.

  Griff vibrated, and his body emitted heat as though he had his own fire inside.

  Bonny turned and came at them with surprising speed, as if she’d never been injured moments before.

  The air around Blaze and Griff crackled and popped with magic, and Blaze feared things were about to get much, much worse.

  What happened was a complete surprise.

  The sky itself seemed to rip open, and a battalion of dragons came through it, led by Fyre. Beside him was Artaxis, looking fierce as he pulled back the bowstring and let an arrow fly right at Xelscior.

  Bonny growled, and Blaze knew this was it—she’d either kill him on this strike or die trying.

  Griff and Xelscior lunged at each other.

  Blaze wanted to help Griff but feared interfering would distract him instead. He held his ground as Bonny came at him, with Fyre chasing her.

  Blaze waited until she was almost on him, then he shifted. There were many things he didn’t want to do and letting Fyre kill his wife was a priority.

  The sword fell to the ground, and Blaze thrust himself up. Bonny hadn’t been prepared for such an attack. Blaze hit her in the chest and sent her sprawling fifty feet away, knocking down trees as she went.

  He was on her before Fyre could reach her. Why did you have to do this? Blaze wished he could ask her. Instead, he had to dodge her claws and tail, her fire and teeth. Blaze slammed his head against hers, hoping to stun her. Whether it worked or not, he didn’t know. He was lifted off her by a mighty gust of wind, and great bolts of lightning rained down on her.

  Then Blaze flew of his own accord as he watched Bonny turn to ash. Jade nodded once, then wiped his hands together before looking at him.

  Fyre landed beside Bonny’s ashes and turned to look at Jade, then inclined his head in a way that conveyed thanks.

  Blaze had to trust that Fyre wasn’t going to harm Jade over Bonny’s demise. He had to get to Griff’s side and help him.

  He turned and saw that Griff and Artaxis had Xelscior pinned between them. Xelscior was giving each of them his side, fighting off Artaxis’s arrows and Griff’s magic simultaneously.

  Then Griff flicked his wrist, as if to say enough, and tipped his head up to the sky.

  A vibrant swath of color, almost rainbow-like in form, arched down into Griff’s palm and across from him, into Artaxis’s hand as well.

  The two men looked at each other, then Artaxis gave the slightest nod. As one, they each tossed the colorful magic, and it exploded over Xelscior, covering him.

  Xelscior melted like snow tossed on a fire. It was disturbing to watch, yet Blaze couldn’t look away as he lowered himself to the ground.

  Then Griff was reaching for him, touching him, and Blaze had to curl himself around Griff, needed to be closer to him.

  “Let me heal your wounds,” Griff murmured, and Blaze basked in the love and care of his bonded.

  Chapter Forty

  Griff flapped his wings gently, moaning at the pleasure of having them back again.

  Artaxis smiled at him. “Well, how did you find your wings?”

  Blaze shifted, then stroked one of them. “They’re beautiful.”

  “Stunning,” Artaxis agreed. “Griff always did have the most incredible wings. That was part of the reason why I wanted him so badly.”

  Blaze growled, his top lip angling up in a sexy sneer.

  Artaxis held his hands up. “I said wanted, dragon. I’d never poach on a bonded.”

  Griff was busy trying to calm Blaze down with subtle caresses. Distraction also seemed a good idea. “My wings weren’t knocked off, per se. Xelscior took them from me.”

  “My father…” Artaxis shuddered. “He was always cruel, from what I remember of him. Not much of a Love fairy.”

  “He’s my father too, unfortunately,” Griff muttered. “And according to Ahndwa—”

  “Your mother,” Blaze pointed out.

  Artaxis’s eyes went wide. “You’re a demigod, Griff?”

  Griff blushed. “Well, I’m just me.”

  “A demigod,” Blaze said proudly. “And all mine!”

  “A demigod. Well, that explains a lot,” Artaxis murmured.

  Griff didn’t think so. “Not really, but that’s all I know besides that Xelscior wanted to kill me and take my soul because he sold his. There’s no reincarnation for him. He’s gone forever.” Something Griff couldn’t fathom. To never exist again? It was a terrifying thought. “My soul must be extra juicy or something for him to have wanted it so badly.”

  “It is a pure soul,” said Ahndwa, appearing suddenly beside him.

  Artaxis yelped and bowed down. “Goddess Ahndwa.”

  She touched Artaxis’s nape. “Rise.”

  Artaxis did so gracefully. “Thank you.”

  Ahndwa nodded at him. “Griff’s soul would have done more than give Xelscior more lives. It would have eradicated some of the evil that would have carried over into each of Xelscior’s life. He sold his soul to the Underlord for power. It is obvious neither the Underlord nor Xelscior got a decent deal.” She shrugged. “And the female, the one you called Bonny, she was one of the Underlord’s concubines, sent to keep track of Xelscior.”

  “Bonny,” Blaze said, turning to look toward where Fyre stood, staring down at some ashes and a burned spot on the ground. Jade and Grlind hovered behind Fyre. “I should go over there and talk to him. He doesn’t know.”

  “Perhaps give him a moment to grieve,” Griff suggested.

  Blaze nodded.

  “He will recover and find his heart,” Ahndwa said, “and I will return to speak with you again, my son.”

  Griff’s heart fluttered a little at that. “Thank you.”

  Ahndwa brushed a kiss over his cheek, then was gone.

  “That’s amazing,” Artaxis said. “I had no idea you were a demigod. When Shadnay came to get us, I imagined you and Blaze being in trouble some other way.”

  “Like what?” Griff asked.

  Artaxis averted his gaze. “Er. Well, you know, with your memory issues, I guess I thought you might have gotten lost and ended up in a dangerous spot. Shadnay was quite insistent that we come help you. He just wasn’t clear on the why of that, and he would not cease his buzzing until we’d gathered a sizable army to take with us.”

  Griff held out a hand and Shadnay buzzed right onto it. “Thank you, Shadnay.”

  Shadnay wiggled and flitted, then flew up to touch Griff’s nose before darting off again.

  “I think he has a crush,” Artaxis observed.

  Blaze only growled a little at that.

  “Griff!” Gia shouted, appearing before him and lunging into a hug. “Oh my gods! You’re still my brother, no matter what!”

  Griff was trying to draw air into his lungs, but Gia was holding on to him so tight, it was difficult. He was squeezing her pretty tight in return.

  “You heard?” he asked her a moment later.

  Gia bobbed her head at him. “That my baby brother is a demigod? Oh yeah. I heard, and Ahndwa blessed me for helping to protect you.” She beamed at him. “And don’t think you get to boss me around just because you have her for your mother!”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Griff assured her. He purred a bit as Blaze caressed his wings again, but his pleasure dimmed when he spotted Fyre swiping at his cheeks. “Blaze? Should you—or we—go to Fyre?”

  Blaze sighed. “Yeah, we should.”

  “Griff?”

  Griff turned toward Jade. The Storm King didn’t seem nearly as intimidating now that Griff knew his own lineage. That didn’t mean he should be a dick. “Thank you, Jade, and you as well, Grlind, for helping us. Are either of you hurt?”

  “Surprisingly, neither of us were harmed in this battle, unlike that with the fiends,” Jade said. “But…but you are a demigod, and we have served you well and fought for you more than once.”

  Griff arched an eyebrow, trying to think what angle Jade was working. The fact was, both the elf and the orc had given selflessly of their time and risked their lives to aid him. “You’re asking for a blessing?”

  Jade cast his gaze down. “If it wouldn’t be too much? I’d like to be able to return to my kingdom. I’m not asking for you to intervene in my battle, simply to—” He made a fluttering gesture around himself.

  Griff looked at Grlind. “And you, orc? What would you ask for by way of a blessing?”

  Grlind glanced at Jade quickly, then back at Griff. “Only that the Storm King is returned to his throne.”

  Jade frowned at Grlind. “No. You’ve already done enough. He needs an orc who will see the greatness in him and who will love him unconditionally.”

  Grlind was already shaking his head.

  “An orc?” Griff asked. “Are you certain?”

  Jade scowled at him. “Well, what else? Orcs only ever mate with their own kind.”

  “Better to go with the blessing I asked for,” Grlind said. “I don’t want what the Storm King is suggesting. It’d not be fair to have someone falling for me when I can’t return their affections.”

  “What the hells does that mean?” Jade snapped, turning on Grlind. “You aren’t capable of love? You don’t deserve it? You—”

  Grlind hung his head and muttered, “It means that my heart is already taken.”

  Jade shrank back as if he’d been slapped. “Oh. I see.”