Demon Day by Penelope Fletcher (best novels in english .TXT) 📕

Byron seemed to think this funny. “Youfairies, so proud and bold to come here and ask for our help … thefelines who roll in the mud.”

Conall’s face was pained. “The wordsyou echo are the opinions of one fairy that is mad. Can you not seeand accept that, Alpha? It seems for all your talk you wantsomething from us. If you did not want us here you could haverefused to speak and had your sentries escort us off your Pride.Speak quick and plainly. We do not have time for games.”

Byron’s face darkened. “You think sucha speech will affect me?”

“Can we cut this out?” Iasked and stepped forward. “We are literally traveling in circles.The day is wasting and if you won’t help we need to go.”

Though we could see in the dark,Breandan had told me fairies tracked better during the daylighthours, when we were strongest. We were wasting time batting wordsback and forth.

“Tell them, Bryon.” Alecblurted unable to control himself. “They could help.”

The Alpha’s head whipped round, neckmuscles bulging. “Silence, youngling.”

Alec visibly snapped his jaw shut andseemed unable to open his mouth again. He made a small sound ofrepent and hung his head. I felt an inexplicable urge to stoke himto make him feel better.

“Alec is right,” I said inthe charged silence. “If you are in trouble, or need assistance ofsome kind I’m sure we could help.”

I tentatively slanted a look atBreandan to check I was not speaking out of turn. His face wasimpassive and as readable as a stone slab.

The Alpha chose to ignore me, lookingpast me as if I was not even there.

“Come now, Alpha. Youdisrespect our female and behave sullen and you know I cannot allowit. Can we not move past this? You’re making a small bargaindifficult.”

Byron suddenly looked old and weary.“You say I am sullen and difficult, but why should I be easy? Ihave no sons and my daughters have been taken. My line has endedand I have to remain strong for my Pride. You fairies and yoursquabbles have hurt my people. The vampires are simply mad, andgoblins care for nothing and no one. We fight to keep the evils ofthe witches at bay, yet still they manage to curse us from afar.The humans hunt us like rabid beasts, and other shifter packs arehostile toward us. Tell me, why should I not be sullen anddifficult?” His voice took on a sudden and intimidating edge. “AndI smell you have spilled blood on my territory.”

The reaction of the Pride rippledoutward and soon there was a mixture of open distrust and calls forretribution for the fallen Pack mate. The shifters crowded aroundus and called for Breandan’s death. Some, so overcome with ragefell to the ground and Changed. The Pride was filled with heat, andcries of agony, as they morphed from human to animal.

These demons were like nothing I hadexperienced before. They were primitive and hungry for violence.Clutching Breandan by the waist, I glared at anyone bold enough tomake eye contact.

Breandan was calm, silent, and simplyheld Byron’s gaze. Conall buzzed beside me and only then did Irealize Alec had left us and had a hand on his Alpha’s shoulder.The muscles in his arms were taut and he murmured low in the man’sear the tone of his voice urgent.

Byron stamped his meaty foot andshouted, “Silence!”

The Pack immediately fell silent.Those in human form shied away, swelling away from him. Some of thewere-cats whimpered, and pressed their ears to their heads. ThisPack knew to respect their Alpha.

“Speak fairy,” Byron said.“I give you leave to move freely in my land and you draw blood.Enrage my Pack–”

“Kill the female,” a reedygirl cried. “It is fair.”

“I am in the middle of abargaining, Sabine.”

“My father is dead,” shehissed. “Screw any pact.”

Byron’s head spun round and he fixedhis eye on her. “Your father was half mad and more than likelyinvited his own demise.” I was sure the pupil had changed shape tobecome a catlike slit. “You will quiet yourself,youngling.”

The skinny girl, Sabine, recoiled fromthe authority in his voice and backed up a pace. A few of theshifters next to her shifted away, disassociating themselves fromthe hot head.

“He laid hands on what ismine, Alpha,” Breandan said calmly. He spoke in a low voice, butone that carried across the Pack to Byron and those in the innercircle. “If you had seen what I had you would have done thesame.”

Byron said nothing; he rubbed a largehand over his beard. “It is your word against a dead body. Fairiescannot lie, but you are a tricky sort, bending the truth until itbreaks. Making a person hear one thing when it meansanother.”

I untangled myself from Breandan, whoimmediately clamped a hand around my wrist when I stepped forward.Conall placed a hand on my shoulder, and I heard Alec growl low inhis throat.

I wiggled. “Let go of me,” I ordered.“I can hurt him as much as he can hurt me.”

Conall released me, and so didBreandan, but not before giving my arm a warning squeeze. Alectried to transmit ‘be careful’ with his eyes. I sent him areassuring look then trotted over toward the Pack Alpha. Halfwayacross the space I doubted my plan. Gods, but he was huge. Istopped a pace away from him and slowly looked, up and up and upuntil the back of my head touched my neck.

“Hai,” I said, even thoughwe had been introduced earlier I felt as if showing good mannerscould not hurt.

He stared down at me. “You are brave,little fairy. I could squash you like a bug, even in manform.”

The brief yet ferocious urge to defendmyself was swallowed by the logical thought that Breandan wouldnever let anything of the sort happen to me. I shook my head. “Nodoubt you are powerful Alpha, but I’m strong too.”

I tried to push some of the gruffnessI had heard in Conall’s voice and puffed my chest out. I do notthink overall it was convincing.

He leaned back and rubbed at his beardsome more. “I can believe it.” Byron’s eyes flashed with somethingI might have been able to mistake as admiration. “Feisty, aren’tyou.”

“Damn straight. After