The Devil's Wolf
Chapter 36

Cael landed with a thud that implied the speed of his descent, his wings whipping her hair across her face and lifting dirt in eddies along the rooftop. He was holding the canvas bag of Alatar's spells, and his sword. "Here," he passed the bag to her. "I want to see this hair-hair-everywhere spell."

She grinned at him. "I love you."

"I know," his grin was broad. "There's your dog-father and his pet warlock trying to get themselves caught," he added with disgust. "I could walk the streets with my wings spread with more stealth."

"I was thinking almost the same thing," she agreed. She dug into the canvas bag and lined the spells up on the edge of the roof before her. "Besides the hair-hair-everywhere pouch, I am not entirely sure what these are. I was sort of grabbing randomly at one point there. So, this will be interesting."

Their eyes met, and he raised his eyebrows. "Have at it then, my mate."

"Alright," she palmed one, weighing it. "Let's hope all those street-cricket games hold true."

She eyed up her targets, took a few steps back, ran forwards, and hurled the pouch out across the street before grasping the raided roof edge in order to breathlessly watch its passage. It hit the uniformed human, showering him with spell components.

"Hair-hair-everywhere," she murmured, as the spell delivered, and the human sprouted an overgrowth of hair, covering him from head to foot, the long locks curling out along the ground. His astonishment was comical. The Wingless, caught in the cast off, sprouted hair unevenly, the men's facial hair growing impressively, and the woman resembling Rapunzel. They looked around, puzzled, trying to determine the origin of the spell. "Aha," Cael chortled. "Next one."

She took up the next pouch and repeated. There was a moment of chaos as the tarmac turned to tar, army tanks and vehicles sinking unevenly, and soldiers becoming trapped in the black. Sirens wailed off tune, and screams rang out as those trapped fought for freedom.

She seized the next one and threw it. A gust of wind sent it a little wild, but the effect was awesome, as the air filled with glitter sifting in pinks and purples over the humans that fought to free the trapped from the tar pits. "Oh dear," she clapped a hand over her eyes and peeked between her fingers. "Lust spell."

"Oh f-k," Cael's jaw hung open. "That... That's a bit disturbing, even for me. Ouch." He sucked in air on a grimace. "Someone is going to be sore tomorrow. What else have you got?" His eyes lit with wickedness. "More lust spells?" She took up the last pouch. "One final mystery pouch. Hopefully it keeps them busy enough that Alatar and dad get in."

She threw the pouch, and they leaned over the edge of the roof expectantly. "Oooo," she shrieked as the street below exploded into feathers. "Tar and feathers, now I remember!"

She and Cael clung to each other as they laughed until they cried watching the chaos unfold below them.

"Ah," she fought for breath "I have to stop before I pee myself."

"Well, that looks like it will keep them busy for a while," Cael blew out a breath, recovering himself. "And your father and Alatar managed to get into the building. Let's give your new wings a work-out and see if we can get some sleep before we are needed."

"Oh, god," she flicked them out, stretching out her ligaments, the feathers fluffing. "I am not sure if I can get a handle on them. I flew into a f-king window like a dazzled pigeon."

"Yes," he was amused. "That you did. But I will help you. Come on, my mate." He stepped up onto the low wall that ringed the roof and held out a hand to her. "Let me teach you to fly."

She swallowed her misgivings and hung the canvas bag over her head and shoulder before reaching up for his hand and letting him pull her up onto the ledge. "Now what?"

"Wings out," he stretched his to their full expanse. "And then you want to strike them," he demonstrated, generating a strong wind that whipped their hair forwards. He watched her do the same. "Not bad," he decided, keeping a hold of her hand. "On the count of three."

"One," she said.

"Two," his eyes laughed at her.

"Three." She leapt with him, her wings catching the air.

He kept hold of her hand, and helped her angle into the currents, coasting in a zig-zag from one building to the other, slowly gaining height. She saw a couple eating dinner spill their wine, their jaws dropping as she and Cael pushed off from their window.

Finally, they landed on the roof, and Cael kissed her.

"Well done." He was tired, she could see it from the hang of his wings as he closed them against his back. She could the muscle fatigue through her neck and shoulders, and exhaustion dragged at the edges of her mind, making her thoughts slow and her eyes heavy.

"Must sleep," she told him. "Very tired."

"Yes," he agreed, and they wrapped their arms around each other as they made their way across the roof until the narrow passage of the stairwell and their wings width forced them to take the stairs down in single file.

They returned to Elior's apartment, their feet tangling in Cael's discarded clothing, and he crawled straight into the bed, lying face down onto the mattress, his wings spread over his back, as she retrieved Alister's phone and called Serena. He was snoring by the time Serena picked up.

"My dad and the warlock arrived, have you got them?" Ashlynn was so weary it hurt to stay awake.

"Yes," Serena sounded cheerful. "Apparently we are expecting others. The warlock is reinforcing the front entrance of the building in case the humans try to attack again. They are somewhat distracted at the moment however in a most entertaining way."

"Yes, I threw a few distractions their way," Ashlynn smothered her laughter. "Alright, Cael and I will try to get some rest, and join you downstairs soon. If you can let my dad know, so he doesn't come looking for me, I would appreciate it."

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"I will pass the message to him."

Ashlynn slid into the bed next to Cael, her wings awkward and explaining Cael's face-down sleeping position. She had another call to make, however before she did likewise.

She waited, listening to the ring of the phone until her mother answered.

"Hi mum."

"Ashlynn," her mother did not sound as worried as she had the last call. "Your father is where you are?" She did not phrase it as a question, so much as looking for confirmation of something she already knew. She must have been tracking him via scrying, Ashlynn thought.

"Yes, he arrived a little while ago. I am about to try to get some sleep, but I wanted to let you know that he is fine, and I wanted to speak to Elior." "Thank you, Ash," her mum blew her a kiss down the line, and Ashlynn heard a murmured conversation a moment before Elior answered the phone. "Ashlynn," he said, the background noise changing as he moved rooms, replaceing somewhere quiet and more private she suspected. "Are you unharmed?"

"I am fine, Elior," she closed her eyes and tried to imagine him. He would be still wearing her dad's one good suit, his hair would be caught back at the nape of his neck in a low ponytail, and his piercing grey eyes would be tired in his pretty face. Imagining was not as good as the real thing. "I miss you."

"Ashlynn," his tone was soft and intimate. "I miss you too."

"I have wings." There was no other way to say it, she reasoned, other than outright.

"Not entirely surprising, considering your heritage," he replied.

"Cael says falling triggers wingspread. His people do it with their young."

"Do I want to know how you discovered your wings?" His tone was amused.

"Cael pushed me off the roof above your apartment. Which we're in, by the way. In your bed, too. And your track suits, for that matter."

He chuckled. "Of course, you are. I wish I were in it with you."

"Yeah, so do I," she sighed. "So, Cael thinks you will be able to turn me now."

"Does he?" He murmured it.

Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you're on 000005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading! "And maybe him as well."

"Is that what you want, Ashlynn? For me to turn you both?"

"Well, werewolves live longer than humans and age slower, but we don't know if that will apply to me," she pointed out. "I am a big question mark in that regard, not fully a wolf, not fully one of Cael's people. You and Cael, on the other hand, won't age or die. Or at least, I don't think he will. He made a comment about centuries earlier..." She glanced at the blonde man who slept beside her.

"Something we will discuss at length when this is over, certainly," there was a weariness to his voice that worried her. It echoed the weariness that she felt.

"Are you getting some sleep, Elior?" She asked him in concern.

"I laid down on your bed for a couple hours earlier," his tone held a smile. "It still smelt of you and Cael. I had the worst hard-on as a result."

She laughed, delighted by the confession. "Did you take care of yourself in the shower imagining me?"

"And now it is back," he said ruefully.

"Ah, my poor vampire."

"What is the situation there?" He asked.

"We have abandoned the other buildings and the stronghold, and the vampires are all in your building. Dad and Alatar - have you met Alatar? He is a warlock?"

"I don't remember," he admitted.

"Ah, well, never mind. They are fortifying the building against attack. The forces outside are distracted for the moment, anyway. I had some spells left that I took from Alatar's magic shop, which I threw at them to keep them busy for a couple of hours, so that Cael and I can get some sleep."

The devil snored loudly and Elior laughed. "Which Cael is doing, evidently."

"Yeah, he is tuckered. Fighting all day with that heavy sword. He didn't even retract his wings before falling asleep. Something I have to figure out to do." She sighed heavily. "Another time. I should get some sleep too. I just wanted to hear your voice before I did."

"I am glad you called. I was missing your voice."

"And the rest of me, apparently," she smirked.

"Very much," he agreed. "Go to sleep, now, Ashlynn."

"You too, Elior. I love you."

"I love you too."