Free Wystan by Allison Merritt Page B

bottle, poured some liquid on a cloth, and dabbed Wystan’s shoulder. The elder Heckmaster’s eyes brimmed with tears of pain. “I hope Tell comes back soon. A week is a little excessive for tracking.”
    â€œThe kid is fine,” Wystan ground out.
    â€œI know he’s fine. I’d just prefer he was closer to home.” Eban held the cloth in place, despite the look he earned from his brother.
    â€œThe albastor should be an easy catch for him. I reckon it took him on a merry chase, or he’d be back by now.”
    â€œWhat’s an albastor?” Rhia asked, annoyed by how they referenced monsters, but didn’t tell her anything.
    â€œA shapeshifter. White hair, human form, usually, but they’re prone to shifting into animal forms as well. They’re typically nude. Quite the shock for a well-bred lady. Others don’t mind so much. They like to mate with human women, but a man who lays with a woman who’s been with an albastor can die.” Eban retrieved bandages from a drawer and bound Wystan’s shoulder. “They’re crude, and this one is under instructions to murder us.”
    Rhia tilted her head. “Astaroth thinks he can break the shield by destroying all of you?”
    â€œThat, or by capturing one of us.”
    â€œSo you let Tell wander around out there by himself?”
    Wystan looked up sharply. “No one lets Tell do anything. He has no sense of self-preservation. When he was fifteen, he took a crossbow, a horse, and a week’s worth of supplies, and rode off into the desert, and when he came back, he had two demon heads tied to his saddle. The kid has a sense neither of us possesses.”
    She thought she heard a hint of jealousy in his voice. “How many demons have you killed apiece?”
    â€œWho’s keeping a tally?” Eban’s question was far too innocent.
    She didn’t have any brothers, but she knew that siblings were competitive by nature. They each probably knew exactly how many they’d killed. “I asked earlier how your father came to fall in love with a human woman.”
    Eban looked at Wystan, whose face hardened. “Back then, Astaroth was free to wander Earth as he chose, on his helldragon, granting answers to human problems and questions in exchange for their mortal souls. The lesser demons he favored were a bit like feudal lords. They were given a territory to watch over and New Mexico Territory belonged to our father.”
    Wystan sat a little straighter, causing the bare muscles in his abdomen to flex. Rhia tried not to notice, but couldn’t help staring at the various scars crisscrossing his flesh, telling the story of the battles he’d faced.
    â€œMa wasn’t the prettiest girl in town, but our grandfather was a prominent landowner. When Father arrived at the farmhouse to tell Granddad that there was going to be a tax on his crops if he wanted them to keep growing so well, Ma served Father lemonade. He swore that was what made him fall in love with her. She was betrothed to the town doctor and she told him so before he could so much as ask if she was promised.”
    â€œWhy would she do that?” Rhia asked.
    â€œProbably the way he looked at her. Demons are known for their powers of persuasion. It takes a strong soul to resist one.” Eban leaned against the examination table Wystan sat on. “No one knew he was a demon—they don’t advertise, instead making promises and extracting bits of soul in exchange, then arranging accidents to collect the full debt. He wasn’t very nice.”
    â€œShe kissed him, the world changed, they eloped, had a slew of half-demon babies, and left us their mess. The end.” Wystan slid off the table, his feet hitting the floor with a thunk as his weight settled. “It’s not a fairytale.”
    Rhia frowned. “It’s interesting. I’ve never heard of such a thing before. Please, Eban, go