Coming to, she found herself wrapped tightly in hard arms, her head feeling like it was going to explode and she squirmed, reaching up to find heavy bandages wrapped around her head.
Making a small sound in the back of her throat, she looked around to see the vampires all asleep and sprawled out on the chairs and couches in the room plus one Uzo across from her, he was apparently the one who snored.
Glancing behind her, she found she had been held by Daemon and she scrambled to get off his lap, intentionally standing on his foot as she did so.
He jerked awake and looked around, confused at the rude awakening.
"Oh good..." he said sleepily and stood, reaching for her while she made to dodge him, but he was faster and he caught her gently, pulling her closer and frowning when she struggled.
Without a word he pulled her into the bathroom and lifted her up onto the bench beside the sink.
Giving her a warning look, he closed the door quietly and then returned to her side. She watched his movements, that same tingling starting in her belly and spreading as he gave her his attention. His hands were quick and sure as he removed the bandage and examined the small cut and large bruise, then down to the second bruise on her cheek and eye.
"He got you good..." Daemon said. She frowned but said nothing.
Picking up a small bottle, he popped the cap and applied the liquid to the end of the bandage, using it to dab onto her cut. It was blood and she knew whose blood it would be.
Flinching at the gentle touch, he sighed and lifted her jaw to better examine her.
"At least you're still beautiful," he said and smirked at her when she jerked her head away from him.
"Why are you looking after me?" she demanded, wanting Kai or Jaia, but left with Daemon instead.
"Because your beloved vampires are trying to preserve energy. They don't know when there will be more blood and they don't want to risk feeding from you directly unless there is no other choice," he said.
She bit her lip, frowning at the oddity of the sensation without her sharp canines.
"Well, thank you then," she said grudgingly.
He grinned and pushed back her hair too see how far back the bruise went.
"What happened?" she asked, resentfully remaining still while he worked.
"When your husband tried to knock your head off, king vampire almost ripped the lich apart, but Jaia managed to stop him. Kai was checking on you and there was an argument. Versalis was screaming about you being killed and the risks, but Epharis wasn't buying it and he was really mad at the cheap shot. Nice job though, you got him right in the goods. I'm quite proud of you for that," his grin was proud, and he picked out a new bandage from under the bench, beginning to wrap it around her head. "After that, Epharis said he would kill you if that was what he felt like and then Jaia was letting go of Versalis and they went for him, but he was ready and there was lots of fire. Kai got you out and the other two were trying to get to him but then they had to retreat or catch fire. They're both pretty keen on killing him and I'm so for it. I'm not keen on you having a half lich child. Demon would be best, but I'd take one of the vampires as a close second since the Drow is gone. I haven't managed to get one of them yet. They're worse than your lot when it comes to breeding with others." Finished with the bandage, he took her by the waist and lifted her of the bench to set her down on her feet.
"What were you doing during all this?" she asked.
He laughed. "Watching. It was highly entertaining, the measures these men will take to keep you at their side."
She scowled and turned away from him, starting towards the door but his hand caught her wrist.
"Etani, you know we have to get your magic back. There's more at risk than just you," his voice was low, and she turned to him, seeing his concern.
"How do we get them back if Epharis refuses?" she asked curiously.
He let out a gentle sigh. "Well, it's not going to be easy. But I think we can get them to reactivate if we go back along the line and ask each species to gift you some of their magic."
"You would have an easier time turning off the sun," she snapped, giving her hand a tug and he jerked her against him.
"It will be difficult, but I think it can be done and really what other option do we have?"
Looking up at him, she frowned and shook her head, pushing herself back from him.
Stalking from the room, he followed her and intentionally slammed the door behind him.
Everyone jerked awake, alert and ready as she turned and glared at the demon angrily.
"Really? What are you, a child?" Mo longer needing to be quiet, her voice was cold and sarcastic.
"You need to get over this and find a way to deal before we all get disappeared," he snapped "Do you think the Creators won't be preparing to finish what they started at your birth? The human world is using Faerie magic, and they think they can do a better job the second time around. They will wipe this world away, along with everyone in it!" He was angry now and her face had lost all colour. "They will vanish this entire world and it will be because of you!"
"That's uncalled for..." Jaia growled, rising to his feet.
"You shut up, boy!" Daemon turned on him, fuming as he pointed at her. "That is the only thing standing between you and either death or a life in Faerie, then death when they wipe your sorry species out of existence. Vampires do not live in Faerie!"
Her eyes had turned on the three, her fear reflected in their eyes as they stared at Daemon.
"They wouldn't do that," Kai said, his voice small in his fear.
"Vampires are part of the reason this world was made! To dump you off somewhere safe and away when it was realised that this world wasn't suitable for Faerie!"
"How do you know that?" Jaia demanded.
"I was there! I was in Faerie when the decision was made to expand Faerie and then when it was decided to bring this world down again!"
"How old are you?" Kai asked.
"I was one of the first demons born after Faerie came to be."
That stunned the room and they stared.
"Why not let them bring down this world?" Uzo asked slowly, his eyes on Etani as she stood frozen, panicking
"What?" Kai and Jaia demanded, turning on the Fae.
"Think about it. Everyone goes to Faerie and then they expand Faerie, and everyone lives there, happily ever after."
"Except that mythicals don't want to share Faerie," Versalis snapped.
"Because they haven't had to. Do you really think the mythicals would kill all the humans?"
"Yes!" Jaia yelled.
"Etani can't stay a human in this world or the next one!" Daemon said angrily.
"We could turn her into one of us," Versalis said, glaring at the demon. "Just because it would foil your stupid plan to make some Goddess doesn't mean she would want to be your creature."
"You know we can't make that choice for her," Kai said, turning to Versalis.
She hadn't moved and still Uzo watched her, frowning.
"If you think about it, there are only two choices," Uzo said quietly and they all stopped bickering to look at him, but he was talking to her. "Either we find a way to return your magic and you become his creature, a slave to destiny and what he intended for you, or we all abandon this world and let the Creators bring it down."
She had met his eyes, her body trembling slightly as she shook her head. They were all looking at her and she took a slow step back from them.
"How can you ask me to make that choice?" she whispered, looking between each of them. "How could any of you make that choice?"
Kai dropped his eyes and Jaia frowned, Versalis closing his eyes but Uzo still staring at her intently.
Daemon however had shaken his head. "That is not a choice. It's death or being what she was born to be!" he snapped, and all eyes turned to him. "The vampires would not be an option. If nothing else, she would be better off as a demon."
They began fighting again and her eyes turned back to Uzo, searching his face for an answer she couldn't make.
"How long do we have?" she whispered.
He gave a slight shrug. "No way of knowing, but less than a year I'd guess," he mouthed, and she closed her eyes, turning and walking from the room.