The heat faded and she staggered back from the Ifrit, confused by the change in scenery and realising he had taken her elsewhere.
She turned and found they were in a large room that seemed to be a natural cavern, a bed and table set off to the side but there was nothing else in the room.
She turned to see the Ifrit vanishing and she was suddenly alone, confused and not sure where to go from there.
Making her way to the archway, she found the heat of the place was too much and she backed away, jumping when the Ifrit was suddenly behind her, his hand catching her hair and lifting it to his nose.
He made a soft sound of pleasure and she turned to him, seeing that he had collected a thick fur blanket of some sort and laid it out on the stone bed.
She didn't know what to do in that situation, didn't know how to respond to him or their agreement and she hated that she had to let him touch her at all.
Sensing her fear, he drew her back to the bed and he pulled her down onto the edge.
The mask was removed, and she found he had a mass of short, spikey black hair that stuck out at all angles.
Without the mask he seemed less intimidating and more human, his face hard and strong with an exceptional rugged attractiveness to his features.
"I don't know how to do this," she breathed, causing his eyebrows shot up.
"You have before though?" he demanded.
She nodded warily, unable to speak.
He seemed relieved by that and she wondered why her not being a virgin might have relieved him but she didn't linger on it for very long.
He drew her to him and his lips were hot on hers, scolding and yet he seemed to be working to keep from actually burning her.
"I will be gentle with you," he promised and she nodded, her stomach tight in her fear.
He pressed her down onto the fur and he moved to sit at her side, his fingers slow and gentle as he traced them up and down her cheek, leaving a red line that faded quickly but he seemed to enjoy the reaction.
Leaning down over her, his lips met hers and she remained still, panicked. Unsatisfied, he moved back and glared down at her, irritated that she didn't respond.
"Try to relax," he said and she nodded once.
He slid up onto the bed and his hands were gentle on her as he hooked his fingers around the backs of her knees and parted them to allow him between them, his hands trailing up her thighs and over her hips, up over her stomach and around the curves of her breasts until he traced them down over her shoulders and to her hands.
The warmth of his touch felt oddly good, like he was heating her up from the inside and he lifted her hands to the belt at his hips.
He wanted her to undress him.
Her fingers trembled as she worked the foreign contraption that was his belt buckle, finally finding the lever and she slid the hard leather free, sliding it free of him and she dropped the skirt and belt off the side of the bed, unable to look at him.
He seemed amused by her shyness as he leant forward and his hand rested on the bed at her shoulder, his hand still on hers guiding hers to the small of his back.
Her fingers splayed against his hot, yet oddly soft skin and he waited until she finally swallowed and gave him a gentle tug, encouraging him down.
He moved obediently, the heavy weight of him settling atop her and she bit her lip as he nuzzled into the side of her neck, inhaling the scent of her hair.
He was gentle with her as he promised, his fingers exploring the length of her body and his lips exploring where his hands didn't and she surrendered to him.
***
The next morning she accepted his touch and the world around her exploded into flames, depositing her atop the mountain and she stood in silence, staring down at the stones beneath her feet.
She was still naked, though he had given her the fur blanket to wrap around her shoulders and she pulled it tight around her in the hopes of hiding from the world.
Uzo found her first and he didn't say a word as he pulled her into his arms, his fingers stroking her hair as she leant into him.
The sound of boots breaking into a run came a moment later and Daemon came to a stop, something warning him not to yell at her. Instead he slipped his arms tightly around her middle and she felt finally safe between the two of them, Daemon's lips rough on the top of her head.
They didn't speak as Daemon guided them through to Summer and she pulled herself free of the two.
The Sphinx was the last one they needed to get to before the final stretch and she was looking forward to it being over as she paced away in the direction of the palace.
Daemon and Uzo hurried to catch up to her and she looked up at Daemon who was again offering one of his shirts. She had to wonder how he was getting replacements as she pulled it on under her blanket and the fur was dropped.
Uzo gasped at the sight of her and Daemon growled, her skin red and raw, blisters forming around her hips but she ignored them. The Ifrit had never intended to hurt her and he had been distressed at her burns, but she would heal soon enough. Buttoning up the shirt, she contemplating demanding a pair of pants too, but she decided not to push her luck with Daemon already in that mood.
"There was a Sphinx in the palace, but I don't think we will be able to get to her," she said and Daemon nodded, thinking.
"I can try and go in. We might be able to grab a handful like last time," he said and she sighed, stepping close to Uzo.
"Hurry back," she said and Daemon nodded, stepping through the tear and leaving them alone.
"Are you alright?" Uzo asked the second they were alone.
She looked up at him and shrugged but then nodded and she flinched as he lifted her chin.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No, not intentionally at least," she said, unable to look at the man she saw as her uncle.
"I'm sorry you had to do that," he whispered and kissed the side of her head, pulling her against him and hugging her tightly.
"Me too. But really we are lucky it took that long before the issue arose," she said and he growled, the thought of her forced to surrender multiple times angering him.
"Never again," he whispered.
A thought popped into her mind, drawing her eyes up to him finally. "Did you like that I called you my uncle? I didn't really think about it. It's just… you're more than just my father's friend," she trailed off, unable to voice the thoughts and feelings she had for him.
"Of course I liked it. I have thought of you as more than just a ward since this whole endeavour started. You are incredibly precious to me, Etani. And I can't stand to see you hurt," he paused, touching her cheek gently. "I love you, very much."
"I love you too, Uzo," she whimpered, tears swelling in her eyes at the thought. "I want you to be my uncle, even if it's not by blood. No one needs to know it's not by blood."
He smiled, wiping a tender finger against her cheek as the tear fell. "I am, my love. I'm your uncle, now and forever."
Wrapping her arms around his middle, she buried her face in his chest. Her world took an odd step sideways as she settled into a new reality. One where she was no longer alone, where she had someone to protect, and who could protect her. One where she could be loved in a way that was beautiful and perfect.
With that knowledge burning her heart, she found a new hope in their journey. They would make it, together.
***
They waited and waited, growing more anxious as the demon seemed to be gone for several hours before he finally burst back through with a Sphinx prowling along behind him.
Much to their surprise, he was recovering from rather severe burns and when asked, he refused to answer.
The Sphinx was watching her curiously and she wanted very, very badly to go pet the ancient creature but she knew better.
The Sphinx was not the same one she had seen before, this one being almost purely white with a mass of black hair and red eyes, even her wings were white. She had black claws as well and she seemed to be curious more than anything.
"So you're the one everyone has been talking about," the Sphinx said in a calm, wise voice.
Etani smiled and nodded, bowing politely to the beautiful creature.
The Sphinx bowed her head in response and smiled at the group.
"I will give you what you want, if you can answer my riddle," the Sphinx said and Etani frowned. She didn't do well with riddles.
"Ask away," Daemon said, moving to her side.
"For now I must stay under the man who made me, but when he dies I'll be as powerful as he. They will watch and listen to what I say, and some of their money to me they will pay. Who am I?"
Her mind instantly went blank as it always did when she was faced with a riddle and she immediately forgot the lines.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" she asked and the Sphinx sat down on her haunches and repeated the riddle.
"A wife perhaps?" Uzo asked but Daemon was frowning, thinking hard.
"You don't become more powerful when your husband dies," Daemon said slowly.
"Who becomes more powerful when the man dies?"
Etani was thinking about her situation with Alaric and Epharis, the thought of Alaric dying making Epharis more powerful and her by association. It was not a magical power, but a human one and she had a suspicion that the Sphinx had made the riddle fit her own situation.
The last line had her thinking and she found herself staring into the crimson eyes as she thought it over.
'They will watch and listen to what I say…' People listened to royalty, the king. 'And some of their money to me they will pay…' Taxes. 'For now I must stay under the man who made me…' That caught her up but then she realised.
"A princess," she said and the Sphinx laughed.
"How did you get that?" Uzo demanded.
"For now I must stay under the man who made me, a princess to her father, the king. But when he dies I'll be as powerful as he, ascending the throne. They will watch and listen to what I say, royal subjects, and some of their money to me they will pay, taxes," she explained and the Sphinx nodded, amused.
Stepping forward, the Sphinx pushed herself up and their lips met, the Sphinx was warm and soft, the magic flooding into her feeling odd and making her feel ancient.
The Sphinx moved away and her long tail swayed as she left them alone and Etani glanced back to the two men.
"Why are you all burnt?" she demanded, but Daemon was still watching her with a slight frown.
"How did you guess that?" he demanded.
"The line 'when he dies I'll be as powerful as he' reminded me of Epharis and Alaric. Why are you burnt?"
He scowled at her and shook his head.
"Come on, smarty pants, we're in the home stretch," he said and she looked to Uzo, who only shrugged.