The demon's blood tasted of cloves and musk, and burned like ice. Unconsciously, Sascha licked the last of it from her lips. The demon watched her from within the Circle of Summoning.

"Do I taste good?"

"No," whispered Sascha. She felt dizzy as the power of the demon's blood flooded her body. The glass fell to the floor and shattered. Sascha stooped, automatically and clumsily, to collect the pieces, and cut her finger. She stared at the welling blood, and went to wipe the stain on her skirt. The demon was faster. He grasped Sascha's wrist and lifted her hand to his mouth. He suckled the finger, treasuring the salty, warm blood.

Sascha whimpered.

The demon smiled, releasing Sascha's hand. "Did you think your spells would hold me after you had drunk my blood and welcomed me into your body?" his laughter was low, rich and delighted. "Sascha, you taste good."

She shivered and glanced towards the velvet drapes pulled aside from one long glass window.

"No answer, little Sascha, perhaps we should ask your friend?" the demon strolled towards the window.

"Stand back!" a figure stepped from its hiding place, snuffling from the dusty curtain. It was a young man, pudgy with good living. He held a complicated gold design between himself and the demon. "You can't touch me."

The demon turned to Sascha. "Did he teach you the summoning?"

Sascha wet her lips, tasting the memory of demon's blood. "Yes."

"And he had you drink my blood," the demon said, musing aloud. "You must trust him?"

"No," Sascha looked from the demon to the man who stood in the stream of moonlight. "Judd has my young brother. He holds me captive by my brother's life."

"Yet he would risk you drinking demon's blood and turning on him?"

Judd interrupted. "I had to know if it grants invincibility, and at what price."

"Yes, there is always a price," the demon agreed. "Sascha has paid it."

Her eyes widened. "I have?"

The demon smiled, and Sascha felt the tingle run through her veins. "You are mine. You drank my blood and now I possess you. I am in every atom of your body."

"Well, that's useless," said Judd. "Invincibility is no good if one's demon controlled."

"Oh, Sascha's not invincible," the demon waited for Judd's disappointment. It pleased him. "Demon's blood conveys whatever quality a demon grants it. I didn't want Sascha to be invincible."

"So, what is she?"

"All you need to know is," the demon stretched out his hand and compelled Sascha's hand to grasp his. "Sascha's mine."

Demon and girl vanished.

"Come back," Judd threw the gold medallion through the space where the demon had stood. It fell to the floor, spinning to silence on the marble. "Sascha, I'll kill Peter."

The cry carried on the wind, echoing in the old city cemetery where Sascha stood. She snatched her hand from the demon's grasp and sunk onto a tombstone, hugging her arms around her.

The demon stood in the moonlight, tall and beautiful. "Sascha, tell me about Judd."

"I thought demons knew everything."

"No, that's merely a rumour put around for publicity. Besides, demons do have other interests than humanity."

Sascha sighed. "Judd is an enchanter's son. His father was my father's trusted chancellor. When father died, the Enchanter Irwin was named regent for Peter."

"You're a princess?"

"No. I'm a bastard. But father let me be educated at the castle, and would have married me off to some squire's son, had he lived."

"What about Peter's mother, the queen?"

"She didn't like me," Sascha sighed. "Poor woman. She was childless so long, and there was I, proof that the fault lay with her. And then, to die in childbirth. She never even held Peter," Sascha's voice broke. "Peter's all I have. He calls me Sassy."

The demon frowned. "How did Judd steal away the Crown Prince?"

Sascha smiled, mirthlessly. "That's the beauty of his scheme. He didn't. Peter is still in Enchanter Irwin's care, but Judd proved to me he could snatch Peter's life any time. And I can't tell anyone. Who would believe me, the bastard? Judd is widely liked."

"I don't see why," muttered the demon.

"No," Sascha agreed. "He's a snake." She turned to the demon in desperation, placing her hand on his arm. "Is there anything I can offer you to save Peter?"

"Set a picture of Peter in your mind."

Sascha concentrated on Peter as she had last seen him; chubby with good health, skin tanned with Summer sun, happy and shouting; an exuberant five year old.

Sascha's hold on the demon's arm tightened as she felt the alien touch of his mind against hers. The image of Peter shivered and broke. Still, the demon remained in her mind. Bright memories of life in the palace flickered as the demon searched through Sascha's experience. Sascha trembled as the emotions of those memories poured through her.

"Finished," said the demon, and Sascha felt his mind retreat. She had bitten her lip, and tears and blood mingled.

The demon groaned, and Sascha felt the compulsion of his need tilt her face up to his. Her lips parted, welcoming his mouth. Her whole body shook in terror and need until the demon pulled her close against him. His tongue stroked her lower lip, gathering every drop of blood. Then he bit his own lip savagely, and Sascha moved blindly to claim the wound. She suckled eagerly, her hands framing the demon's face.

"I am Vrey." The words echoed in Sascha's mind.

"Vrey," Sascha whispered the name with his blood on her lips. The demon shuddered against her. He gripped her wrists, holding them bruisingly.

"Wait. Judd is with Peter."

"What?" Sascha tried to think through the passion haze clouding her mind and body. "Stop him!"

"You'll have to do that," said Vrey. The cemetery blurred and reformed as the palace gate.

"Why are we stopping here?" Sascha tugged against Vrey's restraining hold. "Where's Peter?"

"Enchanter Irwin has set wards against demons. I need to break them before we... ah," the ornate, ironwork gate rattled open. Vrey lead the way to the central courtyard. He halted by the splashing, marble fountain. "Gather your courage," he said to Sascha, and sent a giant chrysanthemum firework crashing into the sky above. It exploded in a thunderous display of streaming gold and red flame.

Guards and servants and the nobles in residence tumbled out and into the courtyard in various states of undress. Enchanter Irwin wore his nightcap.

Vrey pitched his voice to roar over the crowd. "The Crown Prince's life is threatened. Irwin, where's your son?"

The captain of the palace guard, in breeches and unbuttoned shirt, whirled, sword in hand, and raced for the tower which held Peter's nursery.

"Sascha," answered Irwin. "What are you doing with a demon?"

The crowd gasped.

Sascha straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. "Judd had me summon him, but some things sicken even demons."

Irwin rapped his staff against the palace steps, silencing the babble of speculation and accusation. "Call my son from his house in town."

"No need," drawled Vrey. "Your son is here." He extended his hand, and the crowd watched as Judd was tumbled from the nursery tower window and whooshed to sprawl on the flagstones in front of Irwin. From high in the tower, they heard Peter wailing in fright.

"They lie, father," shouted Judd.

Sascha felt Judd draw in his magic, then saw him scowl as Vrey checked and tied the young man's powers. On the steps above them, Irwin ignored the magical challenge. He frowned in the direction of the tower.

The captain emerged from the tower with Peter on his hip, still crying. The captain frowned at Judd and then at Sascha. Peter saw Sascha and held out his chubby arms.

"Sassy!"

Sascha hurried forward.

"You're not to give her the child," shouted Judd. "She tried to kill him. She's jealous and crazed."

"Sassy," Peter wriggled against the captain's hold.

"She's in league with demons."

Sascha stopped a metre from the captain. She looked him in the eye. "I love Peter. He's my brother. I would die for him."

"As would I," said the captain. He held her gaze. "I served your father twenty years. Take your brother, Sascha."

"Thank you," Sascha hugged Peter close.

Peter gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek, then said clearly. "Put me down." Sascha let him slide to the ground. His toes curled at the touch of the cool stone. "Is it a party?"

"No," said Irwin. "Demon, you have inferred treason against my son. For Sascha's life, have you proof?"

Peter leaned against Sascha, staring at the old enchanter. She placed a protective hand on his shoulder.

"I don't play those games, Irwin," said Vrey. "Your son is proof enough. Cast him under a truth spell."

"Father," Judd's eyes went wide with panic. "It would be dishonour to ensorcel me."

"And there you have your answer," said Vrey. "An honest man would want his name cleared. For a year Judd has treated Sascha as a slave, controlling her with this threat against Peter's life. She summoned me because Judd ordered it. You should have taught your son better, Irwin. It is never safe to play with demons."

A second firework, blazing like a comet, drew every eye. In the dazzle of its explosion, Vrey vanished.

In the momentary confusion, Judd tried to creep away, but his father froze him in place.

"Captain," said Irwin. "Return Peter to his nanny and bed."

The captain nodded. "I'll set two men in his room as guard."

"As you wish," said Irwin.

"Sassy tuck me in," said Peter.

"Not tonight," Sassy looked at Judd, then Irwin. She kissed Peter's cheek. "I'm a bit busy.

The captain smiled grimly. He motioned two of his men forward, and they carried Peter to his waiting nanny. "Will we have fireworks tomorrow night?" Peter asked the woman.

By sunrise the hastily convened Court had evidence against Judd; not only of planning to murder Peter, but of scheming to take over the kingdom. Convicted from his own mouth, the supporting evidence was soon found.

"The price of such treachery is death," said the captain.

Sascha saw the shock and sorrow in Irwin's grey eyes. "Perhaps the sentence could be commuted? Exile?"

"No," Judd cursed Sascha. "I want no favours from you."

"Enough," Irwin slammed his staff against the floor. "Death or service. Hanging in the morning, or a lifetime as a galley slave."

"Me, in chains. I'd rather die."

"Good," muttered the captain, and the guards led Judd away.

He was hanged an hour later.

"I failed," said Irwin. He looked at Sascha, the morning sun showing the harsh lines of his face. "I am sorry, Sascha. This last year ... I don't know why Judd acted as he did."

Grief overwhelmed the old man, and respecting it, Sascha left the room silently. The palace was buzzing with people and speculation. Sascha kept to the shadows, too tired to answer more questions. She found Vrey waiting in her chamber.

"Vrey!" he dwarfed the room and its simple, feminine elegance. "I haven't thanked you. Peter is safe."

Vrey stopped Sascha's words by lifting her hand to his lips. "I'm glad for you." Sascha's breath caught as Vrey smiled. "You never asked what power I gave you. Judd wanted invincibility so he could seize the kingdom. I gave you the power of redemption."

"I don't understand," Sascha faltered. She felt bereft as Vrey released her hand.

"I waited a long time for someone with a pure heart to summon a demon, and then, I answered your call. I gave you redemptive power so you could redeem me. I don't want to be a demon, Sascha. I want to know what it is to love."

"I owe you Peter. How do I redeem you?"

"You already have; by trusting me, sharing yourself with me."

Sascha stared into Vrey's dark eyes. "That sounds like love." She saw flames blaze in his eyes, and understood. "It is love."

"For me, yes."

"And for me," whispered Sascha. She stretched on tiptoe, and fitted her mouth to Vrey's. The kiss was sweet and potent, promising life.

"Sassy!" Peter opened the door and tumbled in. "Sas- ooh," as he identified Vrey. "Fireworks!"

"Probably," Vrey laughed. His arms tightened around Sascha. "It'll be that sort of marriage."