White Tiger

on the mats. His arms shook as he struggled to keep the sword from his throat.
    Wong turned to grin at me without shifting his grip on the sword. ‘Emma, dear. Why don’t you go to him?You could have years together, you know. Sneak in with him. Wake him up. He’ll give you everything you want, and a whole lot more. You don’t know what you’re missing.’
    He disappeared.
    Leo lurched forward, then straightened. ‘Is it gone, Simone?’
    ‘Yes. No more right now,’ Simone said, her voice trembling. ‘That was a really scary one.’
    I dropped my sword and rushed to hold her. ‘We’re all right now, darling.’
    She buried her face into me.
    ‘Stay here,’ Leo said. He charged out of the training room. A few furious bangs sounded as he tried to close the front door. He returned, shaking his head. ‘Front door’s useless. We need a new one.’ He moved his mouth next to my ear and spoke very softly. ‘Emma, if they win on the Mountain, they’ll be straight here. Go. Go now.’
    I stopped with my arms still around Simone. ‘Here?’
    He nodded. ‘Get out now. If you’re here when they come, they’ll get you too.’ His face softened. ‘Believe me, you don’t want that. You have no idea what they’re capable of.’
    I held Simone tighter. ‘No way. I’m staying with you.’ I raised one hand to stop him. ‘You don’t need to tell me. I know. I’m stupid.’
    Simone stiffened and gasped.
    A loud thump resounded in the hallway.
    Leo snatched up Dark Heavens and stood in front of me. I dropped my arms from Simone, grabbed my own sword and stood behind him.
    ‘This could be what scared the prince away,’ Leo said. ‘Is it a bigger demon, Simone?’
    Simone didn’t say anything. We both checked her; she sat wide-eyed and silent.
    We heard it coming down the hallway with dragging footsteps. The strong smell of burning filled the room.
    He appeared in the doorway. He was blackened and bleeding. His smouldering armour hung off him. He staggered halfway into the training room and fell to his knees.
    Simone shrieked, ‘ Daddy !’ and threw herself at him. ‘Simone.’ He collapsed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
    L eo pushed Simone gently to one side and tipped Mr Chen onto his back. He was soaked with water and covered in mud and blood. His long hair was plastered to his face. Leo pulled the hair away and tilted his head back. He felt his neck, concentrating, then put his ear next to Mr Chen’s mouth. ‘At least he’s breathing and he has a pulse.’ He checked Mr Chen’s head, turning it from side to side, then opened his eyes one at a time. ‘Looks okay, probably just exhaustion. He has a lump on his head—maybe a concussion.’
    Simone hovered. ‘Will he be all right, Leo?’ ‘Give me time to look at him, sweetheart, but I think he’ll be okay.’
    Leo pulled the shredded black lacquer armour away and pushed it to one side. Mr Chen still had his riding clothes underneath. They were soaked with water and blood. Leo ripped the shirt open, revealing his chest, and Simone squeaked. His skin ran with water, blood and thick transparent goo. He had one large angry gash about halfway down his abdomen, and was covered in smaller bleeding cuts and blistered burns.
    Leo ripped off his T-shirt and pushed it into the large wound. He ran his hand over Mr Chen’s abdomen, sweeping the blood away to see the injuries. ‘Ugh. Venom.’ He wiped his hands on his pants. ‘But he hasn’t been poisoned. Stroke of luck; I don’t think the hospital could handle a demon poisoning.’
    He checked Mr Chen’s arms, stopping at the left. He gently probed it. ‘This is broken in two places.’ He ran his hands down Mr Chen’s sides and twisted his slim hips. ‘Good. No fractures here.’ He checked Mr Chen’s legs and pulled off his boots. The left foot was severely swollen and Leo gently pressed his fingers into it. Mr Chen flinched without regaining consciousness. ‘Broken ankle.’ Leo smiled grimly. ‘Don’t know how he made it down the hallway on that.’
    Leo pulled his T-shirt out of the large abdominal wound to check it. ‘He’s lucky this wasn’t deeper.’ He packed the T-shirt over the wound again, then rocked onto his heels. ‘We need to get him into a hospital. He must have defeated them and then come back here to check on Simone. If we can get him to a hospital I think he’ll make it.’
    He smiled sadly up at me. ‘All over.’
    I sighed with relief and flopped to sit on the