Anger coils like a thin serpent in my chest. Briar has left me. I scowl, lacing my fingers together and leaning forward. Every mortal I have ever known, save one, has betrayed me. And Briar has joined their ranks. I should have known it was only a matter of time, but in my eagerness to break her spirit, I had forgotten. I had begun to trust her.
“I’m going to find her,” I say, rising.
Willem cuts me off, a hand on my chest. “Why?” He narrows his eyes at me. “There’s no need for that, Kane. Her father already betrayed you. Just let the weak mortal go.”
I brush him off with a glower. “Briar is mine.”
“This has nothing to do with your possession of her and more to do with your infatuation,” Willem says accusingly.
“Infatuation?” I pin him with a glare. “How would it look to the mortal realms if I allowed Briar to run from me after what her father did to me?”
“Perhaps it's worth it.” Willem purses his lips. “She’s brought nothing but trouble. And she doesn’t have what you’re looking for. What is the point of possessing her if she has no use? King Alban played you, yes. Perhaps you should simple take what’s rightfully yours instead of making do with the useless creature he offered.”
“You mean to force Rose away from him?” I shake my head. “I’m not risking a war with the mortals over such a thing. There will be others in the future.”
Willem snarls. “How long must we wait?”
“Until another is born,” I snap, pushing past him towards the door. “In the meantime, I won’t let Alban and his cronies think me weak by Briar’s return.”
“Let her go,” Willem says. I can feel him summon his own dark power, though it pales in comparison to my own. “She left because she knows she’s unwanted here.”
“What did you say to her?” I ask, voice low and dangerous. I turn, the pointed tips of my leather shoes directed towards my Second. I drop my gaze, straightening my black trousers and jacket.
Willem stiffens, but doesn’t back down. “I put her in her place. She’s worthless.”
I snap my gaze towards him and the shadows streak from the corners to pin him in place. He struggles to move his feet and arms but I tighten the shadows and he slouches, face grimacing in pain. I twirl a finger and a shadow slithers up his spine and around his neck. Lips curled viciously, I slink towards him. “You’ve been my friend longer than many people have even known me,” I say quietly, eyes narrowed. “You know me well enough that I’m a man of my word. I hope you understand that if you ever raise a word or hand against Briar again, I will offer you as a gift to the Nephilim. And I will tell them to kill you slowly.”
Willem’s throat bobs as he swallows. With a snap of my teeth, I stride away from him. My shadows drip off of him and slowly free him. I hear him loose a breath as the door slams closed. I teleport myself to the main gates of the castle, stalking to the guards manning the doors. They straighten up when they see me and I can smell their anxiety fill the air like a cheap cologne. I come to a halt beside the nearest one and bare my fangs at him.
“Surely, one of you knows which direction the mortal went?” I growl.
He nods. “To the Southern Gate.”
“How long ago?” I’m halfway through the gate already.
“A few hours,” the guard says stiffly.
I nod and call on my magic without another word. Briar is afraid, she won't be moving slowly. Likely, she's outside the city already. I magic myself to the Southern Gate, letting the shadows cloud the gate like a fog, announcing my presence. I stride from the black fog and towards the gatehouse. Behind me, the shadows stretch out like membranous wings. A guard hurries out of the gatehouse to meet me and I slip my gaze towards him.
“The mortal,” I say softly.
“Passed through a half hour ago,” the guard says.
“Why didn’t you step her?” I ask. I curl my lip at him with disgust.
He furrows his brows. “We weren’t under orders to prevent her.”
“Well consider this the memo,” I snarl.
“There’s something else.” The guard looks hesitant.
“There’s more to your incompetence? Fascinating, please go on,” I say, oozing sarcasm.
The guard’s armor clanks as he shifts. “We were told to report the movements of Nephilim. One passed through these gates, but he had all of his paperwork.”
My eyes widen slightly at the guard’s words and I feel a thread of fear. The Nephilim has been watching Briar. He’s following her. And now she’s outside the city, away from my protection and the guards who could have protected her. I shoulder past the guards, shadows streaming out behind me. I rush through the gates, fear like a vice around my heart.
“Shut down the city, close all of the gates,” I order over my shoulder.
The guards scramble to follow my orders and I hear the massive iron gates squeal shut. The gates are carved with symbols of death, a scythe surrounded by a ring of fog and stars, to notify travelers that they’re entering Death’s city. My city. The city walls are made of obsidian, and torches line the ramparts, lighting the night. Outside the city, the main highway wanders through a forest. It’s pitch black in the darkness, though there are lamps scattered along it. Some of my best and most powerful creatures are tasked with keeping the lamps lit and the more dangerous creatures off of the highway. I hope Briar will run into one before the Nephilim catches up to her.
It may be her only chance if I can’t reach her in time.
I shake my head, breaking into a sprint. “Fool,” I grind out angrily.
I run quickly, calling on
