Shock skitters through me. Rahna is in the Demon Realm. We’ve run out of time, and there is still so much to do. How are we going to defeat her in the Demon Realm? She must know all the factions are divided.
“Torque!”
“I’m here,” he says from behind me. His hand goes to my neck, gently massaging it in a possessive gesture. “Ari told me. I need to get to the Bloodlands tonight to unite my people. I have a feeling the rebels may aid Rahna.”
You must get to the Death king. There is no other way. Rahna’s powers are too great for you to handle alone.
“What? Namir, why?” I ask, my brows scrunched in confusion. If what everyone is saying is true, I’d like to stay as far away as possible from the Deathlands.
His power is anti-holy magic. He can suck it in and destroy it. Rahna will be no match for him. Your powers are impressive, but your magic can’t take in that much holy magic.
I stare at him for a long time before nodding. Getting up from the ground, I turn to the crowd gathered around us. Nox and Uriel come closer, consideration etches on their faces.
Umbra and her guys stand to the side with the rest of the army. Seeing all these people together, knowing they have families and lives—how could I, in good conscience disregard my duty? Too many innocents will die if I don’t take a chance.
“I’m going to the Deathlands. We need the Death king.”
They fill the entire war room with shouts and anger. As I sit in my chair, I wait for them to calm down. I know it was a shock to hear my plan, but they aren’t even considering that I’m going whether they argue or not.
Namir roars from the doorway, making everyone shut up. He trots to my side and sits, looking like he’s the king of them all.
“Now that I have your attention, you all need to sit down. I have a plan, but if you all keep arguing, you’ll never find out what it is,” I demand, waiting for them to obey.
Most don’t look happy about me making demands, but fuck it. I’m the heir, and I’m going to use all my powers to stop Rahna from ruining the realms.
“Namir has brought news from the portal near the Bloodlands—the same one Torque and I entered when we came from the Mortal Realm. Rahna has breached it, and she’s sending in witches to decimate the demons. They aren’t as strong yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“What does she want?” Umbra asks. She’s on the edge of her seat, hands white-knuckling the table. An unknown force is the scariest.
“Me. She wants me.” I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment. Time to get this all out. “I can shape holy magic. While I’m the product of Nox and Uriel’s soul merge, I’m also a witch. She must have injected my DNA with something or used magic to create me.”
“What do you mean you can shape it?” Nox asks.
“I can warp it. Turn it into anything I want. I can control it.”
A shudder goes through most of the room. I’m too powerful. They won’t be as comfortable as they were with me.
“Fuck,” Togmerin says.
“Yeah. I don’t like it either, but she created me to use the magic and change it how she sees fit. I won’t be her puppet. We need to get the magic back from her, and the only way to do that is to find Caedis. He is anti-holy magic. The evil magic, the one thing that can negate her power.”
The only sound is Namir’s heavy breathing. Absentmindedly, I reach out and rub his cheeks. He purrs, pushing his head into my hand. A comfort in all this.
“Then we go to the Deathlands. It’s the only way,” Umbra says. Her head held high, chin out, she dares anyone to contradict her.
“No,” all of her mates say at once. She cuts them a glare, and they wince. Vargroth downcasts his eyes, and Togmerin glares in frustration. I chuckle under my breath. My aunt is growing on me.
“I will lead Anima to the Deathlands. Nox, I think it’s important for you to stay behind, and, as you’ve said, Torque, you’ll be returning to the Bloodlands. She will need a guide,” Umbra says.
“You are not going alone,” Uriel says, his anger palpable.
“Do you not trust me?” I ask, grinning. There’s no one in this room more deadly than I am. Torque and Nox take second place, but I wasn’t the lead assassin because I was a coward.
“I trust you, but I don’t trust Caedis.” He grits his teeth, and a tick in his jaw shows me how much he hates the other guy.
“Why? I know he’s the Death king, but is it personal?”
“Yes, and that’s all I’m going to say. We also take Umbra’s mates.”
I go to object, but he cuts me off. “Either we do this my way, or I’ll lock you in the dungeon and keep you there until this whole thing is over.”
Smoke drifts out of my hands, and Namir growls low. “Even if you are a piece of my soul, my father, you will not talk to me like that. I’m not a child. I’m more experienced in death than you could imagine. Don’t treat me like a princess because I’m not.”
I stand from the chair, then walk out. There isn’t anything left to say. I need to hit someone or something, so I follow the trail Umbra and I made the first day.
Outside, I see the same building we trained in. A light is on, and a few soldiers are sparring. I take Hubris off, and I lay him on a table in the center of the room.
My shoes come off next, and I stretch to take out the last of the kinks from my energy drain. A heavy bag is in the room’s corner with a shelf full of gloves
