"I'm having the same damn problem," Zak grits. "I can't pin down hermerit."
When Veld speaks again, his tone has changed into something between irritation and sweetness.
“Irascis mihi. Num ris a-incipitha, unum fatis? Finiamus crìoch a riutha ath-aonachadh.”
Kaenon tenses, looking at us with urgency as he translates. "He said,I see you are angry with me. Shall we start anew, fated one? Let us end this game together through them and be one."
He's barely finished speaking before a figure drops out of nowhere, landing on his back. The incubus's claws slash up Kaenon's chest. He starts to cry out, but it cuts off when Veld'sclaws drag across his neck. I pull my knife from its sheath, but I'm not going to risk throwing it and hitting one of the others—especially not when this could also be Nivarrah twisting our minds.
Kaenon drops to the ground, bleeding profusely from his neck too quickly for shifter healing to fix it. Veld is already lurching toward Zak next as I dive out of their way, rolling to get to Kaenon's side. Calling healing magic to my hands, I begin using it to close his slashed throat as he gurgles and struggles for air.
Heidi mentioned that Zak was in the Nether with her. Still, his having been an arena fighter for the fucking Entity doesn't set in until I glance up and see him in the midst of fighting. Each of his movements is agile and precise as he dodges Veld, knocks his arm aside when the incubus tries to claw his neck next—and then Zak ducks under Veld's next blow, turns, and rips one of the incubus's wings.
Veld roars in pain and whips around as Zak makes a sharp motion with his hand. A metal cell bar of whatever dungeons are actually down here wraps itself around Veld's neck, squeezing tight. He's going to pop the incubus's head clean off.
The incubus disappears into Limbo just before that can happen, and the metal loop clangs to the ground.
For a moment, we're all panting, looking around warily for the next sign of the monster.
Then, although his voice is hoarse thanks to his recently healed neck, Kaenon calls out, "Wait. Listen to me, Nivarrah."
When it comes out in English, he grips the metal cuff around his ear, looking at me. Stepping forward, I carefully click three tiny buttons at once to release it, as Jada taught me to. Now that he's able to speak his tongue, Kaenon tries again.
His voice is kind as he says a few things to her that we don't understand as we stand in this hellhole of mirrors. For a long moment, there's no answer.
Until gradually, the mirrors begin to fade. The shimmering, mind-bending magic around us gives way to the dark, familiar dungeons of the castle that Everett had rebuilt during the Upheaval.
And at the end of this long dungeon full of rows of cells, Heidi is still deeply asleep behind metal bars, lying at the feet of the ancient fae woman contriving all of this.
Nivarrah's is dressed in regular jeans and a T-shirt as if she's been blending in with humans since escaping. The purple gaze she's watching us with is both insane and full of sadness.
Kaenon says something else, entreating her—but my attention is entirely on Heidi.
She's breathing. She's not bleeding out. Veld hasn't gotten his slimy, putrid hands all over her. She's just asleep.
Breathe. Keep your head level. She's fine.
I know I'm not the only one dying to scoop her up and check that she's really okay, because Zak takes a step forward, making a sound of distress.
We all watch, quiet as Nivarrah stands and exits the metal cell, the door squeaking as she moves at the slowest pace I've ever fucking seen. But as she moves closer to us, Veld drops out of Limbo within the cell behind her, smirking at Nivarrah's back as he leans to scoop up Heidi once again.
"No!"I shout.
He's going to take her away from us again.
The others are shouting, too, horrified?—
Until Heidi moves suddenly, a sword suddenly in her hand that plunges straight through Veld's heart. He cries out in shock, stumbling. Before he can drop into Limbo, Heidi rips the swordback out and swings her arm wide, lopping off the incubus's head in one harsh swipe.
Blood sprays everywhere as Veld's body drops to the ground. Even though she falls to the ground with him, Heidi isn't stopping. She's screaming and screaming, cutting and chopping at what's left of the incubus as blood continues to splatter.
Shock and nausea curl in my throat at this bizarre, morbid, hellish sight.
Until I realize my eyes are still glowing.
When Ian panics and starts to step toward what looks like Heidi gone completely insane, I grip his arm.
"Wait."
