“You’re mastering the darkness better than I imagined,” Ishtar’s voice boomed through the trees.
She was so loud, it was as if she was right next to me. And while I should have been much more scared, her words made me bristle.
“Come, Odette, face me. My soldiers will let you pass.”
So much for being stealthy.
I drew in a huge breath and walked forward, stepping over the fae I’d just killed. Though he’d been dead only seconds, he stank like rot and blood. Bile rose in my throat.
There were more Shadows surrounding Ishtar, but none so much as twitched a muscle as I approached. I watched them carefully as I entered the clearing and stood before her.
The Queen of Hell.
“Honey!”
“Pea!”
My parents’ cries cut through me like a knife.
I turned to see their eyes, large and wet, their hands wringing. Surprisingly, they didn’t seem injured. My eyes locked with Dad’s. There was no fury in them over being captured, like I would expect, only worry for me. And strangely, neither of my parents were fighting back—which was not their style.
She probably said she’d kill me on sight if they resisted—the monster.
“Pea! Get out of here—”
“Silence!” Ishtar commanded, and as if she controlled their bodies, both my parents’ mouths snapped shut.
“Don’t hurt them!” I yelled, taking a step closer.
Ishtar chuckled. “Your line always was brave.”
Her red eyes glowed brighter, and as she took a step forward, I noticed that there were two slits in her gown, all the way up to her hips.
“Never could I have guessed that you—a mere girl—would grow into bravery that surpassed your predecessors. Though perhaps I should have. All queens grow powerful, if tested thoroughly enough.”
Queen.
She’d used that exact term to describe me before, though I didn’t know why. Truly, at that moment, I didn’t care. I only wanted my parents released.
“Your fight is with me,” I said. “Let them go.”
The queen laughed. “And what? You’ll do as I say?” She shook her head, and tutted. “I know better than to believe that line. I’ve used it athousandtimes, never once following through. And you—the woman who is embracing her darkness—would do the exact same.”
“I’m not embracing it,” I retorted. “You gave this to me. I didn’twantit.”
“You’ve used it. Sometimes you’ve even enjoyed it, haven’t you?”
I wanted to reject that claim, but couldn’t deny that joy had buzzed through me when my black magic had bound Xaphan so that Alex could make the kill shot.
“Only when it helped to kill the prince of darkness,” I replied smugly.
A ripple of something . . . was it fear? . . . crossed her face, but the queen pulled it together quickly.
“Others believe it’s the Furies who are vain and silly. They give off thatair, always prancing about, seducing people.” She rolled her eyes. “But then again, few know Xaphan. He’s much more vain and absurd, but better at hiding it.”
Ishtar snorted and began to pace around the clearing as if I was no threat to her.
Which, considering she had my parents in a literal ring of fire, I guess I wasn’t. Who knew if my spell would hit her before she could kill them.
