Samael turned Ben to ash.
And the Spell of Three reflected back at him.
Even now, I don’t know exactly what happened next. When I remember that moment, all I get are flashes.
Mostly, I see Samael’s face, and the sick realization in his silver eyes as the spell hit him. That expression hadn’t been sadness at his own fate. Even then I’d known it was because he was leaving me.
Those eyes met mine, and the last thing he said was my name.
At that moment, someone freed me from the Naud chains. I suspect I couldn’t have achieved what I did next without the sudden flood of power that broke through the last of the suppression spell placed on me as a child.
Ireachedfor his soul and tied us together, intertwining our fates. If Samael died, so did I. But most importantly, I bought us time. How much of it, we didn’t know. Bael seemed to think I had a week or two, if we were lucky.
I placed my empty bowl back on the tray and studied Samael’s forearm. Beneath the chalky black, an intricate gold mark proclaimed that he was mine. Just as I was his.
And we weren’t going out like this.
Lia let out a low purr. She was curled up within a few inches of Samael’s hand, but she seemed to know not to touch him.
“Danica?”
I blinked. I was staring into space. Vas held out his hand and took my empty tray.
“You should get some rest,” he said.
I shrugged, shifting uncomfortably on my chair. I’d had surgery to relocate my kneecap, and Eldan had continued healing it every few hours so I could get back on my feet. But for now, I had to keep it elevated.
My voice felt croaky with disuse. “What’s happening with the wand?”
We’d found a bone wand while we were looking for Riona, and I’d asked Samael’s people to check it for prints and then attempt to trace who it belonged to. But by the time we knew it was Gloria’s, she was long gone.
“They’re using every known tracking spell on it. Your witch friend has also offered to help—Selina.”
I attempted a smile. “Maybe she’ll find something.”
I wasn’t hopeful. Gloria was either dead or in the underworld. Either way, finding her wouldn’t help me save Samael.
“We need a plan,” I said.
I felt a presence behind me and glanced over my shoulder. Kyla.
She attempted a smile, but it disappeared as soon as her gaze landed on Samael.
“I’m sorry, Danica.”
“I’m going to fix it.”
“We’regoing to fix it.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
“There is no fixing it,” a deep voice said, and I didn’t bother looking at him. Agaliarept may be ready to give up on Samael, but I never would.
I could practically hear him grinding his teeth as I ignored him. He stepped further into the room, circling the bed, Bael trailing after him. Both of them avoided looking at Samael, as if it were too difficult.
Agaliarept leveled what he likely thought was an intimidating stare on me. I ignored him some more, returning my gaze to Samael’s face.
The last conversation Ag and I had, he’d told me that by accepting the bond between Samael and me, I’d become the co-ruler of the demons in his territory. And with Samael out of action, I was now in charge.
