A muscle ticked in his jaw, and I could practically hear his teeth grinding, but he gave no other indication of his fury. “Impossible. Time does not move the same in all areas of my realm. The team I dispatch for the artifact will be traveling to a part of my realm where one day there is equivalent to eight in this realm. If they have to take the artifact from the bubaks by force, the trip will take longer.”
My power began to escape me once more, dark as night as it twisted around the seelie king. He couldn’t see it, but I knew he could feel it, poised against his shields and ready to strike.
“One day in this realm is equivalent to two in the underworld,” I hissed. “The longer you take, the longer my bondmate is facing torture anddeath.”
Sixteen days. If I was to use the pocket realm, Danica would be trapped in the underworld for sixteen days.
My little witch. Alone with my greatest enemy for more than two weeks.
To Taraghlan’s credit, his gaze hardened, although color slowly leached from his face. I didn’t need to tell him that if Danica died, I would make his death last forcenturies.
One of the downsides of immortality was the body’s ability to heal catastrophic injuries. Over and over again.
“Three of my people will travel with yours.” I sent him a sharp smile. “I wouldn’t want any of your people to betray me again.”
“Impossible. If demons appear in that part of my realm, my people will fight. The bubaks will flee, and we will be forced to chase them deep into the territory that has been solely theirs for centuries. That will delay my people further.”
The rage that ate at me was useless. The frustration that clawed through my gut entirely unhelpful. In this, at least, Taraghlan was outmaneuvering me. That made him an enemy. And I wouldn’t forget it.
“Your people will leave today.”
“As I have already ordered.” The hint of a sneer crossed his face, and I tamped down on my power as it attempted to escape my control. I needed him alive. For now.
“Why haven’t you taken the artifact with the pocket realm before now?”
“I have no use for it. And I chose not to create a rift between myself and subjects I have a treaty with. We have given much to convince the bubaks to keep to their territory. Some of them have been alive for as long as the demigods.”
“Bring the artifact to me within eight days in this realm, or I begin slaughtering the people you value most.”
It took everything in me to keep my face neutral as Taraghlan nodded. His shoulders were tight as he stalked toward the elevator. Lia gave him a casual hiss and jumped down, wandering out of the room as I strode to my balcony.
Tendrils of dread wound their way through my body.“Little witch?”I reached for her once more, even though I knew it was useless. For now.
But I would never stop trying.
The silence hung between us, and I could feel the cavernous hole where she should be. Our bond was still there, but it was… frayed.
I jumped off my balcony and extended my wings, landing on the 45thfloor, which was now entirely devoted to our planning. The balcony door was open, and I stepped through, conscious of Ag shadowing my every move. He was the one who was most likely to be able to contain some of my power if I lost control.
The long table in the meeting room sat thirty people, and more were gathered, leaning against the walls. My demons had broken into groups and were currently speaking in low voices. They noticed my presence and those voices turned silent.
Evie stood, her face ashen, dark circles beneath her eyes. Soon, we would have an ugly little scene as I made her rest. Not something I had planned with my witchling’s sister, but Danica would be displeased when she returned if Evie had run herself into the ground.
I leveled a stare at the werewolf leaning against the wall behind her. Nathaniel stared back, unrepentant. One would think he would have ordered Evie to go to bed by now.
The Alpha obviously followed my thoughts, because his lips peeled back from teeth as he snarled at me. Those teeth were looking longer than usual.
The first sign of true aggression I’d seen from him. Interesting. Perhaps having one of his wolves taken was making it difficult for him to keep hold of his own control. I automatically glanced around the room to see if Danica had noticed, and my entire body turned cold as her absence gnawed on me with sharp teeth.
My brain knew she was gone, but my body kept forgetting, kept searching for her.
“What did Taraghlan say?” Evie asked. The rest of the room seemed to hold its collective breath.
“We will have the pocket realm within eight days, or I will begin killing his people.”
“Eight days?” Her voice cracked and Nathaniel’s hands fisted. Next to her, Vas stood as well, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
“Sixteen for Danica,” I bit out.
