CHAPTERONE
I’m trapped with no way out, kneeling at the gates of Hell, surrounded by my enemies, but I refuse to bow my head to any of them.
The royal rune on my right arm glows against my will, a damning mark that leaves me with no choice but to accept what I am: the Demon King’s seventh child. A royal of the Underworld.
The space around me is deceptively beautiful—a bridge embedded with glowing crystals. Waterfalls of fine, glowing stones fall on either side, descending from a brilliant white mist that shrouds the space high above us and hides what lies beyond.
The other royals kneel with me in a circle, their focus firmly fixed on the ancient woman, Crone, who stands in the center of our gathering, her arms raised.
Her furious glare is reserved for me.
Moments ago, she whispered a promise into my ear. She told me that I’m an abomination, a royal daughter who never should have existed.
She told me not to fret because my life will soon be over.
Then she declared the Time of Trials had begun and only the strongest child of the Demon King would survive.
My heart thuds, but I conceal my reaction to her final declaration:Let the fight to the death begin.
I sense Roman’s presence like a storm a few paces behind me. Even without turning, I feel his sea-green eyes tugging at me like a hook at the end of a short rope. Until we arrived here, he hid his real identity from me, weaving a tapestry of untruths so convincing that I took a chance… and I trusted him.
Then I found out he’s Rune.
The Master himself.
An ancient, powerful trickster whom I should have feared from the start.
From the little I’ve been able to piece together, he traveled through the gate between the Underworld and Earthside searching for my father, who has vanished and left the Underworld in chaos. Initially, to gain my trust, Roman pretended to be a wolf shifter, a descendant of the pure-blooded iron wolves. Then he convinced me he was a half-demon, like me.
When I finally let down my guard…
Well, here we are. My sisters and I. Trapped in Hell until a new ruler is chosen and the gates open again.
Crone has just bound me to the Trials and promised me I will be dead soon.
But I made her a promise, too.
I told her I would find her fear.
I may be kneeling by necessity, but my head is not bowed to her, and I vow it never will be.
“The seven children of the Demon King have now been recognized and counted.” Crone speaks without moving her lips or opening her mouth, her voice vibrating through the bright crystal surface we kneel on. “The chaos that has plagued us since the King’s disappearance is at an end. Now, we begin the Elimination.”
Without breaking eye contact with me, she tips her chin up, her colorless lips pressed together. Her robes are snowy white and her skin is porcelain. The pure black of her eyes seems to darken with every second that her vicious stare remains on me. She may be a woman of tiny stature, but she has immense power over all demons, judging by the way the legion of soldiers surrounding us has taken a knee to her. “The rules are simple! Your strength will be tested by trials of my making,” she declares. “Every trial will lead to the elimination of at least one of you from the running. Not every trial will lead to death—although death is likely. You are bound to the Elimination and cannot refuse to participate.”
She pauses and my demon siblings finally raise their bowed heads. They all have light brown skin, dark blue eyes, full lips, and high cheekbones. Their complexions are flawless. They’re dressed in shining, navy-blue long-sleeved shirts and long pants overlaid with gleaming armored pieces that accentuate their muscular bodies.
As with my surroundings, their beauty masks the danger they pose to me.
Well, fuck that. I’ve spent my life preparing for a fight like this. I’ve survived the streets of Vegas and the rejection of other packs, fought for my life countless times. I may be surrounded by deadly opponents in a realm with new rules and imminent danger, but I've been the underwolf many times before, and with my family at my back, I’m ready for anything.
My sisters, Malia and Taniya, have edged forward so that they’re now standing on either side of me, just a step behind. They are the strongest and most loyal women I could ever wish to have in my pack. Our bonds as a family were forged through every kind of challenge imaginable—and we’ve only come out stronger.
On my left, Malia’s witch power glimmers around her hands where she holds them in front of her chest, her magic highlighting her golden-brown skin. Her thick, chocolate-colored hair falls around her shoulders, her usually warm, brown eyes are partially shifted, her wolf’s claws are extended, and her teeth have sharpened. Her two sides—wolf and witch—make her an intimidating sight.
To my right, Taniya’s determination to protect me and Malia is evident in the extension of her harpy’s golden talons, her caramel-blonde hair falling to her waist, and her normally fair skin taking on the amber hue of her harpy’s feathers. She’s fierce—even more so right now that her protective side is out in full force.
Behind my sisters, my four demon wolves—Ace, Temple, Luca, and Blitz—have formed a defensive arc that covers our backs, their black fur appearing even darker against the backdrop of the pure white bridge, their glowing, violet eyes narrowed to slits, and their sharp teeth bared. Ace and Temple stand at each end of the arc they form—Ace is a step behind Malia, while Temple is closer to Taniya’s side.
