The dark is lit by the power of Malia’s magic, which grows between her palms and glints across Taniya’s increasingly amber skin as her harpy rises.
“Nova?” Malia asks when the soldiers slow down but don’t stop, approaching now at a prowl. “What do you want to do?”
“If they don’t back off, strike to kill,” I say, knowing full well that it’s a dangerous order, but I don’t know what other choice we have.
As I speak, I’m suddenly aware that by trying to create space around us, I’ve closed the gap between me and Roman and I’m intensely aware of his presence only a few paces away.
For a brief moment—the briefest I can manage without taking my focus off the soldiers—my eyes lock with his.
The shadows across his expression are even deeper than they were Earthside, a new darkness that feels like it reaches out and curls around my own. His dark blond hair is swept back, his bronzed skin is free from the blood of the fight in the Vegas desert, but he’s covered in sweat and dust—the same sweat and dust that covers my own clothing. He’s taller than me—taller than most supernaturals—one enormous bicep visible since the sleeve of his shirt was ripped off in the fight with the angels while his other bicep strains at his sleeve. He’s fucking enormous. More intimidating than any other demon here.
Oddly disconcerting is the faint tug of his lips as his stormy focus swings from me to the soldiers. For a second, I think he’s going to step in—and I don’t know if it will be in my favor.
When we first arrived, the soldiers bowed to him. Arga made it clear that Roman could have challenged my father to rule the Underworld. I’m sure Roman has the power to counter Crone’s order. Or… he could enforce it.
Across the way, Crone’s voice cracks through the darkness my power has unleashed. “Shed their blood!” she screams. “Now!”
At her cry, Roman’s focus snaps to her, and it shocks me to realize that Crone’s order might have been directed at him, not the soldiers.
I swing toward him, still trying to keep the soldiers in my sights.
My sisters remain close at my sides while my demon wolves have formed an arc in front of us, their violet eyes splashing color through the thickening darkness.
While Temple, Luca, and Blitz remain in close formation, Ace edges away from the others, his growls the loudest, his teeth snapping furiously. His head swings from Roman to the soldiers as if he expects Roman to give him an order to attack and kill them at any second.
My chest aches at the bond that Ace formed with Roman—a bond I’m finally forced to acknowledge.
They are both wild predators.
Roman folds his arms across his chest. “Crone!” he calls. “You would be wise to consider your actions carefully.”
“Donotdare to caution me, Master of Demon Runes,” Crone replies, her head held high. “You know the rules as well as I do. Only those born of demon blood may walk free in the Underworld. All other souls must perish. The Balance between the three worlds requires it.”
Roman shakes his head, a slow movement. “The Balance has already been disrupted. You don’t want to create an enemy of the King’s daughter.” A hint of a dangerous smile plays around his mouth. “Not this one.”
Crone’s lips twist so suddenly that it looks as if she’s going to open her mouth and speak without her power. “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
Roman’s expression becomes closed-off as his jaw clenches. “Go on, then,” he says quietly.
I’m not sure if he’s speaking to Crone or to me this time.
He steps toward the mist behind us until he’s twenty full paces away from us, leaving me and my pack with all the space we might need for a fight. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. He could be guarding that side of the bridge in case we have any thoughts of trying to escape into the mist.
Before Crone arrived, Roman asked me to trust him. But… I can’t.
Not after he misled me. No matter how I might have felt about him, I can’t let my feelings cloud my judgement now. I have to treat every demon as my enemy or my sisters could pay the price with their lives.
The seven soldiers had paused at the interaction between Roman and Crone, but now Crone points at my pack again, her porcelain skin glowing in the darkness that continues to shroud us. “The lesser beings must not leave this bridge alive. The Balance of the three worlds depends on it or we will be plunged into chaos once more.”
At her command, the seven soldiers resume stalking us. At the same time, the remaining soldiers congregated behind the royals turn and march inward, closing off that side of the bridge with their regimented rows.
Meanwhile, the royals gather together behind Crone. Esta’s lips continue to form a worried line, Arga wears a smile of bloodthirsty anticipation, but Koda is like stone—other than the way he taps his thigh, as if he’s focusing his anger through the beats.
Escape is the last of my options right now. Even diving off the side of the bridge could lead to worse dangers.
“Malia. Taniya. Listen to me.” I growl, allowing my wolf to take over—to trigger their wolves. “You’re not dying today. I will kill every one of these demons if I have to.”
They’re both ashen beside me. We’ve faced death before, but it usually came for all three of us without discrimination. I’m apparently destined to die in the Elimination, but that’s a threat I’ll face when the time comes. Right now, my sisters are the targets.
