“No, they’ll deny it to their last breath until we bring concrete evidence against her.” James rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I hate this so fucking much. Priest Edes, is there any other way for demons to come up besides through the portal?”
“Technically there’s other ways, but the portal is the most viable option without serious sacrifices.”
The moment he said those words, things clicked. All of these different pieces swirled in my mind until they snapped into an overall picture.
“Sacrifices,” I breathed and looked around the room like I was seeing it for the first time. If sacrifices would summon a demon, would they break a seal? What had Valentina been doing here? Trying to create a strong foothold, like she had done in her first life, where she had been able to orchestrate first the demise of Berengar to open the portal, followed by the destruction ofa third of this country. Only in this life, her plan hadn’t worked. In this life, she had failed, so she’d gone to option B: select sacrifices.
My eyes darted to meet James’s, and he studied me with a perplexed expression. “Dearest, you look like you were just struck by lightning.”
“Sacrifices,” I repeated urgently, seizing his arm tightly, resisting the urge to shake him. I didn’t know why I wanted to shake him, I just felt like I could pass along my urgency if I did. “That’s why Helena was almost abducted! Valentina needs sacrifices in order to fully open the portal!”
His eyes flared wide, horror growing in them. “Victor.”
“I’ll bet you anything she’s got him. I’ll bet you anything the second she was on board that ship, she enslaved the crew, possessed them somehow, and turned around. It’s why she never made it to Ascor.She was never heading there.”
“It won’t be enough,” Priest Edes protested. “They’ll need more people than just one or two! Although if she’d been able to sacrifice royals, it would have been only for one reason—to give the demons proper hosts to possess.”
James groaned, and he looked torn between rage and tears of frustration. “Victor’s not much of a prize in that sense, but the math unfortunately maths. Still, if she’s trying to open thedemon portal, the only sacrifices on hand would be Berengar’s citizens.”
“And the ship’s crew,” I reminded him. “If she has them enthralled already, she can easily sacrifice them.”
Priest Edes demanded, “How big is Berengar?”
“Three thousand people, if you include the sister town of Wood’s Cross as well.”
“That’s enough.” Priest Edes looked visibly shaken, his skin going unnaturally pale. “That’s enough to open the portal. Especially weak as it is. Your Majesties—”
“I’ll give the order to evacuate both towns immediately.” James was already turning for the door as he spoke. “If she left immediately after the abduction attempt failed, she’s only hours away. If we move now, we can cut her off—”
I could tell he was going to jump ahead when he shouldn’t and snagged him by the arm, drawing him back. “Wait, wait, don’t go off half-cocked! She’s been planning this. You know she’s got soldiers and people she’s recruited. You need to form up the army before going after her!”
James stopped, frustration showing on his face. “Shit, you’re right. I’ll alert my knights up in Berengar, give the order to evacuate everyone in the area. Edwin, call a council meeting. I leave in no more than five hours.”
Godsdamn, when he decided to move, hemoved. Which didn’t surprise me, considering our truncated courtship, nonexistent engagement, and marriage. I felt like “slow down” didn’t exist in this man’s vocabulary.
Still, in this situation, speed might be our only saving grace. “Go. I’ll update Lenville. Court session will be held in an hour, so be there.”
“I will.” James paused, looking…awful. Alarmed, I pressed in closer, cradling his face. The skin around his eyes pinched in apained manner, his jaw flexed, his expression one of anguish, mixed with this kernel of determination.
“Beloved, what?” I didn’t like this look whatsoever.
“This confirms it,” James muttered. “This confirms Valentina really did kill you the first time.”
Priest Edes and both my knights sucked in startled breaths. I had no doubt I’d have to explain that tidbit to Priest Edes later, at the very least, but now was not the time.
“Because she’s in league with demons?”
“Yes. It would have been the surest way to ensure my defeat, and killing you would have given her joy. She hated how attached I was to you. It all makes perfect sense with this revelation, and I guess I was just in denial.” James shook his head, then pulled me in for a tight hug. I think he needed a second of comfort, but a second was all he took before he stepped back. He spoke over his shoulder as he headed for the hallway once more. “Move, quickly. If she’s in bed with demons, Ascor can’t throw a fit about whatever we do next. Our priority is stopping her.”
There would likely be some political blowback still, but they had no leg to stand on, and I’d make sure they knew it.
I wished for a few days, weeks, to let James process and decompress, but sadly, he was right—we just didn’t have the time. What I could do was prevent the disaster from even happening, and then he’d have all the time in the world afterward. I’d make sure of it.
Turning, I gestured for Priest Edes to follow me. “I’ll need you as witness for the council session. Walk with me.”
“You will explain what he said?” Priest Edes begged even as he scrambled to my side.
“After, yes. We don’t have time right now. Send word to Lila. Tell her she’s out of time and I need that sealing spell as of yesterday.” Lifting my ring to my mouth, I called, “Helena?”
