Rihan lowered his head, sobbing quietly.
“Your commander and meager unit of guards made a valiant stand,” Sal’vathar continued in his normal voice. “Though short-lived. The Vareth was more entertaining. I do enjoy creatures that resist before they break.”
Alora lunged, fury blazing in her red eyes. But webs snapped around her, binding her in layers of silver silk. She screamed as the strands cut into her skin.
“Sal’vathar!”Rune roared, making all go still. He seethed, his voice searing the dark. “Once I’m free, I will tear you limb from limb. And whatever remains, will be cast into the Abyss.”
Karag Dûr trembled beneath Rune’s promise. The Netherworld Gate droned, its glyphs blazing as the void within churned, casting jagged red shadows across the walls.
With the flick of Sal’vathar’s fingers, webs snapped around Rune’s mouth then Alora’s. They winced, feeling their skin sting as if they kissed glass.
“Do you see the flaw now?” Sal’vathar’s legs clicked against stone as he stirred closer to Rune, taking in his true form with a mocking sneer. “You are no god. You are no king. You kneel to her as the shadows do.” His eyes drifted to Alora with a smirk. “It is her blood that commands the dark. The Seven Courts bow to it. And once I devour that power myself, both Mortal and Netherworld shall bow to me, too. All it took was meticulous planning.”
Understanding struck Rune like another blow.
Calveron.
Eldrik.
The Hellstones.
Sal’vathar had been behind all of it.
Alora’s eyes locked onto Rune’s, desperate, wild.
Ira struck her behind the neck and caught her as she fell unconscious.
“Thank you for temporarily sealing the Rift,” Sal’vathar said quietly, almost fondly, as he touched Alora’s hair. “When she is dead, I will return for you.”
Then they vanished into shadow, taking her with them.
Rune thrashed against the chains, burning with their divine containment, fighting even as the smoke hissed from his scorched skin. Roaring with rage through the web bindings.
He would butcher them all!
The Dominions vanished into the dark, and their presence vanished from the mountain.
Rune hung his head, strung up like a pig for slaughter.
How did it come to this? No one was to blame but his own oversight. He should have killed Sal’vathar a long time ago.
Gravel shifted and he looked up as Deimos rose to his feet. Rune stiffened. How could he still move?
Understanding settled between them.
Segrith.
The seer who had brought Deimos to him, declaring he be put down since he was too violent to be of any use to her. Deimos who Rune took in and proved otherwise … releasing him from her Dominion command.
She had chosen a side after all.
At his nod, Deimos snatched the Hellstone necklaces from Calla and Hadeon. Both inhaled a deep breath and quickly lurched to their feet.
“Forgive me, sire,” Calla said, bowing her head. “I should have suspected.”
“My will was not strong enough to resist my lord’s command,” Hadeon added gravely. “I will slit my neck now rather than fail you again.”
I have not released you from your service,Rune boomed through their mental connection.
