Jesper cleared his throat and nodded, stepping over Bane’s withered corpse with ease. “The key ritual sites Coordinator Sabine brought up are all areas that need to be sabotaged before the ritual dates. These sites are supposed to bring more dark magic into the Demon Capital and thus, Kalista as a whole. Dark Veil is a serious threat to the world as we know it—to demons, specifically.”
We all nodded, engrossed in what Jesper was telling us. The dragon seemed to really know what he was talking about. No wonder Sabine trusted him with this.
“The cult is targeting demonic youth for recruitment, specifically students from Demon Reform Academy. Be aware of your surroundings. If these dark magic infected demons are students, the drake scale ward won’t matter. The wards are in place so that infected demons can’t get in, yes, but if the infected demons are students and staff, the wards may not catch the dark magic infections since they are programmed to protect the students, staff, and student family members at the academy,” he briefed us.
I already was aware of that loophole, but the drake scale was much better than a dragon scale in terms of protection. No wonder Dark Veil was targeting students. They were trying to use that loophole against us, and I was sure it was working.
“We’ve located these sites, and we will find the exact location of our missing ritual. Though, that’s classified as of now. Until we learn of that location, we need to focus on sabotaging the sites we do know.” He smiled coldly. “The first ritual we need to sabotage is in Gleaming Gulf. The next follows in order: Infernal Grove, Sandstone Springs, Demonic Watch Tower, and the Ice Factory. Understood?”
We nodded.
“For the ritual site on the shores of Gleaming Gulf, my squad is coming with us. We believe there to be dark magic present, but that’s, unfortunately, all we know. Since Gravesend has agreed to help, that eases my mind on the threat of dark magic. We need to coordinate these sabotage efforts the day before the rituals take place. To put it frankly, there’s no room for fuck ups.”
Nerves sparked in my gut, but I could feel the surge of desire for vengeance stemming off my mate and everyone else in the room.
“Our first mission will be at the end of this month, the day before Sybil Shaw performs the ritual at Gleaming Gulf. We will be in touch with more information,” Jesper finished his speech and bowed to Sabine.
“I look forward to our combined effortsss to dismantle that cult,” she hissed.
“We feel the same,” Death answered for us, and Pandora nodded in agreement.
“It’s time we take the fight to them,” Pandora rasped, determination bleeding into her words.
I was so fucking proud of her.
7
REED
The start of our last term at Demon Reform Academy loomed over me—just a few hours away. Ever since coming here, my life had changed. I didn’t even recognize the demon I used to be before stepping foot in the desert academy.
Mom's betrayal cut deeper than anything else, leaving a scar on my soul that only my mate had been able to heal. Mom had left behind a relic she’d stolen from the cult she’d sold me to as a last act of atonement. I still couldn't figure out whether it was guilt or love that drove her to that choice, but if it could help us with Dark Veil, I didn’t care.
Then, there was everything that happened with Vane. Her betrayal had been irredeemable, but coming after my mate was the reason I ended her life. Amidst all of that pain, though, there was Pandora.
I'd met her and fallen completely in love with her. The matebond snapped into place, and we were bonded.
I drifted into my dreamscape, shaking off the heavy thoughts. I reached out, focusing my magic to draw Pandora into the dream with me—though I didn't need to. She was already there, as if she'd been the one waiting on me.
The dream shifted, molded by my will, until we stood beneath an endless sky. The skies stretched overhead in deep purples and soft golds, stars twinkling within. A meadow sprawled around us, wildflowers swaying in a breeze that carried no chill.
Pandora's wide crimson eyes glimmered, reflecting the sky as she slowly turned in place, taking in every detail. “It's so beautiful. So much more than the desert, but just as mesmerizing as the ocean.”
Nothing would ever be as beautiful as she was.
The words tangled in my throat as I watched her, drinking in how the wind toyed with her long black hair and how the moonlight kissed her skin.
My heart thudded, overflowing with a love so fierce it pulsed through our bond.
Her soft red lips curled into a quiet smile as she turned and stepped into my arms. I held her tightly, burying my face in her hair.
My arms instinctively tightened around her. “You're safe here,” I murmured against the silky strands of her hair. “With me, you can let go of that tightness in your chest. I can feel how you’ve been holding everything in, dream girl. You don’t have to. I’ve got you.”
I felt the moment she let go through our bond before her shoulders began to tremble. The first tear slipped down her cheek. A shaky breath rattled in her chest, and then her carefully constructed walls crumbled, leaving her bare to me.
She sobbed, raw and unrestrained, pain pouring out of her in jagged gasps.
Each cry shook the surrounding dreamscape.
