“Kaden! Sorsha!” I yelled, beating my fist against the inside of the trunk.
No answer.
We had to find another way out.
“What are the odds that a half-huntress, half-witch, and demigodMorkahlfrepresent three courts?” I asked.
Adriel shook his head. “Not good. For starters, there is no witch court. OrMorkahlfcourt, for that matter. Hunters and witches are not of this realm.”
“We have to try!”
Adriel’s brow creased as he glared at the outline of the opening, which remained stubbornly closed. “I have another idea.”
Before I could ask, the royal guard looped an arm around my waist, and the ground beneath me shook. I stumbled as a crater opened beneath my feet, roots and bark cracking as the earth yawned wide.
I barely had a chance to draw in a breath before Adriel yanked us into the dirt.
Darkness engulfed me. Thick, fragrant soil filled my nose and mouth, making it impossible to scream. The weight of the earth was immense — pressing down on me with enough force to shatter bone.
My lungs screamed for air. I couldn’t see. Couldn’t move.
Panic thrummed in my veins as Adriel dragged methrough the earth, but a second later, my head broke the surface, and cool air stung my face.
We were out.
Spitting dirt, I choked and clawed my way out of the tunnel he’d made. Fresh air spilled into my lungs as raindrops pelted my face, but the relief I’d felt at escaping the tree was immediately doused by what I found.
Darkness had descended upon the forest — thick, billowing shadows that swallowed all light and seemed to cling to the trees. Rain poured from the sky in cold sheets, chilling me to the bone as chaos raged.
I clambered out of the tunnel Adriel had forged through the earth only to be tossed to the ground again. My knees hit the mud as a ferocious tremor shook the world, but then a familiar hand reached down to help me up.
Kaden.
His twin blades were still sheathed at his back, but he was wielding his demon power. Shadows billowed all around him, and the whites of his eyes had turned black. Tendrils of midnight unfurled from his hands, ensnaring the winged figures and choking them mid-flight.
Demons.
They shrieked and hissed, thrashing against his hold, as Sorsha’s blades moved in streaks of silver.
They attacked in waves — a dozen at a time — and I could tell from the hard set of Kaden’s shoulders that they were already overwhelmed. There were so many more demons than we had fought at Dorthus, scores of them shooting from the sky.
Blood pounded in my ears. Semphrys had sent his demons for their prince, intent on dragging him back toDorthus. But they couldn’t have my mate. I was too angry with Kaden to lose him again.
Gripping his hand, I pulled myself up and drew my witchwood blade.
A grotesque, horned demon with eyes like shimmering drops of oil arrowed toward me, its sharp claws outstretched.
I didn’t hesitate. I aimed my dagger at the center of its chest, ripping through a body that felt like wet paper as the enchanted blade did its work.
A horrendous shriek made my ears ring as the demon disintegrated. I watched as its body shattered into a million particles of shadow and mist before floating away on the wind.
But the sound had attracted the attention of the other demons. Horrible faces whipped in my direction, black eyes glinting with a ferocious glee that made my stomach drop.
Wings and talons filled my vision, cackles ringing in my ears as they swarmed. My body froze as I felt one clawing at the edges of my consciousness, but I shored up the thorny hedge around my mind, ensnaring the intruder.
Another demon wrapped me in a blanket of fire, and I fell to my knees. A scream tore from my mouth as I thrashed on the ground, flames lapping at my skin.
A low growl sounded through the roar of the blaze, and I felt a tremor of fury down the bond.
