“Save Mara?”
He scowled at her. “How do you know about Mara?”
“Once you carried my stone with you, I could hear everything you said.”
Heat scalded his cheeks as he realized some of the other things she might have overheard.
In that familiar teasing way, she tugged at his whiskers. “Aye, my brother. Even that.”
He groaned out loud. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what? Not abandoning me? You did nothing wrong, Duey. Now let’s go save your wife.”
* * *
Devyl drew up short as he reappeared on the battlefield where he’d left his men. He had to give the Deadmen credit—they didn’t withdraw from conflict.
Ever.
And this was a bloodbath. Gadreyal and her forces weren’t going down easily. Lightning flashed. The sound of battle rang in his ears.
This was what he’d grown up on.
And as he took his sister’s hand, he hesitated for the first time in his life.
“I failed to protect you.”
“Nay,” Elf breathed, reaching up to cup his face in her hand. “My fiancé failed me. At their behest.” She jerked her chin toward Gadreyal. “She was the one who set me up, and you. She wanted you out of the way.”
He felt his fangs elongate at her words as the demonic beast inside came to the forefront.
Elf stepped back and inclined her head, then turned herself into a small sprite. She flew to kiss his cheek and whisper in his ear. “None shall see me, big brother. Do what you do best and worry not this time. I’ll be right here.” She pressed herself against his jugular and became a part of his skin.
Knowing she was safe so long as he didn’t take a blow there, he lowered his visor and headed straight for Gadreyal.
This time when he caught her with his sword, it knocked her reeling. But he gave her no quarter. Not now.
Not ever again.
“Where is Cameron?” he growled. “Her life is all that will spare yours.”
Gadreyal staggered back from his blows. She tried to fly away, but he sliced her hard across the wings, almost completely severing one.
His time for mercy had passed. Her time for living was growing perilously short.
“Release my men and give us back our Miss Jack! I shan’t say it again.”
Gadreyal hissed and twisted, then blasted him. But he didn’t feel it. He was too angry. “Thorn can’t save you!”
“I’m not looking for him to.” Devyl kicked her back.
“Captain!”
He hesitated at Hinder’s and Belle’s shouts. Glancing to them, he saw that his cousin had opened a gate and allowed Thorn and a group of Sarim inside this realm.
The moment Gadreyal saw them, she gathered her warriors and vanished.
“Nay!” Devyl started after her, but Thorn caught him and prevented it.
