“Hey,” I said softly, reaching out a hand in offering. “Can I help?” The weapon hadn’t hurt Beatrix, so it likely wouldn’t hurt me.
But the Centaur might.
He bucked at me in response, nearly catching me in the head with a hoof.
“Okay, okay.” I held my hands up in front of me.
There was something to these Hellbeasts that I was missing, and maybe if I could learn to understand them, I’d figure out what they really wanted.
Biting my lip, I considered one of Melek’s spells that I could use to extract the blade. He’d taught me spells to manipulate my environment and to create shade, as well as food.
That meant I could technically create a change in pressure around the blade. It wouldn’t use much magic, and it would be enough to extract it.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Concentrating, I whispered the words under my breath that Melek had taught me. I didn’t want to use his help, but I couldn’t just leave this creature on the ground like this.
The Centaur made a guttural sound as the blade fell out and clanked against the hard ground.
Another herd of the creatures broke through the lava pits, looking angry. I spotted a few arrows sticking out of their chests.
Seemed like they’d met Queen Bitch and it hadn’t gone well.
They growled when they saw me and charged.
The Centaur with the white aura stumbled to his feet. As I had predicted, his wound quickly closed once the dagger had been extracted. He lowered his antlers.
But not at me.
“Go,” he growled, his voice low.
I blinked.
So they can speak…
No time to consider that more, not with his buddies charging toward me.
I darted toward the lava pit I’d thrown my rock into.
Closed my eyes.
And jumped.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
TYPHOS
Rare silence descendedover the nightclub as the bride candidates ventured through the various lava pits.
My sinful home of debauchery and drinks had been morphed into a theater of sorts, with various Hell Fae sprawled out in black booths with translucent screens hovering over their tables.
Typically, those platforms were designated for holograms of feminine dancers—holograms my men could turn corporeal and use for their benefit as they wished.
Well, corporeal to an extent, anyway.
Virtual reality had worked wonders for placating the males of my kingdom, giving them ways to indulge their needs without having to leave the safety of the underworld.
