“Whoseperson?” Dorian asked. “Azerius?”
She glanced up at him, her gaze reflecting the book’s silvery-blue light. “The Book of Lost Souls tells of his descent into madness and corresponding ascent to power.”
“Always a good combination,” Aiden said.
“The demon Azerius,” Isabelle whispered, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe it. “All this time, I thought the book and the blade were myths. At the very least, long-forgotten relics never to resurface again.”
“You’re familiar with him?” Dorian asked.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “He’s venerated as a god by many demonic factions, including Rogozin’s organization.”
“Rogozin’s… Bloody hell. The tattoos,” Dorian said, recalling the demons he and Gabriel had tortured. “Some of the Rogozin demons had white birds tattooed on their inner forearms. They must’ve been ravens.”
“The Great White Raven is allegedly one of the forms Azerius takes in dreams,” she said. “Your father mentioned it in his notes.”
“So he’s a Russian demon, then?” Colin asked.
“Not exclusively. Stories of Azerius cross hundreds of magical and cultural traditions, though the Russians likely feel a close kinship—their soldiers were the last humans known to wield the blade.”
“The blade of theBessmertnym Soldat,” Charlotte said.
Isabelle looked impressed. “You’re familiar with the history, then.”
“Thehumanhistory, at least,” Charlotte said. “All this demon stuff is new territory for me.”
“Perhaps we can trade stories over tea one night.” Isabelle smiled warmly, then turned her attention back to the book. “Azerius is known by many names—King of Blood and Ravens, He Who Slaughters the Blood of his Blood, He Who Drinks the Blood of the Fallen, He Whom Before All Mortals Weep.”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “I bethe’sfun at parties.”
“By Azerius’ own accounting,” she continued, “his father was a disgraced god who devoted his life to starting human wars. He fathered seventeen sons, including Azerius, but lived only in service to his own bloodlust. Eventually, Azerius got fed up with the neglect. To secure his father’s elusive attention, he slaughtered all sixteen of his brothers and their families, ensuring he was the very last of his father’s bloodline, but his father didn’t notice. So Azerius called upon the old gods of his father’s time, and made some sort of dark bargain—he sacrificed himself, only to rise to power in death with a bloodlust that rivaled his father’s. He then declared war on all warriors, making it his life’s mission to sow chaos on human battlefields and imbue soldiers with a limitless potential for brutality. In some cultures today, it’s still believed that if a white raven appears in the encampment on the eve of battle, Azerius is present, and a prolonged, bloody battle will follow, with mass casualties.”
“So you’re saying he’s got some anger management issues,” Aiden said.
“That is an understatement.” Isabelle closed the book, gently placing her hand on the cover. “People still call upon him for deals—deals so dark not even regular demons will touch them.”
“Like Father,” Colin said, “slaughtering the vampire royals in England.”
“I still can’t believe this is real.” Charlotte reached for the blade. “This thing was literally forged in hell. It’s—” The moment her fingers touched the bone handle, she swayed.
Dorian blurred behind her, catching her just before she collapsed.
“Damn it,” she whispered, closing her eyes as he steadied her.
“Vertigo again?” he asked, and she nodded. “Colin, are you certain she hasn’t suffered more serious injuries?”
“I haven’t ruled it out.” Colin came to stand beside them, pressing the back of his hand to her forehead. “Have you eaten enough today?”
“Yes.” Charlotte opened her eyes. “Everything else feels totally fine. But it’s exactly like before—the déjà vu too. I swear that blade has it out for me.”
“What do you mean?” Isabelle asked, concern tightening her brow. “This happened before?”
“When we first discovered it,” Charlotte said, “I got the same feeling as soon as I touched it, only it wasn’t as bad. This time felt much more intense.”
Isabelle exchanged a worried glance with Dorian, then asked Charlotte to join her at the table.
Dorian stayed by her side, afraid she’d faint again.
“Did you touch the book before?” Isabelle asked.
