The words rang in her head like a bell. He was right that night—she was so desperate for contact with anyone, she fell headfirst in love with a monster, causing so many innocent deaths in the process.
And now he would take Callum’s life right before her eyes. Please, not again. She could not allow another to sacrifice their life for her. All she had to do was go with him. She could?—
The ground convulsed from underneath her boots as something massive thundered behind her.
Theo.Horns pointed high, sword in hand, fangs bared in a snarl. Theo swaggered forward, fully encased in his midnight armor.
Dolion couldn’t look more unimpressed at his entrance. He glared at Theo for a fraction of a second before he returned his attention to Helaina.
“You’re going to get your friends killed, love. Be reasonable?—”
“You don’t talk to her,” Theodon ground out. “I want them alive, Callum.”
Callum sighed in annoyance at his captain’s order.
The sky turned impossibly darker. Storm clouds gathered. Theo’s pale face reflected the flash of lightning as rain began to fall.
“Nice trick,Captain, but a little rain won’t keep me from taking what I came for.”
The bizarre veins spider-webbing up Theo’s neck pulsed with his power. Spirals of smoke spread all around his legs, like hands keeping him tethered to the earth.
This time she had no fear of his demon form. Between Dolion and Theo, it was clear who the real monster was. The fact that she had ever let her mind blend the two was shameful.
Dolion rolled his eyes. “Must we do this? My queen is very eager; she’s waited long enough.”
“Queen?” Callum asked, palming daggers at his sides.
“Drayella,” Dolion replied arrogantly. “I brought her back.”
There was a palpable silence in the air as they all considered that name.
Drayella, Goddess of Nightmares.The host of incubus beings. Legendary for her torturous and murderous demeanor toward not only the gods’ creations but her fellow immortals. If a soul went to the six, you were doomed for eternal suffering, that was certain. But the prospect of entering Drayella’s hell realm, the terror realm, frightened mortals more than anything.
“You lie,” Theodon hissed between those razor teeth. His calm was cracking, she could hear it.
“You had to know this day was coming. Why do you think we’ve been sending these damned beasts through your mountains, Theodon? Throughout all of Lynor?Whydo you think there were never any bodies to find? It wasn’t just to satisfy our own hunger.”
Theo tightened the grip on his sword, a weapon almost as long as Helaina’s whole body. “You found it.” Not a question—but a revelation.
Dolion confirmed with a knowing smile. “There’s just one thing missing. So if you’ll be so kind, hand it over.”
Theo’s black eyes flared. “She’s destined to be a Divine. She belongs here.She stays with me.”
Dolion laughed. “You know that’s not her destiny, Theo.”
“she stays.”
Rain turned to hail. Trees groaned, fighting against the terrible wind. Theo’s raw power was like nothing Helaina had ever seen or felt. The world around him bent to his energy. The stars above shifted within the clouds as bursts of lightning crackled in the sky and thunder boomed.
As swift as an osprey plucking a trout from a lake, Callum vanished in a billow of thick smoke and became visible again behind one of the hideous brothers. Callum’s dagger found Balor’s jugular, spilling wine-red blood. Balor gurgled and strained.
His twin was fast. Before Callum could finish his work, his dagger was twisted out of his hand with brute strength. Callum let go of the bloody brother and launched his curled fist into Benon’s face, sending his head craning backward with a loudcrunchof his nose. But Benon wouldn’t release his grip on the teleporter, keeping him close while they both landed blow after blow.
Callum didn’t seem to mind the proximity. He wore a fiendish grin as he began his unrelenting assault, his fury at what they’d done to Aaron clearly fueling him.
In the chaos, Dolion made a sprint for Helaina. He was unbelievably swift.
Before he could reach her, Theo’s blade swung high, aiming straight for his neck. Dolion ducked and rolled, drawing his own weapon. He twisted in time so that their steel clashed together in a mighty sound that coincided with a roar of thunder. The two swords met time and time again.
