Page 195 of The Bonds of Indigo

Proserpina ignores her son. “If the person you trapped is sending the Grimhorn…”

“That is impossible. They barely listen to me, and I… am…”

I swallow as he trails off.

“It would seem that a strong, possibly angry Yldarwright, has the ability to cast a spell even through the Verraketh.”

“No.” At this point, there is no point in lying about it or allowing her to be misinformed. “She summoned them, and they willingly went to her. I don’t know why or how, but even the strongest of my kind can’t push magic in or out. I tried when I put her in there.”

Lucifer’s grip on my arm tightens and I slowly lift my gaze to meet his.

His entire body is so stiff, I’d fear he was made into stone if his lips didn’t move. “How do you trap someone in the mirror?”

I swallow so roughly it’s audible, and the hesitation claws at my chest until it hurts so badly I could pass out.

“Tell him, dear,” Proserpina murmurs.

I shut my eyes, taking a trembling breath. “A sacrifice.”

“A? Singular?”

Dear Gods, I could throw up. It’s a good thing I didn’t eat that breakfast.

This is so bad. He’s going to tell Kayn.

“Depending on how strong the person is that I’m trapping…” I can feel the exact moment he looks at me differently, right when the sharpness of his gaze turns into an assessment of me. “For this particular Yldarwright… I needed one hundred and thirty-six.”

He drops my arm and steps away from me.

“It’s not what you think, Lucifer. They were already dead.”

Warm tears roll down my cheeks so fast I’m unable to stop them. What else I can’t keep from coming, are the images of what I’d done. “She had already slaughtered them. I tried so hard to put myself between them, but I could only do so much.”

“Why…”

I chew on my bottom lip, and flick my gaze to his mother. She seems keen on knowing the answer, but I fear her knowing equally as telling Belial himself.

“They were an offering. To summon your father.”

His eyes flare—wide circles, violet brightening with panic.

“She was aiding Vaeloris⁠—”

“What?!” he nearly shouts.

“Yes. The King of Gods.” My voice breaks. “Vendra warned me what was coming, and I did what I thought was right to prevent it!”

“Your God would betray her own ruler, for what?”

“Vendra doesn’t kneel before a king, Lucifer, do not disrespect my God that way. She answers to no one…” I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. “Every single choice was taken from me the night I met you. Even Vendra took that away from me…”

I don’t know why I look at Proserpina, but when I do, she wears a mix of concern and anger.

Not at me.

At him. Her son.

“I sacrificed more that day than anyone could ever understand. But I didn’t kill them⁠—”