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Her heart stuttered as her demon purred in her mind. “Where is the chalice?”
CHAPTER21
Raine fought the instinct to comfort his mate. He wanted Dannika to know about their history. She needed to, but when their shadows touched, her pain and compassion filtered through the bond, breaking his heart.
“We don’t know. The priestess hid it after she returned from the demon realm, and we never saw it again.”
Dannika ran her fingers along the deck railing, caressing the long thick scratches that were etched into the wood. The breeze caught the edges of her silky hair. It waffled in the air, accenting her beauty. “Are reaper blades the only thing that kills them?”
Colton nodded. “Except for removing their head, blessed steel is our only weapon. Provided we stabbed them in the heart, it impairs their ability to regenerate. Since they have no animal to aid them, they die.”
Dannika looked up. “A reaper blade won’t work on a shadow shifter?”
“No. Our animal has healing abilities. We can regenerate, provided the damage isn’t too severe. Again, beheading works as effectively on us as it does in the reapers.”
“Noted. You don’t know where the priestess got this artifact?” Dannika asked.
Colton glanced through the window at Steele, motioning his father to join them on the deck. “The scrolls don’t mention where she procured the artifact, only that she was severely traumatized and aged years in a short time. While time passes differently in the demon realm, the priestess appeared to age a decade in the month she was gone.”
Steele joined them on the deck.
Dannika met his sad eyes. “That same artifact blesses all reaper blades? How is that possible?”
“A specialist is born to each clan with the ability to transfuse a specially crafted blade with its power. As you know, Lorne was that specialist. With him dead, Maddock will look to the cougar clan for assistance,” Raine said.
Steele hissed. “Lorne is dead? Maddock didn’t inform me he was a casualty of the reaper incursion.”
Dannika huffed. “I’m not surprised. Maddock needs you just as much as you need him. He wouldn’t want you to suspect you’re on even ground.”
Steele scratched his chin. “Perhaps I made a hasty decision when agreeing to Maddock’s terms.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” Dannika said.
Raine grunted. “Steele was doing what he thought best. It’s obvious he has the clan’s best interest at heart. He would step down to ensure the shadow shifters survive. Maddock is using the war to gain power.”
“Are you in contact with the current priestess?” Dannika asked Steele.
“No. The priestesses haven’t interacted with the shadows shifters in centuries. The Bokor and shadow clans had an amicable relationship until twenty years ago.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you going to enlighten us about what severed that relationship?”
Steele’s eyes flickered. “No. It’s personal and has no relevance to this.”
Dannika turned to Raine. “We need to see the Bokor. Hopefully, he isn’t holding a grudge against us, especially if we say we’re from the wolf clan.”
Steele growled. “Are you sure you wish to pursue this? The danger is greater than you realize, regardless of my history.”
“Yes,” she said.
Steele slammed his hand down on the rail. A wisp of black smoke rolled off his back before receding. “He will not help you without an offering.”
Her brow furrowed. “What do we offer? What will he want?”
“I don’t know, but his advice comes at a price. One most people aren’t willing to pay.”
Steele leaned against the rail, tilting his face to the breeze. “Being indebted to a Bokor is no joke. Fifty years ago, a member of the bear clan went to them for help. His son went missing, and he was desperate to find him. The Bokor gave the bear the reaper camp’s location in exchange for his demon soul. The bear retrieved his son and brought him back to the clan.”
Ice formed in Dannika’s veins. The silence stretched and the whistling breeze reminded her of the music that played in that zombie horror movie. “What happened?”
