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Raine growled. “Call a demon? Are you insane?”
Hakim threw his hands in the air. “You don’t understand. This chalice was used to call the first demons into our world. This artifact started the war. The shadows can kill one demon, but they can’t kill an army. The demon world is failing. They will infect ours like a black plague, destroying everything in their wake. Nothing will survive.”
Dannika put her hand over her eyes. “Dear God, what do we do?”
Hakim put the sapphires in Dannika’s hands. “I will take nothing from you. If you do as I request, I will be in your debt.”
Raine’s eyes narrowed on the Bokor. “Why would you help us and offer an open debt?”
Hakim’s eyes blazed with fear. “Demons taking control of our world, control of the spirit world, is worse than death.”
Dannika glanced between Raine and the Bokor. “What about the reapers?”
“The reapers are nothing compared to the power wielded by the demons,” Hakim said.
She leaned toward the Bokor. “Why are you helping us? It’s more than your fear of demons.”
“It was a Bokor who first connected with the demon realm and merged the shifter souls. We still feel responsible for the death of the female shifters. Since the chalice still exists, then the original Bokor’s attempt to destroy it failed. Our entire community is at risk. We are the only ones who can enter their world in spirit form. They will ensure all the Bokor, all priestesses, are destroyed.”
Dannika put her hand on Raine’s waist. “What do we do?”
Hakim grabbed a carved box from beneath the counter and removed the lid. “There’s only one way to trick the reaper king, and it is unpleasant.”
Dannika’s face paled. “What do you want me to do?”
Hakim removed the silk pouch from the box. “First, I need to make you something.”
CHAPTER14
Hakim presented the necklace he had just constructed to Dannika, as Raine growled.
“It will not hurt her,” Hakim said. “Quite the opposite, in fact.”
Raine grabbed the golden chain. The centerpiece held two intricately carved snakes wrapped around a small vial. The design made the glass look like crystal, but Raine knew it contained something far deadlier. He unfastened the clasp.
Dannika turned around, holding up her hair to expose her neck.
The instinct to grab her and whisk her away from the dangers of the shadow world, the reapers, and the Bokor, weighed on Raine’s soul. There was nothing he could do to protect her from her father. No place on earth Killian wouldn’t pursue her. The burden of her bloodline would force Dannika to face a monster, and there was nothing Raine could do to stop it.
He fastened the clasp around her neck and smoothed the chain on her skin. “Are you sure about this?”
Dannika released her hair, turning back to him. “Not really, but I don’t see that we have a choice.”
Raine took Dannika’s hand, nodding to Hakim. “We will contact you soon.”
Hakim pointed to the necklace. “Make sure no one else comes in contact with that. I designed it for you. The gold is mixed with blessed steel. It will shift to the shadows easily.”
Dannika ran her fingers over the golden necklace. “I’ll be careful.”
Raine held the door for Dannika as they exited the Bokor’s shop. He led her to the corner of the building with the only shadow pathway open to them. “I don’t like this plan.”
Dannika looked down at the necklace. “I don’t either, but Hakim was scared.”
“He was, but he seemed more afraid of Killian acquiring an artifact from the demon world than him becoming the reaper king.”
She touched his arm. “I agree. He fears the demons, so it’s likely a lesser evil type thing.”
Raine kissed her forehead before his shadow enveloped her. She wrapped her arms around his waist, signaling she would allow him to control their trip through the pathways. The bond between them was growing, and the moments when they weren’t together more difficult. They dissolved together, entering the dark pathway in a rush of regret and love.
