41. Chapter 41
Chapter 41
N o. No. No.
But that meant she . . .
“It would explain how you were able to withstand his control and wield the relic,” Seth offered, voice low, as if he knew that a single wrong word would make her crumble.
“And it would explain how you passed through the wards of the human realm," Ven murmured softly. "You are something our world has never seen.”
Seth crossed his lean arms over his chest. “And magick always seeks to find a balance.”
Four pairs of red eyes fell on her.
She shook her head slowly, shock seeping into her bones, her joints—making her feel as if she were moving through mud. If they thought her some savior of their world—some answer to the plight of the Dark King’s power and his demons—they were tragically mistaken.
“If I’m a threat to his power—why not just kill me?” she asked, “Why send the Fengul and his princes to track me down when he had multiple chances to end this?”
Nira finally spoke, saying aloud what each of them had been thinking.
“He has other plans for you.”
“We don’t know why he wants you, but we know that he will come for you." Ven placed his palms flat against the map. "And he knows that you’re with us.”
Guilt clenched her stomach like a vice. The King of the Void was amassing an army—and he’d send them straight to Ravenstone’s gates.
“We possess another relic,” Nira uttered, eyes flicking to Aurelia.
The sword. The monstrous blade that the King of the Void had wielded when his power had nearly swept over everything in their world.
“No—” Ven said.
“If there’s a chance I could destroy another relic—kill another demon prince—” she countered.
“It’s not worth taking if it kills you!” Ven’s voice rang out through the space, his tone slipping into that of the Wraith Commander. Imposing. Unquestionable. Crimson eyes lifted to her face, the fire in them banking. “I saw what it nearly cost . . ." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Do not ask me to pay that price, Aurelia.”
It wasn’t control that made him say the words. It was fear.
And she’d felt its icy grip those few moments when Fate could have chosen to favor Asmodeous instead of her.
It hadn’t been fear of her own death, but fear of what would become of the rest of them should she fail.
And it was the same reason that she needed to try.
But, that was a battle for another day.
Ven stalked toward the desk angled at the corner of the room, reaching for paper and ink and scrawling a note in his neat, concise writing. Folding it once, he tossed it into the fire rumbling in the great carved hearth spanning the wall.
The flames roared, turning azure and indigo as they swallowed up his words, banking to flickering amber.
“If war is upon us—we need to be certain that our alliances remain. Send more scouts,” Ven said, eyes flicking to where Nira stood, awaiting his order. “Tell them not to engage, simply to track the demons’ movements—particularly the princes.”
He met each of their eyes as he scanned the room. “We prepare for battle.”
Nira squared her shoulders, the face of the Commander’s second back in place as she talked strategy with Karro and Seth.
Ven’s large hand covered hers. No hesitation, no reluctance in his expression.
He would fight for her. All of them would fight for her—even with the odds against them.