39. To Take an Archdemon’s Claimed #2
Spade spared me a glance before looking over my sister’s shoulder amongst the graves.
“Vore is none of those things. Vore is their leader. He is the most ruthless warrior in all the realms, and he has broken our treaty.” Spade turned to look at me then and pointed to the scar along his eye.
“Vore is the one who gave me this. You’ll be happy to know that if he enters my castle—either Vore or I will die today.
Looks like you’ll get half of what you want, regardless. ”
“I’m in the habit of getting everything I want, so let’s hope I get lucky.”
The broody Blackthorne narrowed his eyes in hate, yet the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
Riot intercepted our closeness and inched between his brother and me, wrapping an arm around our shoulders.
“As much as I likewise adore wishing death upon others—the very big, very angry archdemons are approaching, and I believe we should, I don’t know, be ready for their brutal attack. ”
My sister continued to pound her fists against the window, screaming her wither’s name. Twenty stood by her, looking to me with concern. Riot raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re the mean sister, and she’s the crazy sister? Got it.”
“Shut up. I could say the same about you and Spade.”
Spade huffed while Riot considered, nodding. “Fair enough, witch. Fair enough. What are we going to do with the little damsel, monster lover over there?”
“Twenty,” I addressed my familiar. “Take my sister someplace safe.”
Prism pulled herself off the window and shot me a fierce, tear-stained look. “You can’t keep me from him. He’s my chosen.”
“I don’t know what that means and I don’t care. Twenty, can you do that?”
Ignoring my sister’s protests, Twenty nodded. “Sure, I can.”
“We need him here,” Spade replied. “Lock her and Rumor up and come straight back.”
“Excuse me? I’m not going anywhere,” I snapped. “You told me to kill the monster—I’m killing the monster.”
“You’re not killing Vore as a novice witch, Rumor. Get over yourself. You’ll only be in our way,” Spade answered lowly.
“I’m not missing out on watching you die.”
“And I won’t pause to save you when you find yourself outmatched.”
“Fine.”
“ Fine .”
Riot squeezed our shoulders once more. “See how far we all get with clear, honest communication? I’m proud of you. I’m proud of us all, really. A fun family moment before we all perish.”
A loud boom sounded in the not-too-far distance, rattling the marble tile beneath us. Prism screamed toward the commotion. “Twenty, get her far away,” I demanded, all my senses warning me that incredible danger was nearing.
My familiar reached for my sister’s wrist, but she jerked away from him. “Don’t do this to me, Rumor,” she begged. “I promise you that I can fix this. I know what I’m doing. Why won’t you just trust me? For once, just trust me!”
“They’re inside,” Riot said ominously. “They taste us.”
Prism cried out, screaming for me to hear her, to listen to her, to release her to her captor.
Like a child begging to play by a rushing stream or to catch a venomous spider—I couldn’t give in just because her screams pierced my heart.
There was no life for her with a wither—and I’d kill this Vore for whatever it is he did to her to convince her otherwise.
To take her from her home, her family, and warp her mind to such an extreme…
anger roiled in my gut and this time… I felt my magic rise up to greet it.
With a bang that felt like an explosion, the thick double doors of the throne room burst open.
Their presence announced them before the sight of them did.
Full, tall, broad and muscular forms that blended into even the slightest shadow of the hall.
A dark gray wither stepped into the room, its grotesque face snarling as it made eyes at Riot and Spade.
The two Blackthornes walked leisurely to the dais, taking their seats on their thrones as if they were royalty assessing peasants.
The thrones suited them, yet I still didn’t understand how.
I positioned myself beside Twenty and in front of Prism, my heart pounding at just being in such proximity to a wither.
“Cadaver,” Riot drawled, resting an elbow on his throne. “Haven’t I already almost killed you for less than breaking the treaty and barging into my castle? This doesn’t bode well for you, old fellow.”
“Don’t hurt him!” Prism called out, “Please, don’t hurt him.”
I shook my head, about to say something to her when the ground shook again.
This time, stalking in from the darkness, was an even larger wither.
Dark as night with a white slash across his face and chest. A thing of nightmares and teeth…
the being who took my sister stepped into the room, his chest heaving with effort and rage.
His glossy gaze found my sister immediately, and she reached out for him.
My familiar and I held onto her arms as she cried out, “Vore!”
The creature roared and lunged forward. “Twenty! Get her out now!”
Twenty’s cat ears laid back as he took my sister into his hold and snapped his fingers—enveloping them both in shimmering gray smoke. I dodged out of the way, running toward the dais as the wither grasped at smoke. My sister was gone. Prism was safe… for now.
The wither turned on his heel, eyeing me as I stopped by the Blackthornes. His attention then lifted to Spade. The dark wither snarled at the dark lord.
“We meet again,” Spade stated slowly. “You made a mistake coming here, Vore.”
The wither marched forward, the sheer enormity of him terrified me.
Thinking of my sister in his grasp made me shudder.
What had he done to her? I gritted my teeth at the thought as I stared him down.
“I know what you came here for. You’re taking my sister,” I said, looking up at him.
He was only a few yards away. In two steps he could kill me—he could kill me before I even took my next breath.
Would Riot and Spade let that happen? Could they even stop it?
Vore glowered down at me, though I couldn’t read the expression on his monstrous face. He looked… conflicted… if a wither could even feel such a complicated emotion.
The gray wither joined its leader’s side, seemingly waiting for his command.
Riot motioned for me to come stand next to him.
I didn’t want to look like a coward, but I was eager to put more space between the monsters and me, so I walked up the dais and stood beside his throne.
Spade watched my every step before returning his focus to the creatures.
Finally, Riot spoke with cold yet disinterested authority.
“We’ll offer you a mercy seldom afforded.
You are both permitted to leave as you came, be seen by none in Willowspire, and never return. ”
Vore bared his teeth in a low snarl before looking to me and jerking his attention back to the Blackthornes. It was clear what—I mean whom —he wanted.
Spade boomed, “You don’t get the girl—Prism.
Furthermore, she was never yours to begin with.
You knew the rules; you broke the rules.
Only the magical and forgotten maidens can be taken.
Prism Malefic may be forgotten by her beau, but she is not magical; therefore, you violated our agreement.
” Spade squared his shoulders. “I’ll give you a pass because your blood isn’t worth staining my halls with—but I’ll keep your girl. ”
Vore let out a growl so terrible the hairs on the back of my neck stood. Spade really took it too far with that last bit. Did he want to avoid a fight or further instigate one? Truly, I could not decipher which.
A burst of wind at my side startled me, and when I turned, Twenty was at my shoulder. I raised my eyebrows expectantly. “She’s safe,” he said in a hushed tone. “Up in your room.”
Nodding, I glanced up, and Vore’s eyes bore into mine as if he’d understood every word of my exchange with my familiar.
Fury kindled within me that he thought he had any right to know of Prism’s wellbeing after what he’d put her through the past few weeks.
Vore met eyes with the other wither—Cadaver, and a silent exchange passed between them.
Suddenly, the two withers addressed the dais… and lifted their palms in… surrender?
Riot’s exhale was only heard by me before he said, “Wise choice. No, go far from here, back to the darkness from which you came.”
The withers backed away.
They were giving up.
It was over.
All of this was finally over.
My sister would never need to fear these creatures ever again. At last, I’d protected her. I’d done what I’d promised our mothers and I’d kept my sister safe.
Emotion swirled within me as they reached the door, turning to leave.
And then all of a sudden—something snapped.
Someone roared.
Vore disappeared down the hall… and Cadaver charged straight toward the dais.