Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Andras
My usual calm and collected demeanor was close to shattering.
It was finally time for us to go to Stella Terra.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued.
Our fathers spoke of this world often, as it was always their goal to get there.
To meet the daemon king, Corson Ormaenus, and be granted true power for their loyalty to his crown.
Of course, my father would never bow for another king, and I knew he had more deviant plans.
After all these years, all the abuse and manipulation, the devastation our fathers forced upon was coming to an end.
I closed my eyes, searching for the bond connecting me to the only woman I’d ever fallen for, but whatever power connected us was silent.
Fury coursed through my veins. I knew my father was part of this.
Seraphina was the strongest creature I’d ever met, but even she could break under the right amount of pressure. It was our fucking fault.
“Yes, brother, it is.” Typhon’s deep voice rumbled as he approached. “We will make it right.”
Levi appeared at Typhon’s side. “This is not our fault, you melancholy man babies.”
I arched an eyebrow at Levi just as Typhon wrapped a muscular arm around his throat. Levi was hardly intimated by the brute, letting the heavily tattooed brother of ours manhandle him.
“Are you looking for more punishments?” Typhon snarled.
Levi grinned. “If you mean funishments, then yes.” He shoved out of Typhon’s grasp and danced out of the way of the monster’s swinging fists.
“And I’m serious. This is not our fault.
Nor is it hers. The amount of physical and mental torture our girl must have endured to get to that point has me seeing red. ”
That fury threatened to boil over at his words. I’d barely slept since she was taken. Images of what they were doing to her flooded my mind every time I closed my eyes.
Levi clasped my shoulder, forcing the images away. “But if anyone can turn pain into power, it’s Seraphina fucking Valdis. And whether or not we are bonded by some crazy magic, she is ours. Now and always.”
I reached out and tousled Levi’s wavy brown locks. “Since when did you become so well-spoken?”
Levi smirked, his navy-blue eyes lighting at my praise. “Someone has to be the clever one in this gloom. And now that it’s just myself and grumpy and grumpier, I gotta do something to keep morale up.”
Typhon punched Levi’s bicep, but with less strength than before and a deadly smirk on his face. “We’ll get her back. Even if only one tiny scrap of her soul remains intact, we’ll get her back and make it right.”
The words of my brothers lit a fire fueled by determination and hope. And as the moon rose into the night sky, I knew their words rang true.
We stood shoulder-to-shoulder, nearly five hundred strong. It was almost dizzying, the number of humans and creatures gathered here, ready and willing to go to war.
The Umbra Noctis made up about two-thirds of those gathered. We’d trained them to fight. Ensured they studied daemons and lumens and witches to know their powers, strengths, and weaknesses.
The others were brought in by Delphine and Nuriela.
Both had spent years gathering any who wished to fight against Belial and King Corson.
Many had lost loved ones to the Daemon King and his vile son.
When Aurora closed all avenues for beings to travel between worlds, families were eternally separated.
Delphine and Nuriela ensured those detained on Earth understood why the lumen queen did what she did.
With her sacrifice, and Lailah’s, Belial and Corson were forced to regroup, and we were given time to grow our armies.
“It is time.” Delphine spoke, her voice level and carrying across the silent field.
“When we arrive, we should be within a few miles of Liboteria. The truxens will know instantly. Do not use magic, draw weapons, or anything else that seems remotely threatening. The truxens are our allies, but they trust no one. Let’s not give them a reason to distrust us. ”
“Will Seraphina be there?” Michaela asked, her voice steady. The determined look on her face was so much like her sister’s. “I saw her in a jungle.”
I may have doubted her strength at first, but seeing the work she put into honing her power and training with the new Seer magic was commendable.
Delphine nodded. “I’ve seen bits of her in the jungle and the city. I’m confident Phenex found her and brought her to the city. And I think if she was…gone, we would know.”
“She lives,” Typhon growled, power radiating from him in waves.
Gremory snarled back at him in defense of his mate. “Watch it, young blood.”
Typhon grinned, the sight anything but comforting, and I sighed, stepping closer to my unruly brother. “With or without the mate bond, we would know if she were gone. And our connection to Phenex and Dev still pulses with life.”
Delphine nodded. “I agree, she lives. Our fates would have changed drastically if she didn’t. Michaela would see it as well.” She turned away from us and stepped closer to Michaela. “With our blood combined and the words I’ve taught you, we will begin.”
Morax pressed in close behind his mate, his hands resting on her slim waist. Delphine produced a dagger, and Michaela presented her palm without hesitation.
The youngest daughter of Aurora began chanting, and Delphine mirrored her, their blended voices rising like the crescendo of a song.
The air around us vibrated with power, growing so thick that I could taste the magic on my tongue.
A weightlessness took over my body, and the world around us began to fade.
Power hummed in my veins, and suddenly we were surrounded by an endless night sky. The stars twinkled as we passed through the plane of our world and into a new one. It was over in seconds, and suddenly my feet slammed into solid earth. Typhon caught my forearm, steadying me.
“Oh, Toto—” Levi started, but I slammed my hand over his mouth.
“Leviathan. I will punch you in the mouth if you quote Wizard of Oz right now,” I huffed, rolling my eyes. The man was a cinephile, and it was one of his favorites.
Levi’s tongue pressed into my fingers, and I snatched my hand away, wiping his saliva on Ty’s short sleeve T-shirt.
“When this is over, movie night at the Towne House.” Levi smiled.
A ghost of a smile touched my lips, and even Typhon joined. The idea of a movie night at our home with Seraphina wrapped in our arms sounded like pure heaven.
“Bow before the future king and consort of Belfegor’s heir!” a voice boomed over us, and my heart leapt with relief. Even if he was an asshole for announcing himself like that.