CHAPTER 21
Frankie
We stand near the front of the crowd, close enough to see the pyre but far enough back to give the family space. Jess is on my left, Graven hovering behind her like a wall. Ronin, Anatha, Beleth…everyone’s here, but no one is talking.
Jess leans toward me. “You okay?”
A wave of nausea rolls through my stomach, enough to make saliva gather in my mouth. I swallow. It must be my nerves. “Not really.”
She nods. “Me neither.”
The horde shifts. A low ripple moves through the crowd as bodies slide aside, creating a path down the center. The parents step forward, their son wrapped in a deep red cloth.
I want to look away so badly, but I’m afraid it would be disrespectful. I pick a spot on the mother’s shoulder and hold my eyes there because I can’t handle looking at the boy.
Zarreth’s fingers brush mine as Jess slips her hand into my other one. We don’t look at one another, but it helps to keep me steady.
The parents lay their son on the pyre with a kind of carefulness that makes my chest ache. The mother pauses, her hand on the cloth for a moment that feels too long and not long enough.
“May his strength rise again,” she says. Her voice barely carries, but it’s enough to cut right through me.
The father touches the pyre’s edge. “May his path be guarded.”
An elder steps forward, raising her hand to light the wood, when a shadow creeps in around us. An eerie laugh echoes through the square as a large demon with long white hair steps forward. His eyes sweep the crowd like he’s walking into a performance, like all of this was arranged for him alone.
He lifts his chin, voice cutting through the silence. “May Erebus guide his way.”
Jess squeezes my hand. Zarreth’s growl vibrates through his chest when he pushes us behind him.
Dante. I know we expected him, but I can’t stop the panic from pushing against my ribs. His gray eyes sweep the crowd, and I know exactly who he’s looking for.
The boy’s mother screams. Blades scrape free all around us as warriors snap into motion.
Ronin steps beside Zarreth, completely shielding us from Dante’s sight. Graven shifts in front of Jess, stance low and ready.
Dante’s not alone. About forty shifters surround him, all in different stages.
Some resemble large hounds. Some are half-formed, with bone and fur pushing through skin.
They’re all pacing, or digging their claws into the ground.
Jaws are snapping at nothing. The ones I made would rip anyone’s face off in a second.
It didn’t matter who you were. Why are these ones holding back?
The figure next to him is massive, broader than any demon I’ve ever seen. The cloak strains across his shoulders like it belongs to someone smaller. He doesn’t move, doesn’t even sway. Something about that stillness makes my skin crawl.
Macen steps forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “This ground isn’t yours. Leave.”
Dante places a hand on his chest like he’s been shot. “You wound me. I’m the reason you’re all gathered here to begin with.” He stops long enough to wink at Macen then goes on. “I’m here for the one you call the Realm Eater. Hand her over and I’ll be on my way.”
Zarreth’s hands morph into flames as Macen unsheathes his sword. “There is no Realm Eater here, and we won’t be handing anyone over.”
Dante strolls closer, hands in his pockets proving he’s clearly not intimidated. “I’ll guess I’ll retrieve her myself.”
The shifters crouch into position as Macen points his sword to the sky. “Noctar Zhul!” he yells.
Chaos erupts. Shifters slam forward. Steel flashes as warriors meet them head on. Bodies crash together as the fighting explodes around us.
Zarreth steps forward, heat rolling off him hard enough to sting my cheeks. His muscles bulge and skin splits in bright cracks as flames climb up his arms. The Emberlord.
His eyes catch mine, silently begging me to step into the shield. “Frankie.”
I nod and step closer to Graven as a shifter charges at me. Zarreth hits it, flames slamming it sideways into the stones.
Another one lunges from the left and I meet it with steel. My blade cuts clean through and the body drops at my feet.
I stumble into Graven’s shield as Ronan flashes beside me, a bloody head in his fist. “Elbows in, Frances. You’re wide open like that.” Then he disappears, on to the next target.
I glance toward the ridge where Dante stood a moment ago, but the space is empty. I catch movement slipping between tents.
Zarreth looks over to make sure I’m in the shield, then spreads his wings. “Stay alive for me, little mate.”
Sparks fall from his skin when he launches upward. His shadow sweeps over the cluster of tents, hunting for Dante. Get him, Zarreth…but come back to me.
Children are running toward us, clinging to Jess and me when they finally get to safety. Graven stands behind us, his eyes black, ripples spreading out from his fingers. The shield wavers. Graven braces against it, focus razor-sharp, holding the entire thing together through sheer will.
I lean in, lowering my voice so the children don’t hear. “Are you okay?”
His eyes flick to mine. “It shouldn’t be draining me this fast,” he grits out. His hands stay locked in place, but I can see how much it’s pulling at him.
Jess notices too. She quickly hides the worry on her face. Her fingers tremble as she snaps them at the young demons. “Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall,” she sings, voice cracking as they join her. ‘Ninety-nine bottles of beer.”
Think. What can I do to help? Something pulses at my neck, dragging my attention to the stone. Darkness swirls inside it, tugging hard, fighting to get out. The shield flickers again, this time in rhythm with my necklace. Shit! It’s me.
I try ripping it off, ready to launch it across the damn village, but its magic won’t let me.
Fuck! I close my eyes and pray to all the Gods that I can gather enough magic to do something, because I won’t stay inside the shield and risk everyone’s safety.
I flex my fingers, waiting for the darkness to run through my veins.
Dammit! Fucking shit! It’s not working. The one fucking time I need my dark magic, it fails me.
Why the fuck can’t I remove this necklace?
The hellhounds are starting to jump through the fire barricade, so now we’re really outnumbered.
I look at Graven. “How much longer can you hold it?”
Sweat is forming on his hairline. “Ten minutes, tops,” he grits out.
I’ll give myself two minutes. If I can’t summon my magic by then, I’m stepping out.
I just need to breathe, focus. With each inhale, I imagine a smoky cloud floating through my veins, and soon it’s there.
It’s not heavy or greasy, but it makes my skin crawl.
It’s eerie. My hands buzz as smoke dances along my fingertips.
Yes! It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.
I step out of the shield, searching for Dante. Where the fuck is he?
“I’ve been waiting for you. I figured you wouldn’t sit with the weak for too long.” He steps out of a shadow, the cloaked being by his side.
I don’t waste any time. I dig deeper, reach further for the dark, but the stone holds it tight. I drag what little I can through my veins, forcing it into my hands, but the black smoke is thin, broken. I push harder and harder until my chest aches. Nothing.
Dante stands there, smiling, like he’s watching a toddler.
“Get the fuck back here.” Macen’s panicked voice booms over the noise, and it pulls my attention away from Dante.
I whip around in time to see Jess bolt out of the shield, sprinting toward Ronin’s sister. Lucy doesn’t see the shifter bearing down on her. “Run!!” Jess shouts, but she’s too late. Claws rake Lucy’s stomach, blood spraying against the firelight.
Ronin’s roar rips through the chaos. It’s so raw, so filled with pain.
He’s on the shifter before I can blink, invisible one second, solid the next.
His hands twist and the shifter’s head tears free with a crack.
The sound that follows isn’t victory—it’s pure sorrow, torn straight from his soul.
Then he’s gone, tracing away with Lucy in his arms before the body hits the ground.
His scream is still ripping through me. This can’t be happening! For a split-second everything stops while my grief tries to swallow me whole. It hurts, but I shove it aside and force my voice out. “Jess, get to Graven. Run!”
She takes a few steps back, colliding with one of the Recreants. The demon snarls, shifting his attention to Jess long enough for the hellhuman he’s fighting to sink its jaws into his neck.
“Get the fuck out of the way, human.” Sable appears, standing over the injured demon, and stabs the hellhuman in the chest. “You’re fucking worthless,” she spits at Jess.
“God’s damn it, Jess. Do as you’re fucking told and get back here.” Graven runs in her direction, his shield stretching. He slices the head off a hellhuman, but he doesn’t reach her in time.
No! My heart sinks as Dante grabs her by the neck and holds her in the air, his claws clicking against one another because she’s so small.
“Let her go!” I jerk forward, but wings slam down in front of me before I take a step. Zarreth stands between us, fire flowing off him in waves.
“Oooh,” Dante purrs, eyes raking over him. “Look at you. Furious. Glorious. Always so noble.” His gaze slides to me, claws flexing against Jess’ throat. “But nobility won’t keep your precious little friend alive, Frances. Only you can do that. Surrender, and I’ll let her go.”
I take a step forward. It’s Jess. My Jess. The instinct to give myself up for her burns so deep, it nearly drags me out of Zarreth’s shadow.
“No!” Jess chokes out, thrashing in Dante’s grip. Her eyes lock on mine, wide and desperate. “Don’t you dare, Frankie!”
Zarreth’s hot grip sears through my arm when he pulls me back. His wings flare as his voice lashes out. “Touch her, and I’ll tear you apart piece by fucking piece.”
I want to so badly. I’d trade my life for hers in a heartbeat, but I know they’re right. If I go to him, it’s over—Jess, Zarreth, the realms. My hands curl into fists. “No,” I rasp.
Dante chuckles, but it’s soon cut off when his gaze lands on my chest. For the first time, his grin falters. Suspicion narrows his eyes, and his words lose all charm. “Where did you get that?”
My hand flies up to the pendant. “I don’t know,” I rasp.
He sighs, tightening his grip on Jess’ throat until she coughs. “Please don’t make me do the whole back-and-forth-threatening thing. It’s a waste of time when everyone knows I’ll kill her the second you don’t cooperate.”
“I’m telling the truth. I swear. Please don’t hurt her!”
He loosens his grip. “Fine!” His mouth curls into something cruel. “I won’t hurt her.” His chin lifts, voice ringing out through the chaos. “Beast!”
The cloaked figure steps forward and lifts his hood.
“It can’t be…it’s impossible.”