Page 5

Cyra shrugged him off and approached the spider.

“Cyra,”he hissed, his heart pounding through the Crossroads.

She ignored him, turning her focus to the infernal being squatting in the bluish light. “Tortured, beaten, raped…,” Cyra croaked. “Darien Cassel will do none of these things?” She was asking too many questions, her time nearly spent, but shehadto know.

“Nothing is set in stone, my dear—they call itfree willfor a reason.But believe me when I say he is your best option. With Darien Cassel’s protection, your daughter may stand a chance. May yet survive…in a world of people who will soon want her dead.” Her words brought a fresh wave of goosebumps to Cyra’s skin.

Erasmus hurried forward, taking Cyra by the arm. “Let’s g-go.”

“Thank you, Araneae, for your time,” Cyra said as Erasmus pulled her toward the fountain. Their time was up; they couldn’t linger—not without payment.

‘Helia.’The Widow’s voice floated through Cyra’s mind—audible only to her now.

She turned.

‘To forgive is to set yourself free. Tormenting yourself over your past mistakes will not fix them. What you choose to do with your future is far more important. If you truly love your daughter, I implore you to heed my advice—heed my warning, and find Darien Cassel.’

The pit in Cyra’s stomach widened.‘But he’s a monster.’

‘I don’t deny that. But he may be one of the only monsters capable of changing. Should he choose to protect your daughter, there will be nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Youmustfind him. He is her best and only chance.’

The fog thickened before Cyra could reply. It carried them away—back to Angelthene. When it finally cleared, they stood in the grass of Ebonfield, the faint sounds of cars and sparse nightlife trickling through distant streets.

Cyra crossed her arms, her skin tingling with chills. “What should we do?”

Erasmus lifted his hands in defeat. “It’s y-your decision. Say the words, and we’ll do it.”

Butchered,the Widow had said.

Tortured.

Beaten.

Raped.

Could Cyra live with herself if she chose to ignore the creature’s warnings? If Lily ended up dying because Cyra was too afraid to trust the one man the Widow claimed would protect her? The Nameless were incapable of lying, their knowledge of the world and its occupants deeper than the deepest ocean. Vaster than outer space. If the Widow said they could trust Darien Cassel, not only did she mean it, but it was also the gods’ honest truth.

Erasmus awaited her answer.

Place their trust in the leader of the Seven Devils…or sentence their daughter to death.

Take a chance…or risk losing everything.

“We trust the Widow,” Cyra decided, the winds of change gusting around her. “And we hire Darien Cassel.”

Part One

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Emergency Alert: Extreme

ISSUED BY THE YVESWICH MAGICAL PROTECTIONS UNIT: POWER OUTAGE

IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

At 6:03 a.m, the Yveswich Magical Protections unit issued a RED warning for a power outage of supernatural origin that may be deadly to those caught without shelter. The cause of the outage is not clear and is currently under investigation.

If you are in the area, seek immediate shelter. It is unsafe to drive in these conditions. Fleet responding. Await further instructions and follow advice from emergency services and local authorities.