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“I’ll say I had a dream that Thane was going to die, and we were worried.”

Hel lifted a shoulder. “We’ll see if she falls for it. And the demon?”

“If he followed us here then he’ll follow us back. If he’s still there then we’ll take care of him. I have Darkbringer and Soulender now. Without his ring, he’s nothing.”

“I wouldn’t saynothing, love. You’re not an immortal at the moment. He can kill you and we’d be doing this all over again.”

“He could kill Layala. He won’t touch me.”

Hel laughed. It warmed her heart to see him genuinely laugh again. It made her think of their early years together. “Alright. But you will not try to take Varlett on by yourself, understand?”

With a smile, Valeen tilted her head. No longer was she simply a twenty-five-year-old elf. She was an ancient goddess too. She slid her finger along his jawline and then her thumb across his lips. “I will forgive you for things in the past, given what you thought happened between me and War, and how you felt betrayed. I understand it. But, remember who you are talking to now, Hel. I am not a young naive elf anymore. You will not speak to me like I am.”

He peered down at her; she’d seen that look before. It was one of admiration and longing, desire. “Allow me to rephrase, goddess.Please, don’t take her on yourself. She betrayed me and used me as much as you. I could argue I’ve been slighted the most.”

“That’s better. We’ll do it together.”

Chapter46

VALEEN

Valeen and Hel stood at the base of Castle Dredwhich’s front steps. Guards patrolled along well-manicured paths. Bathed in the golden light of the sunset, the grounds were bright and green and smelled of lush foliage and summer blossoms on the trees. Butterflies and buzzing bees flitted from bright colorful bloom to bloom. Everything looked the same as it did the last time she’d been here.

They left Presco on the other side of the ravine to keep an eye out for the demon prince.

With her stomach in knots, she started up the deep gray stone steps. Before she could talk to War about anything, they had to take care of Varlett. She couldn’t guess what transpired between them over the past couple of months. They’d once been engaged so she didn’t know if that was something he would have rekindled while she was gone or not. She hoped that wasn’t so because she was going to cut that wench’s head off.

The guards dipped into bows as they approached and then pulled the double entrance doors open. “Lady Lightbringer,” they said in surprise.

She paused before entering. “Where is King Thane?”

“Behind you, Lady.”

Hel had already turned to find him at the bottom of the stairs dismounting Phantom. War’s long dark hair blew in the breeze. It had grown even more, down to his waist now. His bright green eyes took her in, and he smiled warmly. Her stomach fluttered and she started down the stairs, slowly at first. Then moved quicker until she was in front of him and wrapped her arms around his hard torso. He was safe.

“You’re still here,” she breathed.

He put his arms around her, hugging her back. He smelled like the woods. “Did you think I was going somewhere?”

“I was worried.” She pulled back and let out a long slow breath before she glanced over her shoulder at Hel. There was no sign that he was bothered, although she knew her affection for War wouldn’t please him. The smooth planes of his face were neutral as he sat on the steps, with a civar, watching them through the haze of the smoke. She realized then he hadn’t smoked at the manor and their time together there but now he was back at it. A habit that he kept when he was unsettled.

“She was convinced you were going to die and insisted we come to check on you,” Hel said. “Prophetic dreams or some such nonsense.”

War’s brows furrowed. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I thought you two weren’t coming back until…”

She hated lying to him, but she’d have to keep up the facade until they found where Varlett was. They couldn’t risk her overhearing and figuring out they knew the dragon’s secret. They wanted surprise on their side so she wouldn’t run. “I remember some things, not everything.” She tucked her arms behind her back.

“Where’s Varlett?” Hel asked.

“I haven’t seen her today.” He pulled off his black riding gloves. “We’ve been hunting the demon. We took down one of the hounds three days ago and he vanished after that. Varlett didn’t come back with us.”

“You found the obsidian,” Valeen mused.

“Yes, up north in dragon territory. The Drakonans had a stash.”

Valeen turned to Hel.That means the demon Morv was never in Ryvengaard. Who could I have seen then?

Hel lifted a shoulder.