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If Varlett didn’t come back, do you think she knows?

That’s what I’m thinking.

War cleared his throat and looked back and forth between them. “You’re talking to each other silently, aren’t you?”

“Should we call you Thane or are you War?” Hel asked, pushing up to his feet. He tossed his civar and stepped on the burning end. “War would know that. Thane wouldn’t.”

“I remember everything now but among the elves, I’ll always be called Thane. So, what is it you don’t want me to know?”

It was still too risky to tell him. Varlett could be anywhere, hiding. War’s eyes flicked back and forth between them, and his throat bobbed. “You came to tell me it’s him, didn’t you? That you choose him.”

Hel’s eyes flicked to her.Be convincing.

“No, that’s not why,” Valeen said softly. Shit, this was going to be a disaster.

“You know the reason you left him was because he was using you for an heir and he was cheating on you. You never did tell me who it was with.” He glared at Hel, fists clenching at his sides. “You deserve better, Layala.”

“Thane…”

You’re not doing a very good job convincing him you haven’t made your choice,Hel chided.We don’t have time for this conversation with him.

War’s lips pressed firmly together. “You don’t look surprised.”

“That’s because she isn’t,” Hel said. “And if you don’t shut up, you’re going to ruin our upper hand. Dragon in the sky.” He pointed up. High above, soaring in the clouds was a sleek black dragon. The dying light glinted off her scales, glittering like a vast lake. “Guess who.”

“Zaurahel,” Valeen warned. “Don’t do anything rash.”

“What’s going on?” War asked.

Hel’s white wings materialized and without so much as a look her way, he shot into the sky.

“HEL!” Valeen shouted. Her heart slammed into her chest so hard and fast it ached. “Damn it! That bastard tried to get on my ass about not going after her myself and he turns around and does that exact thing.”

She searched everywhere for another dragon, someone to get her up there fast. Her shadow form could rise up there, but she lacked the speed and maneuverability she had on the ground. Too bad she hadn’t taken Hel up on those wings he offered her. “Where is Presco?” she said more to herself than War.

War looked utterly confused. “Layala, tell—”

“It’s me, it’s Valeen. There’s no time to explain but Varlett betrayed Hel, you, and me, all those years ago. She tricked us.” She peered across the ravine where they’d left Presco but couldn’t spot him. She took off running, simultaneously checking the sky. Hel’s wings beat swiftly, carrying him rapidly upward. The sunset shined off them like silver armor. He was seconds from reaching Varlett.

Hel, you wait for me!

Sorry, love.

“Demons!” someone shouted.

“Shit,” War cursed, and grabbed her arm, dragging her to a stop. “We need to get you inside. He must have spies or—”

Valeen pulled free of his grasp. “I am the goddess of night. He will fear me.”

War broke into a smile and shook his head. “I told you one day you’d realize you were the queen, the most powerful chess piece on the board, and they would fear you. I’m glad you finally have.”

Her fingers ached to touch his beautiful face one last time, but she only nodded at his encouragement. “Varlett played us all against each other.”

“I don’t understand. We were engaged but then once you came to live with me, she left to join with Hel, but how does that mean she played us?”

At the bridge, a demon hound tore into the guards and body parts flew in the air. The gate dropped with a slam, but the demon hound crashed through it, spraying bits of metal everywhere. Screams echoed against the castle as the guards ran toward the danger and servants and other guests ran away from it. Valeen watched in horror as the horses bolted through the pasture, trying to escape one of them. She spotted Midnight and Phantom among them.

“Oh, you better not touch my horse!” She took off running at a full sprint. The wind tore through her midnight hair, her boots flew over the emerald-green grass.