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“There’s no demons.” Hel turned back, closing his hands at his sides; the magic flared out. “It’s the poison, it isn’t real.”

“It’s right there!” he pointed and jumped up. He grabbed his blade from the bedside floor and charged. He hacked at it, cutting a round table in half, splitting the wood with a crack.

“War!” Valeen shouted. “There is no demon!”

But it was there. He saw what they could not. A trick of the demon. He swung again as it lurched at him, cutting down into the armchair. Sprays of dust and fluffs of cotton wafted into the air. Valeen stepped into his path with her palms up. “War, there are no demons. I made certain we were not followed.”

The demon hound growled and barked, going for Valeen with wide acid-dripping jaws. “No!” War charged, knocking her aside, and hacked at it. His unsteady momentum sent him stumbling and crashing through the wall, and into a cool, darkened hallway. An arched window in the stonework to his right revealed the sparkling night sky filled with waves of colors. He pushed to his feet and stumbled back, catching himself on the stone wall before he fell again.

Now the demon prince sat in the window, laughing at him. “And I thought the gods were powerful. If they’re all as weak as you, I should bring my legions to take whatever I want.”

War roared and charged, driving his legs hard and fast. Until an elbow hooked under his chin, and wrapped around his throat, and he suddenly couldn’t move. Paralyzed completely from head to feet. “Release me, demon, or I’ll destroy your realm! We’ll see how your demons fare against dragon fire and the strength of the gods!”

“As mighty as you are, they certainly should fear,” Hel said with a chuckle. “But I am not a demon. I’m your cousin. And I’m sorry I have to do this, but I can’t let you hurt Val and destroy her home. Go to sleep.”

War sagged into him and there were no more demons.

“I thinkhe’s back in some sort of trance.” Leif waved his hand in front of Thane’s face.

“I’m fine.” He blinked several times and pushed Leif away.

He sprang to his feet where he and Hel met eyes and shared an unspoken understanding. Even if they hated each other now, even if they loved the same goddess, they were once as close as brothers and that bond could never truly die. Hel showed him the past to prove that they could fight together, and he showed him the beast that was rumored to be roaming Palenor, and maybe without saying it, that Hel believed a demon prince was here to assassinate them.

Chapter22

LAYALA

The afternoon of the graduation ball, Layala paced her room waiting for it to begin. She’d been dressed for hours in the gown Hel made her promise to wear. Tif whistled from her perch and swung her legs over the edge. “That dress is so beautiful. Wow! You’ll certainly be unmatched if that is what you were going for. Those look like real diamonds and the drape is like something I only dreamed of. Mama would say I was only pretending I was rich, but I wish I could have one to match. We’d make quite the pair; a jumbo and a gnome.”

“Thank you, Tif. We’ll have one made for you later if you want. Now, I want you to stay away from the party tonight, in case something bad happens, even if the food will be tempting. I know you’re braver than you used to be so please listen to me.”

She gripped one of the green vines draping over the bed and slid down, landing on the cushion of a pillow. “Course, my lady. Besides, when are lady’s maids invited to balls, especially gnome lady’s maids?”

A mask showed up in her room that morning to perfectly match the dress. She didn’t know how it arrived on her vanity, but she knew who sent it. It would cover around her eyes and forehead. It was made of lace-like material with one side dark purple curling up higher almost like wisps of smoke, the other half a glittering silver, with a starburst at the center.

As the sun dipped behind the horizon, Layala moved in front of the body-length mirror, inspecting her reflection carefully. In Pearl’s absence she didn’t style her hair as often and left it combed and down. The mask would be enough to cover the loss of an intricate style.

She stepped in front of the mirror to tie the mask on, and wondered yet again why this gown didn’t trigger her memory? Why was her goddess side so elusive? She needed to remember Valeen… become Valeen. Her relationship with Thane depended on it, not to mention perhaps her life.

Thane told her he suspected a demon prince would come for her and he was immortal. And though he didn’t go into detail about what this demon was capable of, she knew both him and Hel were nervous.

After their sparring match, Hel’s demeanor shifted toward Thane, as if he saw him less of an opponent to torture and more as an ally he would need.

But as she watched the sequins sparkle on the bodice in the dying sunlight and peered at her own blue eyes through the stars and moon mask, nothing came but a feeling of dread.

Even if she and Hel had a moment of reprieve where he spoke to her in a casual conversation and seemed like a normal person rather than a murdering mad elf, she still hated that he manipulated her into wearing this dress. Even if it was beautiful, the most beautiful gown she’d ever worn, ever seen, her defiant side wanted to change into something else and burn it just to spite Hel, but she couldn’t chance Piper’s life.Wear it or little Miss Red will pay the price,he’d said.

Tif slid to the floor and scurried to Layala’s side. “You really think the food will be good? Perhaps cakes, rolls, maybe even cookies? Oh, and I bet Thane serves the best wine at these events too.” Her eyes seemed to double in size at her own descriptions.

Layala laughed and stooped down to pat Tif on the top of her red hat. “Don’t even think about it. Now, there are protective enchantments on this room, so it is safe in here. As long as youstayhere.”

“No need to worry about me. After that cat woman came in here, I’ve had my guard up. Got me a butcher knife stashed just in case.” A butcher knife would be almost as big as her.

Three firm knocks hit the door. Layala picked up the front of her dress, unsure who to expect. She opened it to find a note. She was hesitant to open it at first even if she hadn’t gotten any new threats recently.

I can’t wait to see you downstairs. Meet me on the dais. ~Thane.

She smiled and despite his frustrating vow to keep his distance, she couldn’t wait to see him either. She turned to set the note inside and caught sight of a small triangular-shaped box that looked like a deck of cards. “What’s this?” she murmured.