Page 112 of Lucifer's Mirror

“They’re prepared for this,” he continues. “Hecate knows what she’s doing. She said we’re to clear the area. Kill any inside, and she’ll get the wards back up.”

Fury growls. If Amber is in danger, he wants to be there, beside her, to protect her. But I know Thanouq is right. Our best way of protecting Amber is to eliminate the shadowguard, make sure they get nowhere near the village.

“Let’s go kill the fuckers,” I say. Though apparently we’re not actually killing them. Something else I didn’t know.

I shift, and beside me, Thanouq does the same. We don’t need discussions—we’ve done this before. I’ve taken orders when I was younger, and I’ve given orders, but I’ve never worked with someone as a team. It’s good to know he has my back.

Fury leaps forward as Thanouq launches into the air. Within minutes, I see the first of them. There are maybe thirty. No problem.

I attack from the front while Thanouq swoops down from behind. Fury has always loved to fight, and I hand over the reins to him, slipping into the background while he does his thing. My world is a haze of blood and claws.

Soon they’re gone. Back to Hell, no doubt.

I stand, panting slightly, sniffing the air for any further threat, but there’s nothing. We spend the next couple of hours searching the area, Thanouq from the sky, me on the ground.

When we’re sure there are no more, Thanouq lands beside me and shifts back into human form.

I don’t shift. I can get back to the village faster like this. I need to get to Amber, make sure she’s all right.

Tell her I choose her. That I want to be better.

Do I tell her everything?

Not now. I’m afraid she won’t understand.

Soon.

I find Hecate standing outside the house, watching me approach. I shift as I get close.

“Where’s Amber?” she says.

I swallow. “I thought she was with you. She’s not here?” I can hear the panic rising in my voice. “She said she was coming to see you.”

“When?”

“A couple of hours ago. Maybe.” Shit. “Have you seen Trystan?”

“No.” Fear flashes across her face. “What has your friend done, prince?”

More shit. I have a bad feeling about this. Fury whines. What the fuck has Trystan done? Rage rises inside me. Is he taking her to my father?

He’s always been ambitious but with little talent to back it up. Maybe he sees this as a way of currying favor. Damn him. I’ll rip him limb from limb if he’s touched her in any way.

Thanouq appears and looks between the two of us. “What’s happened?”

“Amber is missing. So is Trystan. I think he might be taking her to my father.”

“Bastard.”

“I must go. I’ll find them.” I look at Hecate and see the pain in her eyes. “I’ll bring her back. I promise.”

She nods.

“I’ll come with you,” Thanouq says.

“One of us needs to stay, in case there are more shadowguard around.”

“I’m faster,” he replies.