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“You’re only using it for a shield. It won’t fall apart.”

She huffed, stood tall, and crossed her arms. “Only? Lightbringer will need more strength to be a conductor than it would to strike, block, and kill.”

Hel held up his hands in surrender and slowly backed toward the exit door. “Fine. What do I know? I have something I need to go do.”

Her sleek brow arched. “What?”

He hadn’t told her yet that he might have killed the person with one of their immortalities inside him… losing it forever. It wasn’t a sure thing and there was no need to alarm her over it. Because that would mean one of the three of them would have to stay mortal. He already knew he and Thane would give up theirs for her but as for the two of them? He didn’t want to think about having to fight Thane for it, and he didn’t want her to go all self-sacrificing and give hers to one of them.

“Synick. I check on him every day. We can’t be too careful with him.”

“Did Katana’s idea work? Being nicer to him, I mean. You never did tell me.” She left her sword and stepped beside Presco and looked over his list. “Add another hammer in case one breaks.”

“He didn’t say anything worthwhile,” Hel answered with a shrug. Just a hint that Hel might have destroyed one of their immortalities.

“Alright.” She lifted her blue eyes to his. “Thank you for your help. We’ll be here until we get hungry. Then I think we’re going to Aunt Evalyn’s to eat.”

“I’m hungry now,” Tif interjected. Hel only looked at her, and she blushed, and scurried off the table.

“I’ll meet you there if I can so I can finally meet the mysterious Aunt Evalyn. I’ll be on my best behavior of course.” He took another step toward the door.

Something akin to fear flashed across her face. As far as he knew, she hadn’t been in to see Evalyn since they’d returned, and her aunt had no idea she was with him… the Black Mage. He smiled watching her changing emotions.

“Well, um. Maybe…” In typical Valeen fashion—when she wasn’t in a pissy mood, that was—she didn’t want to tell him not to go and risk hurting him but explaining to her humanaunt who he was and why she was with him would be a task he couldn’t wait to witness.

“It will be a wonderful evening no doubt, Miss Lightbringer. It’s probably best if you tell her about us before the coming wedding, don’t you think?” He winked and slipped out the door.

The sun peeked out from behind the clouds and the heat from it instantly warmed his black suit. He quietly shut the smithy door and pulled out a civar. The sweet smell curled around him before he put it to his lips and inhaled.

There were two moves he could make next. He could find another god or goddess on the council to question about the flesh bags who stole their immortality, they’d have their security at an all-time high, and it would be difficult and dangerous to get to any of them, but not impossible… Or he could play on his hunch and go directly to question Pricilla’s dead heir. That was assuming the bastard was in the underrealm. If he worked for Pricilla, he’d no doubt done things to earn his spot there. But the worst place imaginable wasn’t exactly on his list of places to visit, and the demon princes wanted him dead after he and Valeen killed their brother.

He stepped onto the brick road, his overcoat billowing out behind him in the breeze.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught bright blonde hair and paused. Across the street in the shadows of the alleyway, Varlett leaned up against the brick, picking her teeth with a bone. This particular part of the city wasn’t busy. The buildings were old and several of the establishments didn’t appear to be open any longer. A bakery a few buildings down had a few patrons coming and going but heading in the other direction.

“Unless you have something monumentally important to say, make yourself disappear.” Hel paused in the center of the road, taking another puff off his civar.

Varlett strutted to the edge of the building, boots clacking loudly. Staying just in the shadows, she tossed her bone aside. “I need your help. I wouldn’t ask if you weren’t my last resort.”

“Oh, this ought to be good.”

“I… I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything I know.”

He narrowed his gaze on her, a hood shadowing most of her face. “What are you talking about?” he said, irritated.

She came out into the sunlight and pulled her hood back. It had only been two days since he’d last seen her, but the change was significant. Her hands and cheeks were bony, her skin almost gray, rather than the vibrant bronze it always was. Her hair was nearly white… and those bloodshot eyes.

The smell of fear seeped from her as she carefully stepped closer. She was even thinner than the last time he saw her. Too thin. Her collarbones protruded in the extreme.

And Valeen’s survival was connected to her… “What did you do?”

“It’s—I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Hel.” Real fear filled her watery eyes. “I’ve tried all the healing potions, the runes, antidotes, everything I can think of, but it’s getting worse.”

“What. Did. You. Do?” he growled.

She twisted the hulking, silver, demon prince’s ring on her finger. “I used demon magic to bring Thane back. He was dead, Hel. I didn’thealhim.”

Hel shot forward, grabbed her hand, pinched the ring, and pulled. This stupid fucking thing was what she used to blackmail Valeen in the first place. It didn’t move. He twisted and pulled harder, and it didn’t budge.