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“Always be prepared for an attack,” she said, and slipped her helmet on. “I will be gone for a day or two. Thane is not here. Be prepared for anything. Listen to your commanders.”

“Lady,” he breathed, and the other guards all looked at each other. “That would leave Princess Talon as the head of command.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Presco is head of command. He knows more about war and defense than anyone else here.” She patted his shoulder.

“LadyLightbringer,” Presco hissed with a glare. “We have more to discuss.”

She strode ahead and quickly pushed through the front doors. Once she hit the bottom of the stairs, she hurried down the pathway to the stables. Presco grabbed her arm and jerkedher to a stop. He’dnevertouched her like this before. Her gaze dropped to his big hand gripping her arm. His talons were out, then lifted to his face.

“Listen to me,” he pleaded. “If you and Hel don’t make it, it could be thousands of years before… you can’t leave. You must stay. If at least you live, you’ll be able to help him remember when he’s reborn.”

After all this time, she barely got him back. Even talking about him dying and being reborn was out of the question. There was no telling when or who he’d be reborn to. It could be hundreds of years. Then even if she found who he was born to, she wouldn’t want to see him until he was an adult.

“You have the rune to travel through the portal back to Ryvengaard should neither of us make it out.”

“Valeen.” It was a cry.

“I’m not going to die. I refuse, and you know how stubborn I am.” Valeen lifted a shoulder. “Besides, I should be the one to return that ring. I was the one who stole it to begin with. I will see you soon, Presco.” It was best if this goodbye wasn’t dragged out. She didn’t wait for him to respond.

Midnight trotted over to the fence, and she popped open the gate. Using her magic for a boost, she hopped onto his bare back and without looking at her closest advisor and friend, she nudged his sides. Grass and clods of dirt flew up behind him as they made for the bridge. Mist from the waterfall moistened her skin. Hooves clopped loudly over the stone as they raced across the ravine.

A shadow above blocked out the sun. Valeen looked up to see Presco in dragon form flying with them.

Midnight rearedup as they approached the stone portal in the unnamed forest. The sun still shined high in the afternoon sky, so she didn’t have to worry about the monsters that lurked in there. She slid down and stroked the sleek black hair on his neck. “Go home, Midnight. The underrealm is no place for a horse.”

He tossed his head side to side and snorted.

“I said, go.Ekatha.” She shooed him in the primordial language, and he stomped his front hoof. “Stubborn beast.” She grabbed his face and pressed her forehead to his. He whinnied and pushed harder into her. The scent of hay and horse sweat was strong. “You can’t go where I’m going but I promise I will come back. We’ll go ride wherever you want.” He nibbled at the fabric on her shoulder as she rubbed along his forehead, then gently pushed him toward home. With big brown eyes, he looked at her one more time, then trotted out of sight.

At the sound of rustling branches and heavy footfalls, she sighed. He couldn’t just leave her be. Presco came into view, dark blond hair disheveled, glasses crooked. She thought he would turn back at the edge of the wood. “Presco, please don’t make this harder.”

“I had to see you here at least.”

Her hard outer shell was beginning to soften and that couldn’t happen. It was too dangerous for Presco to go, and someone needed to be here to watch over Palenor. She quickly turned and pressed her hand to the stone. The portal hissed and cooed. “The dark queen returns,” the voices said.

“I am not the dark queen. For the moon and stars are light, and I have always stood for what is good and fought for what I love. Open the door to the underrealm.”

“Hesaid not to,” the voices whispered.

“I don’t give a damn what he said. I am the goddess of night, and I command you to open it. You cannot deny me.”

“As you wish, goddess.”

The center swirled into a dark mass. Presco was suddenly beside her and pulled her into a hug. His large frame made her feel almost like a child in his arms. Saying goodbye to her oldest and most loyal friend tightened her throat with emotion. “It will be alright,” she whispered. “Have dinner ready for me, will you?” She wouldn’t say goodbye. It felt too final.

“Of course, my queen,” he murmured.

After a moment, she pulled away and decided it was best to run in.

Light seemed to be sucked out of existence. Everything warm and good gone with it as she stumbled out of a doorway onto the mushy ground beneath her feet. She glanced down to find her boot stuck in the body cavity of a dead demon hound. Its bright green blood covered the leather. Jerking her foot out, she sidestepped it and kicked some of the muck off. “Yuck.”

A strange, deep blue-gray glow illuminated the sky in this realm, almost a perpetual twilight, not quite day or night. Everything was black, from the top of the tree’s leaves to their twisting roots jutting out of the dark, damp ground. She forgot howheavythe air felt.

Thick bubbling tar popped and gurgled nearby. The rotten smell of it almost made her gag. Distant wailing and moaning made her stomach turn. There was also a strange clicking sound, like hundreds of insect pincers clacking together.

Something grunted behind her. She jerked Soulender and whirled. The point of her blade was at the tall, blond male’s chest in an instant. “Presco,” she growled. “I told you to stay!”

The door back to the living realms snapped shut, the light around the edges going dark. It was the only way out.