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Distant wailing came from inside of the horrible door with terrifying faces in it. It was essentially a portal to the next realm of the dead. Something behind it screamed. Valeen gripped Soulender tighter. The golden blade gave her comfort. It had shined with a light she’d never seen before when those creatures attacked them under the water.

The skin along the nape of her neck prickled. It felt wrong here, heavy, dark, and even if she was queen of the night, there weren’t stars in the sky and no moons to speak of. This wasn’t apeaceful night where she could marvel at the heavens. Even the goddess of night wished for sunshine sometimes.

“Don’t you think it’s strange we haven’t been attacked again?” Varlett whispered, glancing behind her. “I can feel their presence, and I know we’re being hunted, but why don’t they move in?”

“Maybeyouhaven’t been attacked,” Hel grumbled.

“Aside from when you took the key.”

“It’s probably the ring you wear.” Valeen nodded toward it. “Or they’re afraid of a weapon created by the gods.” She tapped her golden sword against her opposite shoulder. They should be terrified of it, and if they tried anything, they’d find out why.

“They no longer have a prince on this level to command them.” Hel keenly watched the inky darkness around them. “Demon creatures need a master. It’s what they were created for.”

“I’m surprised one of the other princes hasn’t come then,” Varlett said.

The door to the next demon prince’s realm was unlocked but Hel hadn’t pushed it open yet. With his palm pressed against it, he glanced back, garnet eyes flicking between them. “They don’t know we’re here, but they will soon enough.”

A few beats passed and Varlett cleared her throat. “Are you going to open it?”

“The door feels cold. Very cold.”

“So we have to wait until you’re dry.” Varlett turned away and started walking into the shadowy forest. “I’ll find some branches and make a fire.” Her figure disappeared into the umbra.

Valeen lowered her voice. “There’s something she isn’t telling us. I can feel it. She doesn’t move like someone who is ill even if she looks terrible.”

“It could be a curse of some kind, like the pale one curse, and we can’t risk something happening to you. I hate that we have to protect her, but we do, as if it was you.”

“When you fought with her at Castle Dredwich, every strike, every cut affected me instantly. I felt her stub her toe the other day. Why isn’t this?”

“I don’t know.”

Valeen shook her head and started pacing. “Maybe the link between us only responds to physical harm. Maybe whatever is happening to her, isn’tharmingher.”

His brows furrowed and he stared into the darkness she’d disappeared into. “What if it’s turning her into… something else.”

One look was all it took to decide they were foolish to let her wander off. Together they ran. The creeping sounds in the bushes and the snapping and popping of hidden creatures seemed louder. Valeen ducked under a thick branch and weaved around protruding roots until she slid to a stop.

Varlett sauntered her way with a stack of branches in her arms. “What are you looking at?”

“You’re… still here.”

“Well, where else am I going to go?” she drawled. “I can’t open the door out of the underrealm without one of you. I’m not a goddess.”

Time seemed to pass slowly, with the wailing like nails scraping on glass, the heavy breathing from unseen things, and the feeling of doom like a weight pressing in. Valeen took her boots off and placed them close to the fire. Her armor kept the moisture in her clothes but taking it off put her at risk, and yet without her magic, she didn’t know if they’d survive this place. Reluctantly she removed her Raven armor and hung each piece on branches near the fire. Hel took his shirt off and stood only in his pants.

The strange light seemed to make Hel’s tattoos shift and move. The lily mark on his chest almost appeared to bloom. It was eerie what tricks of the shadows could do. He rolled his neck side to side and then turned his backside to the fire, and that’s when she noticed the dark streaks spreading out from the bite on his neck.What is that?Her stomach dropped and she grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to turn fully toward the firelight.

“What’s wrong?” He glanced back at her.

“Kneel down so I can get a better look at this.”

He dropped to one knee and rested his elbow on his thigh. “I can think of better things I’d like to do from my knees.”

“So can I.” The light hit his back fully, and she clenched her teeth. The ebony streaks like webbing on broken glass had spread almost to the middle of his shoulder blades. This was bad. She’d never seen anything like it. Obviously getting bitten by something that was dead was going to have consequences. Hel was just too stubborn to admit it. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’d rather be fucking you on a beach somewhere.”

Now is not the time for your blasé attitude.“I’m serious.”