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Dread and agony slowly increased with each passing moment he didn’t get up. Valeen slipped her boots back on and trod down a trail in the black foliage while pacing next to Hel.I could drag him to the door and take him back home, then I’d regain my powers, and he would recover faster on his own.

“I healed Thane, and nothing bad has happened to him.” Varlett tapped her talons together in a steady rhythm. “I promise I won’t harm Hel.”

“He said no, Varlett. I know you’re used to manipulating everyone, but no.”

“You’ll let your mate die?”

“He won’t die.” Hel was strong and his will to live was as fiery as her temper.

“He’s dying! Look at him!” Varlett shot to her feet. “I’ve never seen him like this. Never.”

Valeen’s stomach turned and she stared at his sheet-white face, the sweat beading on his brow and temples. His eyes fluttered and he let out a soft groan, curling in on himself. She dropped beside him, holding her hand against his forehead and then his cheek; his skin was on fire. “Hel, we have to go back.”

“No,” he panted.We have to do this to save you.“I’m… I’m…” he groaned again and started shivering. “Fine. Just a little longer.”

“Move.” Varlett pushed her hip into Valeen, nearly knocking her off balance. “There’s no more time.”

“Don’t touch him.” She shoved Varlett and knocked her on her ass. It felt good to finally dosomething.

Varlett sprung to her feet once more. “Get out of the way. I’m not getting trapped down here if he dies.”

Valeen pulled her blade, metal sliding against metal, and stood over Hel. “You will not touch him.”

Her gut said not to trust her to use magic on him even under the guise of healing. Varlett had proven time and time again she was the enemy, and letting her touch Hel with that ring wasn’t going to happen, she made a promise. Even if she hadn’t promised Hel, Varlett was starting to look more like a demon by the minute.

A slow trickle of dread slid down her spine. Varlettlookedlike a demon… the ring wouldn’t come off her finger, the third prince Morv was dead… her eyes were changing,hadchanged to red, and her skin was blue-gray like one of the princes. Even her hair was white.

All Mother above, she wasn’tdying at all. She was turning into a demon, and not just any demon. She resembled the rulers of this realm.

“You can’t use that blade on me. You’ll hurt yourself,” Varlett purred, starting to circle. She had her sights set on Hel with a possessiveness that had the hackles on Valeen’s neck rising. “He should be mine, Val. We are much better suited for each other. We crave power, and he doesn’t realize that with me, he could rule all of Runevale. You hold him back from what he could be. He wants power. He craves to be the ruler that all worship at hisfeet. Even his queen. I crawled on my knees for him, but you, you’re too proud.”

If she could claw out her eyes, she would. Gouge them out and feed them to the disgusting demon hounds. “You are so pathetic it’s almost sad. He doesn’t want power. He wants vengeance. He fights because he must.”

“Are you so certain? He wasn’t afraid to let me see who he truly is and it’s as dark as this place. He even said himself he is not good. You’re trying to turn him into something he is not. You’re trying to turn him into Thane. You could go back to him, you know. He still loves you.”

“Shut up.” Valeen gripped the sword handle hard enough her hand ached. “I do know Hel’s heart, and it belongs to me. He’smymate.”

“Come on, Val. You’re lying to yourself.” She kept circling like a hawk, waiting for an opening. “You’ve seen the darkness in him, and it’s blacker than mine.”

“He only did those things to save me, to protect me.”

“You think so? He does it because he enjoys being wicked. Is that what you truly want? You’re supposed to be better than that,Lightbringer.”

Valeen kept her sights on Varlett and slowly squatted down. “Get up, Hel. We have to go.”

“I need just a few more minutes,” he said through chattering teeth.

“You’re not going anywhere with him.” Varlett took a quick jump forward. Valeen jerked a throwing star from her belt and flicked it at Varlett. It cut through the air with a whistle; she turned her face, but it still grazed her cheek, leaving a two-inch gash.

Pain Valeen could handle.

Pain was temporary but letting Varlett get ahold of Hel might not be.

She waited for the sharp sting to mirror Varlett’s, but it never came. She reached up and found no blood.

Something had changed…

Several pairs of glowing red eyes that had watched from afar drew closer. Low growls and hisses made the hair on her arms rise.