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Hel took hold of her hand, eyes boring into her. “Are you absolutely certain?”

“It’s done. I think it was the pool.”

“Gods, you’re right. It would have washed the magic away.” He glared at Varlett who was still being sniffed and investigated by the hounds. She had a feeling it would only be moments before they turned on her and Hel at Varlett’s command.

Valeen glanced at her armor hanging on the tree. It was too far away to grab. So were Hel’s shirt and cloak.It’s time to go.

Not until she’s gone. I never want her to come back and haunt us.He took a step toward her, and Valeen jerked on his arm.

She is about to realize the demons will follow her command and neither of us have our magic. We need to leave before that happens. This place is death for her, Hel.

With a low frustrated growl, he hooked his arm around her waist; a coolness swept around her, and the pull to move through space tugged, but they went nowhere. His magic failed. “Fuck, this might be worse than if I couldn’t get my dick up.”

They would have to do this the old-fashioned way and run.

Her old enemy stroked the crown of the demon hound’s head. It rubbed against her almost like a cat. “Mmm, my new pets.” All the demons that had emerged seemed to be waiting.

Still holding Soulender at them, she took Hel’s hand, and they slowly retreated. The hundreds of red eyes in the surrounding dark woods moved closer with each step she took back. Gangly skinny creatures with grotesquely large heads rose out of the bog waters dripping slime and muck.

Hel glanced over his shoulder and quick as a viper strike, he swung. She whirled to see a faceless, gangly creature right behind her squeal and sputter as it tipped backward. When it hit the ground small serpents swarmed it, burrowing into its flesh.

Even her nightmares couldn’t have come up with this place. A wave of panic hit her. The darkness, the screams and growls, the evilness of this realm were getting to her head. This was worse than being trapped in the dragon treasury with the gargoyles.

Run, Valeen. Hel shoved her in the back, and she stumbled into a sprint. The exit door was far from here, across a plane of ghostly trees, murky bogs, and black lakes they’d crossed.

Everything looked the same. It would be easy to get lost. They’d traveled for what felt like hours to get to this point, but asshe thought of leaving a light beam shot up into the sky. It was far, but it came from the door that led out of the underrealm.

“Hel, my dear,” Varlett cooed. “Think of all we could do together now. With this ring, with this power.” Valeen risked a peek and found Varlett marching after them with hundreds of demons in her wake. Even if she couldn’t see what they were, their eyes glowed in the darkness. “Nothing could stop us. With your army of cursed elves and my demons, we could take downanyone. Immortality, it’s yours. Revenge—taken. Make me your queen and you will be king of all the realms.”

“I already have my queen.”Don’t look back. Keep running.

A scream full of rage rippled across the land. “Kill them!”

The demons heard those words and rushed like a coming storm. Their feet beat against the black mushy ground. Valeen weaved around spindly trees and leapt over decaying men who screeched and tried to reach for her. Hounds with their massive, hunched shoulders, protruding ribs, and oversized snouts with jagged teeth raced up behind them.

Out of the shadows came several tall humanoid creatures with gangly limbs, pointy fingers as long as their forearms, no eyes, no nose, only an oversized mouth. Their skin was gray and sagging from their bones.

The ground shook from a gluttonous thing on two legs, carrying a club in each hand. Its black eyes looked like small pebbles in its two fat heads.

Venom-dripping jaws snapped. Roars and footsteps rumbled the ground with the charge. “I said not to look back.” Hel took hold of her wrist and pushed them faster. His long legs covered twice the distance she could.

Valeen swung at the first demon hound to reach them, lopping off its head. Green blood spurted on the ground and the others roared. Soulender sliced into demon flesh and crushedthrough bones. Side by side, she and Hel fought, hacking, and screaming rage of their own.

Bodies were left in a trail behind them, hulking, rotting things. Wails and screeches rang throughout the darkness. The demons kept coming, their numbers seemed endless, but the immortal blade shined brighter with each kill. It hummed with power that even the demon lake could not wash away.

Demons crept out in front of them to block their path. Valeen skid to a halt, catching Hel by the elbow. Hundreds more demons came from all directions until they were completely surrounded.

A cold wind ripped through the air, and the demons started to shake and backtrack. To the left the hounds backed off and parted for the two brothers who ruled this world.

Chapter 39

KATANA

Katana quickly bathed and changed into a pretty dress with bright florals and lace sleeves. Standing before the mirror she spent a little extra time on her hair, braiding half of it back into a crown, and applied a touch of blush to her cheeks and rose-colored balm to her lips. The night with Thane had been wonderful, the best night she’d had…maybe ever. Giving into Thane was everything she’d fantasized about and more.

She tried not to let the deal they made ruin her good mood. One time, nothing more. Already she felt the heartache creeping in. Why she thought she could get through it without feelings when she’d had them before last night was beyond her.I literally call him my protector. Like he’s mine. But he’s not.

A quiet knock on the door made her jump. She quickly slipped on her shoes. Maybe Thane would change his mind, and he’d come to confess he wanted more, not just lust. That last night made him realize he wanted to at least… try.