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HEL

If he’d been furious going into the underrealm there wasn’t a word to describe what he felt now. An insatiable heat was eating away at him. It wasn’t just anger or dejection. It was the center of a sun ripping through him.

He marched with Valeen in his arms, his magic curled around them, casting shadows, curling like vipers ready to lash out.

With a snap of his fingers, her ripped and bloody clothes had been replaced. There wasn’t a trace of dirt or black muck from the underrealm on her. Her thick raven hair flowed out in clean waves. She was radiant and lovely and good. Too good for him. Sometimes it was still a wonder that she was in love with him. There were times he thought she should be with Thane, that she might be better off, but he was too selfish to even consider it.

The wound Varlett had given her was healed as if it had never happened. Her heart beat steadily. A lovely song to his ears, but she had been on the edge of death. It had been within reach of her, beckoning her name. He’d felt the coldness all around them like frost on an autumn night as winter threatened. He’d seen death enough times to know what it looked like.

He curled her tighter to his chest and pressed his lips to the crown of her head. Sleep still claimed her. Before he’d picked her up, he’d pushed his way into her mind to make sure she was indeed there and found her dreaming in the gardens of what was once House of Night.

Even if he was on the verge of collapse, he should have been the one to push her through the door first, then Varlett would have stabbed him through the back and not her.

Pain and aching still throbbed in his shoulders and back. He hadn’t used his magic to heal himself. He’d heal quick enough, but the pain was a punishment for what he allowed to happen. Even his wings were still out, bent and bloodied.

“What happened?” Thane’s voice broke through his thoughts. Hel had nearly forgotten he was there. Slowly turning his head, he only looked at him and said nothing. He pulled Phantom along behind him. The sound of the hooves hitting the ground had become background noise.

“Hel.”

“She almost fucking died, that’s what happened.”

“Where is Varlett?”

“She’s a demon now, and the connection between them is severed,” he said through clenched teeth. It was all he could manage. His magic was raging within him. He prided himself on control but right now he felt like he could explode. Part of him wanted to go back to make Varlett suffer. To inflict pain like she’d never felt before.

He glanced down at Valeen... but he had to think of her first. The only thing that mattered right now was getting her immortality. Varlett’s sword wouldn’t have gone through her if she had her immortal strength. No bite from a demon hound could kill her. Death couldn’t steal her away. Except with the fucking sword Synick still had. He needed to get that too.

“Varlett is a demon? How?” Thane put a hand on Hel’s shoulder and his magic flared on its own. Hissing, Thane jerked back and shook his palm. “You shocked me. What was that for?”

“Don’t touch me right now. It’s because of the ring.”

“You could at least tell me if Val is going to be alright.”

“She’s fine until something else fucking happens. We’re making a move. I’m done playing fucking footsy with the council. I’m going to invade Pricilla, and I need your help. Get your dragons and Ravens ready.” Walking back to the castle was taking too long. As much as the sun was a welcome gift after the horrid underrealm, he wanted to sit in a dark room and contemplate killing every council member and how he was going to do it. In a flash, he stood outside Valeen’s room and pushed through the door. His boots slammed on the stone floor, and he set her on the lavender quilt on the bed.

Pressing his palm to her forehead, he slipped into her mind again. Valeen was sitting cross-legged in a bed of moss, plucking the petals off a white daisy. Blossoming trees and blooming flowers were the backdrop behind her. The three moons in the sky were fully intact. It was their connected dreamworld. The place he’d spent all those years while he waited for her to wake him. It was almost comforting. There was nothing here that wanted them dead.

She lifted her chin and smiled at him. Gods, that smile could bring him to his knees. He would crawl to her right now if she asked.

I was waiting for you,she said softly.

It’s time to wake up, love.

She frowned.I had to come here so I wouldn’t forget you. I felt myself…slipping away. I don’t want to ever forget you again.

I know. You won’t. And I’m going to make sure of that.He held out his hand to her.

She tossed the flower aside and stood, brushing off bits of moss from her pants. The moment her hand clasped his, he was pushed out.

He stared down at her face in her bedroom at Castle Dredwich.

Moments passed.

Why wasn’t she waking?

His heart started to pound and squeeze. As soon as he was pushed out, she should have woken.

“Val.” He caressed her cheek. “Wake up.”