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Varlett opened a pouch on the side of her pant leg, taking a clear vial and a barb out.

“It works on you, doesn’t it?” He took the barb and dipped it into the vial then jabbed it into Synick’s neck.

“I’m in a mortal elven body, it wouldn’t work on an immortal. And it doesn’t work on you,” Valeen argued.

“I made myself immune to it with micro doses. He hasn’t. And since he was knocked unconscious by a kick, he has a weakened body like us.” Hel grabbed Synick’s chin and turned his face. Blood oozed out of the good side of his mouth. “And if that wasn’t proof enough, he’s half rotten. All immortal gods are without imperfection and have a luminescence about them. He doesn’t. He didn’t get to come back from the dead the same as before.”

“I need to make sure everyone else is alright.” Valeen made her way back up to the crest of the hill where she was able to peer down at where the other battle had happened. The undead creatures that came with Synick had their heads and arms cut off, all pinned down by boulders, spare rope, or weapons separately. Each body part wiggled and moved, fighting to reform.

Piper walked over, sheathing her sword. “We have them all restrained for now. But we’ll need a more permanent solution.The nasty things are still trying to come back together. One of the heads kept snapping its jaws at me.”

“Eww.” Valeen shuttered. “We can hold them in the dungeons of my castle… assuming it’s still mine. Or drop them into the sea with heavy stones tied to them.”

“The second option.” Hel walked up behind her. “Even when we have your castle. They can’t be near Synick for him to control.”

Piper peered out into the darkness over Valeen’s shoulder. “There’s no sign of Thane yet. Or your sister.”

Valeen turned, facing the direction Katana and Thane had gone. Katana must be terrified after coming back from… wherever she was, and Valeen was the only one she’d trust.Unless,the hairs on the back of her neck rose,unless she doesn’t remember me. Maybe that’s why she ran.

Piper continued, “I went into your room after you left and found the cards with all the gods. I asked Thane about Katana since it said she was your sister. He told me the story of how she was murdered by Synick and why. I’m surprised you didn’t kill him.”

“Trust me, I want to, but we need to interrogate him first. We need the other immortal weapon.” It took everything in her not to cut off his head right then. She hoped keeping him alive was the right move and it didn’t come back to bite them later.

“Good thinking.” But Piper frowned down at his unconscious body.

Heavy footsteps trod in. Presco’s pearl scales still covered his body as he joined them. He pushed his round, gold glasses up further on his nose. “I can go look for War and Katana. I’ll find them the fastest from the sky.”

“Take me with you,” Valeen said. “She doesn’t know anyone but me and she’s scared.”

Hel’s white wings materialized, and he shook his head. “I’ll be taking you.”

“Hel, one of us needs to stay with Synick. When he wakes up, he will be able to use persuasion on them until they’re trained to resist it.” Varlett would likely be able to withstand persuasion, but Leif and Piper wouldn’t, and she couldn’t trust Varlett to help them.

He didn’t look happy when he said, “Go.”But if you’re not back soon, I’ll come looking, Synick be damned.

Valeen shifted to shadow while Presco transformed into his dragon. With ease she drifted in her airy form onto Presco’s back, settling into place on his hard scales. She thought of the last time she’d rode on a dragon with Hel before she remembered everything. The way she was afraid to desire him but falling fast. How he looked at her like she was a star he wanted to capture but was scared of the burn. He had that same expression on his face now. Fighting between letting her go and wanting her to stay.

“Find Tifapine!” Valeen hollered, as she scanned the grass. She’d likely run to hide during the fight, but she usually didn’t go far.

“I’ll look for her!” Leif yelled back.

Presco lifted into the night sky with his great wings picking up wind, blowing Piper’s red hair loose from its tie.

“We need to hurry.” Valeen gripped the spike in front of her as they soared. “I’m worried Synick wasn’t alone coming from the underrealm, and Varlett has the demon prince’s ring. They’ll be looking for it.”

“Hel is formidable on his own,” Presco said. “I worry more he will abandon them to come for you. You will always be his first priority.”

Chapter 2

THANE

Thane’s breaths came even and steadily as he sprinted through the dark landscape. Leaving behind every person he cared about while they were in a fight went against most of his instincts, except one, protecting a maiden who was scared and possibly helpless. From what he knew about the goddess of day, she was kind and wouldn’t hurt anyone, maybe not even to defend herself.

She was faster than he anticipated. He’d been running for at least a mile and hadn’t caught her yet, but her scent kept him in the right direction. It was unmistakable, like the embodiment of lavender and sunshine.

He picked up his pace, sensing he was drawing closer and caught sight of her silvery dress in the light of the moons. She had stopped under a large weeping willow, the branches offering partial cover. He slowed and glanced down at the weapons in both hands. These would only frighten her more, so he tucked them in the sheaths on his back and walked carefully toward her.

As he came up to the outside of the hanging willow branches, she partially hid herself behind the wide trunk, her fingers clutching the bark. She peeked out, her lavender-colored eyeslocking onto his. Something warmed in the gaping hole in his chest that had been there since his mate bond to Layala was broken. He’d grown so accustomed to the emptiness he’d forgotten it was there.