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He smiled, dimpling his cheek. “It was worth a shot.”

The door creaked open and Mathekis peeked out. “He’s ready, Lord.”

Shiny black eyes followed her steps as she crossed through the Manor’s entrance and into the foyer. Aldrich bared little resemblance to who he was before. The only reason she knew it was him was because of the clothes he wore, and his facial structure was the same, but he was as pale as the moon and his golden hair was white and straight. There was nothing about him that would make her call him Sunshine anymore.

Deep down she knew he deserved to die a traitor’s death, but this fate was worse than being buried six feet under.

Aldrich bowed his head to Hel. “Master.” His voice was rougher than before like he’d breathed in smoke for too long. His black gaze flicked to Valeen. “You belong to him now?”

“You know who I am?”

“Layala Lightbringer. I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time but I’m sorry for what I did to you and Thane. I’m sorry for,” he glanced at Hel, “for my part in this.”

She turned to Hel.How is he so… normal?

It may be because Mathekis is the one who turned him. Or because he’s still in transition.“What is your name?” Hel asked.

“Aldrich.”

He nodded and placed his hands behind his back. “And you are loyal to who?”

“You, Master.”

“Good.” Hel smiled cruelly. “You will not bite anyone unless I tell you to. You will remain the Lord of Calladira and come with your army when I call. If anyone refuses to follow your command, kill them.”

Valeen blew out a slow breath. The elves wouldn’t want him to be their ruler now. He was setting Aldrich up to die or fail. Then again, the woodland elves might fear him enough to fall in line.

“Yes, Master. I will come when you call.”

“Now get on your knees in front of my wife.”

He dropped immediately and stared up at Valeen. Her skin itched the longer he kept those black eyes on her. They used to be… blue, didn’t they?

“Beg for her forgiveness.”

“Please, Layala, forgive me. I’m truly sorry. I should have never betrayed you and Thane. I wish I never shot you with that arrow. I’m truly sorry I almost killed you. That day in the woods I left you to bleed out… It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. I regret joining Tenebris. I do. I should have helped you get free.” He probably meant what he said but it didn’t change anything. She didn’t hate him for it anymore. It seemed so long ago.

Hel cut a glare her way. Fury rippled through the room in an icy chill. “He almostkilledyou? What else have you and Thane kept from me?” He vanished and reappeared behind Aldrich. The bottom of Hel’s boot smashed into Aldrich’s spine. With a groan, he fell flat to the ground at Valeen’s feet. Hel stomped on his fingers and ground them into the wood floor. Then he bent down and grabbed Aldrich by the hair and jerked his head up. “Slit your throat.”

Hel put a knife in his hand. Aldrich brought the blade across the center of his neck. Black blood cascaded down his white skin. He stared up at Valeen almost… relieved. He mouthed “I’m sorry” once more. Maybe he was sorry because he thought she was forced to be with the Black Mage. He regretted helping his father and Varlett take her to wake him. Aldrich didn’t know who he truly was. He wouldn’t know any different than any outsider.

Blood seeped out, pooling near her toes. Her boots scraped against the ground as she took a half step back. Hel dropped his hold and Aldrich’s head fell with a thud.

In some ways, it was a mercy. She should have felt remorse, but she only breathed easier with him gone rather than a flesh-eating monster.

The guards still hadn’t dared to move. They watched everything happen without even a sound. No protests or gasps as their lord changed or as he bled out and died. For the second time she was present as the Lord of Calladira died.

Hel stepped over Aldrich, took her hand and marched for the open doors. “If I were the woodland elves, I wouldn’t even think about retaliation,” he said over his shoulder. “Consider this a warning of what happens to those who touch my wife, and a favor that his is the only life taken today.”

Chapter 13

KATANA

The first time Katana saw Thane she thought he was handsome, beautiful even, but many gods and elves were. There wasn’t anything particular about him that drew her in until they ate breakfast alone together. Seeing someone who hid his brokenness the way she did built a sort of bridge between them.

Now he sat under the shade of an oak in a bed of soft grass; his focus was on the whetstone he ran across the edge of his blade as she approached. The sun filtered through the branches of the tree creating beams of amber across him. The light seemed to brighten his dark hair, revealing strands of gold.

“I do not know if those swords can get any sharper,” Katana teased.