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The roar of a dragon above made every muscle in her body seem to light with fire. She gripped Zythara and looked up to the breaks in the trees above. Raindrops burned her eyes, but she spotted the black dragon and a rider. They dropped in, shaking the ground as they landed. Onyx scales glistened with water; it was Varlett, then Thane dropped to the ground, landing in a crouch.

He rushed to close the distance between them and immediately took hold of her hand, running his fingertips across her palm where she’d stabbed herself. The scab looked like a little pink scar now. His green eyes lifted to her face. “Are you hurt? Varlett’s hand…”

“I’m alright. I was trying to heal Presco. He went down hard.”

He gave Presco a once over then with an accusatory glare, he said, “What happened?”

“The other dragon had the power of invisibility and caught us off guard. It’s not his fault.” Valeen stepped away from Presco’s side and started toward the portal. The moss and mud squashed loudly under their boots. “But he knows about Varlett and me. Take Presco home. Make sure he gets rest and something to eat.”

Thane stepped along with her. “Where are you going?”

“To stop him before he can spill my secret. Hel went after him.”

“I’ll go.”

“I know you want to keep me safe but?—”

“Val…”

“Thane.” Her eyes softened and she lifted her chin in the direction of the castle. “There could be more of them back there, and what if they found Synick? They need you here. Make sure Katana and the others are safe. I’ll be fine. Hel is there.”

He grimaced at that. It wasn’t how she meant it but saying she didn’t need him anymore because she had Hel clearly hurt his ego… or his heart.

When she arrivedat the portal and commanded it to take her to where Hel went, she came out in a small, wooded area with massively tall trees that reminded her of Briar Hollow where she grew up. The trunks were soft pink unlike the redwoods, but they had similar bark and leaves. The sun was bright and there wasn’t a gray cloud in the blue sky. Her clothes still dripped from the rainstorm she just left.

A significant amount of blood was splattered across a fern frond just to the left of the portal. Several broken and flattened vegetation led north too. Her stomach coiled; was it Hel’s blood or the bastard who hurt Presco? She drew Zythara and followed the trail.

Hel, where are you?

No answer. She quickened her pace.

Hel, he can turn invisible. Be careful.

A white butterfly fluttered before her as if leading the way. Peach-colored birds sang in the trees and bushy-tailed squirrels chittered above. The peace was deceiving.All Mother, keep him safe. You gave me back my mate, don’t take him again.

Off the trail ahead, the tips of black boots peeking out from the thick ground foliage dropped her stomach. Her heart pounded along with her feet as she raced over the dirt trail. She skidded to a halt, frantically shoving aside the ferns and other vegetation uncovering the body lying beneath. It was the half dragon… missing his head.

Relief washed through her, and she finally took a deep breath. “Hel?” she kept her voice low, searching the immediate area. There could be any number of guards or hunters looking for her in Pricilla’s territory. She knew it was hers because of the pink-trunked trees and even the grass seemed to have a hint of rose color at the tips. The goddess had an obsession.

If Hel had turned back, she would have run into him. With no other choice, she followed the trail further into Pricilla’s land. Had someone else been here and taken him? Why wouldn’t he have returned to the portal after he killed him?

The trail ahead opened up into a wide, sunny clearing and to a white castle tinted the lightest shade of blush. A twenty-foot-high wall surrounded it. Sliding between a set of trees, she peeked out, counting the guards on the top. At least ten in each of the many turrets and several more pacing in between. Withthe portals open and enemies like her, Hel, and the god of war, Pricilla no doubt had upped her security.

Hel, where are you? I’m in Pricilla’s territory. I can see her castle, she hissed into his mind. Could he not hear? Maybe he was back in Adalon. They couldn’t hear each other in different realms.

She scanned the many blooming, pale-pink trees alongside the road that led to the castle and rows of bright fuchsia flowers growing at the base of the wall.

Then you should be able to see me,he finally answered.

Her brows pinched and she shifted to the other side of the tree trunk to search for him again. She noted the guards on the walls had stopped pacing and were looking out.

There.

The breeze picked up and his black cloak waved behind him. He stood maybe a hundred yards from the wall with something in his grasp… a black-bearded head. In the other he held a pike.All Mother have mercy.

He shoved the wooden end of the weapon into the grass and then spiked the head onto the metal tip. “Is this what you wanted?” He shouted. “Is this your best? Keep sending your heirs as sacrificial lambs, Pricilla! There will be a line of heads outside your walls.”

A lady dressed in fuchsia emerged from the shadows of a turret and stared down at him, gripping the edge of the stone. The very same who’d sentenced them.