Page 144 of Ballad of Nightmares

Necks and knuckles cracked in the crowd, a few already shifting into demon forms. A ripple of growls and snaps pulsed the air. Sam’s stomach twisted and twisted at the sight before him. People who had only used those forms during the last war called them into action after they’d waited for the perfect time.

And as the last few of them turned, Sam rocked forward onto his feet. Shadows and black fog swirled his legs, wrapping up his torso. Chills ran over Sam’s flesh. He felt the shadows wrap inside his shoulder blades, and the extensions of his muscles made his body shudder. They merged with his bones, mending and breaking the skin on his back with crushed feathers and hollow limbs. His eyes fluttered with a reassuring twist of his bones, as his broken wings spread wide for the first time in centuries.

With a faint smile on his lips, his wing stretched and reached over to Millie’s cheek, making the blonde seductress limp with the brush of it over her skin.

“Fuck,” she whispered in a voice that he was sure was typically reserved for the bedroom. “There’s the terror I’ve been dreaming to see,” she said as she ran her hands through her blonde hair, curled horns appearing in the locks.

Sam turned back to the horde, and one by one, they dropped their heads. His shadows curled along the tile floor, entwining with every person’s ankles, and a shudder swept the room.

“We raise the dead today.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

ANA WOKE TO a sun-filled sky littered with reaching tree limbs. Her vision blurred, making her dizzy, and she started to grab her head as it throbbed.

Iron shackles stopped her.

And everything from the night before came crashing back.

Her time with Sam. His leaving her. The three bodies. The shadow outside. Jay—

Jay.

“Well, well,” came that familiar voice. “Look who is finally awake.”

Ana focused her gaze on his approaching figure, feeling anger rise from the pit of her stomach, but she didn’t curse him.

“The Tower…” His tone was mocking, and he crouched down in front of her. “Not so scary without all your assets in control, are you, love?” He reached out and flicked a curl, though Ana didn’t flinch.

“Come closer and find out for yourself,” she replied.

“Ooo… snappy,” he teased. “No wonder Death fell for you. Too bad he’ll be too late to save you.”

Ana laughed coyly, shaking her head. The thought of what Sam might do when he found out who exactly had taken her. Not to mention simply any person taking her, had her thighs squeezing at the thought of his rage.

“I don’t need anyone to come after me,” she said. “I can get myself out of this just fine. But when he does come…” She whistled in a mocking way. “I’ll sit back and enjoy the show.”

“You’ll be dead before he gets here,” Jay said.

“Will I?” Her head tilted as she looked around at the legion of men walking between tents. “And which of these lovely reapers will take Death’s Queen into the next life?” she asked.

Jay didn’t find it as amusing as she did.

Ana laughed again. “Tell me, Jay… When did you figure out who I was?”

“Samarius isn’t the only one who noticed you the night of the festival.”

“Oh? So you know who he is,” Ana realized.

“Of course, I do.”

“And so you kidnapping me… this is revenge for who, exactly? Firemoor? The Spine King? Windmoor? A Father of some sort—“

“I was at the Ironmyer castle when you took control of Firemoor’s missiles,” Jay spat.

“Oh that…” Ana huffed a sadistic laugh. “That was a fun day. All those screams… I’ll never forget the way those Nobles threw themselves from the windows as the missiles came raining in.” Her eyes drifted to the sky, remembering that day, and she couldn’t stop her delirious smile. “The Iron King was at least a little fun in the bedroom. He had an interesting way with his tongue before I cut it out.” Her gaze flickered up to him. “What relation were you to him? Let me guess… Bastard son?”

Jay’s lips pressed to a thin line, and Ana knew she’d struck a nerve.