Page 69 of Cruelest Kiss and Fairest Blood (Tales So Wicked #2)

Harrow

P ower spills from the mirror with such force I have to steady myself.

From the first hoof I can tell this demon is no fucking joke.

The mirror monster is every bit as horrifying as Lenore said it was.

If I had to classify it, I’d say it’s some version of a hellhound.

The animal-like physicality matches to the general shape of a hellhound.

The mangled half-dead people fused to the length of its body, however, is not a hellhound characteristic.

Blue light emanates from all around it. The same light glows from behind the black glass of the mirror the creature just portaled out of.

Whatever it is, this thing is not from our world.

Catreena rises from the bed, greeting the monster with a loving stroke across its cheek.

The humans trapped on its body flinch as she walks past. She sits in a large golden throne that clearly does not belong in this room.

I’m not surprised she had it moved here.

The success of her reign is tied to this creature.

She would want to stay as near to it as possible.

“You’ve underestimated me if you believe that creature alone is enough to take me down.”

“Not true, harbinger. I can sense your power. Which is why I’m not taking any chances.”

The mirror swirls again. Please tell me the hellhound doesn’t come as a matching set .

It’s not another beast that steps forth from the mirror, but a person.

Two people. Three. Four. The more that come out, the more I start to question how many supernatural beings I’ll be able to take on at once.

Those taking formation before me aren’t regular humans.

They’re dead . Twenty-six in total. I know from personal experience how hard dead things can be to kill.

They line up in rows, making the room feel infinitely smaller.

Crumbling half torsos, missing limbs, all gifted new life with some dark magic.

A mist matching the one that covers the floor flows through each.

That’s where they’re getting their life force.

I use the word ‘life’ loosely. If they came from the mirror, they’re still teetering on some variation of death.

I weigh my options. Death fighting death.

I need to call in a favor from the living.

“Amidia.”

A raven appears on my shoulder. With Mytha busy guarding Lenore, Amidia is my stand-in right-hand. I lean in, whispering a command before sending her on her way.

“Cute pets,” Catreena muses.

I’ve already arranged for Mytha to help my beloved, now I need Amidia to find someone to help me.

I know just who to summon. Collecting my power, I allow it to quietly build.

When it strengthens enough, I release it in a shockwave that spreads across the land faster than a mortal can blink.

With any luck, it will reach my reinforcement before Amidia does and be enough magic for my ravens to ferry him here.

“I’d be more cautious if I were you.” Catreena taps her fingers along the arm of her golden throne. “Using up all that power is unwise. We haven’t even started playing yet.”

The hum of my recently released magic ripples back, alerting me to the successful approach of my guest. “The game will be a lot more fun in a few moments. Trust me.”

A cloud of ravens swarms in through the open doorway. The tornado-like formation hides their passenger, but I can feel him. Catreena must be able to sense him too. She sits up straighter.

“We’ve been missing one of the key players.” I offer her a smug grin.

The birds vanish, swooping back out of the room. The King of Montrésor stands, dazed. His golden hair is disheveled. A deep-blue shirt and jacket lie unbuttoned across his defined chest. In place of his trousers, he’s clad in only a pair of tan breeches.

“Sorry to summon you as you were preparing for bed, but I’m in need of your assistance.”

His eyes find mine. The Beast swims beneath irises of the deepest blue, making its presence known with a subtle glow. “I hadn’t expected my debt to be called in so soon.”

“Desperate times,” I mutter.

Renard’s gaze sweeps across the room. “Please tell me this isn’t what I think it is.”

“A psychotic immortal witch, her demonic mirror entity, and the host of dead beings that have been reanimated to fight me?”

“Fuck,” Renard breathes. “That’s actually worse than I thought.”

“Don’t be too shocked. You have experience annihilating masses of the undead.”

His brow furrows. “That’s not exactly what happened.”

“Close enough.” I shrug.

“What are they waiting for and what is that thing ?”

“The walking, talking graveyard? My assumption is that it’s an interdimensional dark artifact-dwelling demon.”

“Say that three times fast,” he mutters.

“As for why it and the dead things haven’t attacked, I don’t know. I think they’re being puppeted by Catreena and she’s waiting for something.”

“Waiting for what?” Anxiety flows from the cursed king.

“Killed my sister, did you?” Catreena’s eyes are narrowed as she assesses the new arrival. “That’s her mark, isn’t it? The rose?”

Renard clutches the flower in his lapel with a meaty hand. “The rose no longer holds its sway over me.”

“Oh, but there was a time, wasn’t there? What did she do to you? Cissy was always so creative. I have to give her credit for that. Alas, she was foolish and sloppy. If she got caught, which I can only assume she did, then she is a disgrace to the magic that runs through our veins.”

“You speak so coldly of your own flesh and blood.”

“Blood is such a nasty little thing. Tying us to those who are unworthy. Do we look alike? Perhaps we were similar only in our hobbies. She left you a special mirror of your own, did she not? A more gentle relative.” She bends her fingers to mimic a biting mouth. “Less teeth.”

I use her distraction with Renard as a chance to study her closer.

Catreena is powerful. Her deal with a demon has ensured her youth and beauty.

She should have died decades ago. How is it I’ve been unable to detect her…

or Cassius? Even standing this close, her light isn’t shining.

Overripe souls are a distinct color. She should be emanating an aura of the deepest green.

Reaching out with my magic, I search the witch for the source of her concealment. My eyes fall to her wrist. Throbbing with power, glowing in a most unnatural way, is a shimmery gold bracelet.

She notes my gaze and lifts her wrist, smiling.

“Oh, this? I have the deal with my demon but eternal beauty doesn’t always equal eternal life now, does it?

Immortality is a fickle thing. I told you, I never take chances.

I sought out a backup. When hiding from death, a girl can never be too careful. ”

“None can hide from death forever.”

She laughs. It’s not a divine sound to match her beauty; it’s a wicked cackle. “Don’t pout. I had to do unspeakable things to get it.”

Her words reveal something. She knows the mirror can be broken and the monster killed.

Why else would she seek out a backup? That’s why she doesn’t trust it fully.

She wouldn’t need the bracelet if she did.

I fight to keep a smile off my face. If she’s afraid of losing everything, it means there’s a way for us to take everything from her.

I doubt she realizes that simple statement has allowed me such insight.

“And who has granted you such an adornment? One with the ability to evade time and death.”

Renard’s gaze lands on me for a moment before shifting to the queen’s wrist. He cannot sense the bracelet’s power. He is magically inclined, but there are some things only ancient beings like myself can detect.

Catreena’s grin is feral. Her features grow harsher as her true nature takes control. “He who has a treasure with an ability like no other. But he has her locked away in a tower. I wouldn’t waste my time searching if I were you. She’s kept far away, somewhere you’ll never find.”

“How unfortunate.” I keep my voice steady. There are several things that need to go smoothly in order for Renard and I to walk out of this as victors.

One, we have to find a way to kill the mirror’s monster. I fear it will not be as easy as I’d hoped. Dimensional beings that dwell in dark objects often have a tether to the imbued item in question. What that tether is and how to break it is the most important discovery we need to make.

Two, we must destroy the army of the dead. The very task for which I’ve selected Renard. He looks less than thrilled to be here, but his beast is capable of inflicting an immense amount of damage with minimal effort. Of all my connections, he was the ideal candidate to help me defeat this evil.

And three, I must get that bracelet off Catreena’s arm.

Only then will I be able to deliver her a punishment befitting her crimes.

There are more dire consequences than I can fathom if I can’t deliver on my promise to Drusinnia.

She only released me from the in-between because I assured her I would return with a gift.

Needing a moment alone to speak with Renard, I throw up a shield of shadows.

“I assume you can still take your beast form at will.”

Renard swallows dryly. “Only in times of great desperation.”

“Well, you’ll die if you don’t. Desperate enough?”

His sapphire eyes are wary. “I do not want to be trapped in that body again.”

“I know you are hesitant to give in to the curse but if you think it couldn’t be your kingdom next, that Catreena won’t come for your throne and dispose of your family in the process, you’re wrong.

She craves power, the very thing your kingdom has a reputation for.

How long do you think it will go unnoticed once she leaves Roseheart a barren husk and seeks a new source?

Especially now that she knows her sister perished at your hands. ”

There’s such fear in Renard’s eyes. “The Beast is powerful.”

“I will ensure you return to your human form.”