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Chapter Twenty-Three

ARABELLA

A s Arabella rose from the stone altar, she felt the Everdark’s impenetrable dark receding, slipping into the cave walls.

You are the key , the Everdark said into her mind. To open the gateway.

“What?” she asked over her fangs.

Only a greater demon or a being with greater demon blood can open the gateway, and only for its own kind to go through. I could not let the shadow fae out because I am not fae. But one of my offspring can open it for the fae , he said. Only the royal line is strong enough .

In an instant, she understood why the shadow fae had never been able to leave the Abyss even with the help of the Everdark. And since she was human, fae, and demon, she was the only one who could open the gateway to let Hadeon, Jessamine, Breckett, and the shadow fae through.

“Where’s the gateway?” she asked, needing to confirm whether her suspicions had been right. As she spoke, she could feel the Everdark’s voice grow strangely quiet, as though slipping into some faraway darkness.

Follow the map .

Then the Everdark was gone.

She ran a hand over her neck. Where was he going? Had he become tired from awakening her magic?

Before she could dwell on it long, Arden appeared in the cavern.

A knowing smile traced the corners of his lips. “I see you’ve made your decision. We’re glad to have you as one of us.”

She ran the tip of her tongue over her receding fangs until they were normal size, which made her think of Rowan back in Shadowbank. “Vampire fangs. Interesting.”

Glancing down, she noted that her black nails didn’t retract. Instead, they stuck out in sharp points just over the tips of her fingers.

Arden shrugged. “Where do you think vampires got it from?”

“I suppose I assumed they always existed,” she said honestly. “That they weren’t a product of demons.”

Perhaps some foolish sorcerer thought to make them in hopes of using and controlling them just as Magnus had with the erox.

“I need your help to learn my new abilities,” she said. “Teach me how to control the dead.”

“I wish I could help you,” Arden began. “But since I don’t possess demon blood, and the other fae-demon hybrids amongst us are only children, there’s no one I could call upon to teach you.”

Well, fuck.

All that effort to gain power she’d have to figure out on her own.

Nodding, she moved to the next portion of her plan. “What would you do if you could get out of the Abyss?”

A fire bloomed behind Arden’s gaze as though a deep fury reawakened in him.

“That’s a question I’ve pondered for years—just what I’d do if given the chance.” Arden’s gaze fixed on the far wall where the Everdark’s deeper shadows had been. “The Twilight Court must pay for what they’ve done to the shadow fae.”

Part of her understood his thirst for revenge. If someone marched on Shadowbank, she wouldn’t stop until they were wiped from the earth. But she didn’t have time for his thirst for revenge—not to mention what it would do to her crumbling alliance with Hadeon.

In a softer tone, she said, “Would you consider helping me save my mate?”

Gaze shifting to her, Arden’s brows furrowed. “I told you the only way out of the Abyss is with the aid of my map, which was lost to me many years ago.”

She had to navigate this with caution.

One wrong move and Arden could try to kill her and take the map. Did he know that her magic was the key to open the gateway? And at some point, Hadeon would find her—and use his bargain to stop her.

It was at that moment she realized her abilities far exceeded Arden’s. His power felt like a trickling stream compared to the torrent now pulsing in her veins.

“If I find a way out of here, will you help me rescue Elias?” she asked.

The prince crossed his arms. “What are you not telling me?”

Exhaling, she said, “The Everdark revealed I’m the key to getting out and opening the gateway.

But I need your help, and so does Hadeon.

It’s why we journeyed here together. He wants to stop Queen Genoveva.

She seeks immortality, and she’s willing to pay any price.

Hadeon fears that cost. Apparently, she’s also preparing for war again.

As for myself… I need help against a sorcerer—and his army. Magnus holds Elias captive.”

Turning, Arden strode toward the wall nearest the entrance. He chuckled, which vibrated strangely in the cool air. “I knew Hadeon was planning something. He always is.”

“Will you help us?”

For a long moment, he didn’t move. She watched the rise and fall of his back as he breathed. At his hip, he wore an ancient fae blade with markings in a language she didn’t understand.

Then he turned toward her, a dark shimmer in his gaze. “I would be a terrible uncle to deny my niece the aid she needs. But I can’t promise anything to Hadeon. Not when I can’t trust his motives.”

She stretched out her senses to see if the greater demon had returned. When she didn’t feel the weight of his presence, she said, “What’s your agreement with the Everdark?”

She wasn’t sure whether a formal magical bargain had been struck, but at the very least, Arden and the shadow fae had formed an alliance with the Everdark—something that allowed them to use dark magic.

The moment the greater demon taught the shadow fae new abilities and impregnated their females, he’d intertwined the fates of the shadow fae with the Everdark.

One corner of his lips lifted. “You know what he wishes.”

Demons in the fae realm.

And he needed her to make that happen. More specifically, he needed a shadow fae of the royal line who possessed demon heritage on the throne.

By himself, the Everdark could only allow greater demons through the gateway. The other less powerful demonkind couldn’t pass through the gateway into the fae realm with the help of the Everdark alone.

But she could let the demons through.

If the Everdark wasn’t a factor, did she even want a place among the fae, and one of royalty? Besides her need for power to save Elias and Shadowbank, she’d never considered it. Political power had never been something she desired.

But she did know the demons that plagued Shadowbank and the mortal realm would cause harm in the fae realm if unleashed. The fae could push them back with their magic, but there would be a cost. Hadeon had mentioned that some fae were weak in magic, and they’d be vulnerable.

A terrifying thought struck her.

Would the fae cast the demons into the mortal realm if they couldn’t kill them? There wasn’t currently a way for demons to portal between the mortal and fae realms since they couldn’t use the gateway. But not long ago, there also hadn’t been a way to portal to one of the underrealms.

“If the Everdark gets his way and demons enter the fae realm,” she began. “Many will die.”

Arden raised a brow. “Many have already died.” He stepped toward her, studying her eyes as though searching for something.

“Join us, Arabella. You’re shadow fae. The fae will be overjoyed to know a daughter of Myla lives.

Help us to reclaim our homeland. It will likely be rubble or overtaken by another fae court. ”

What did the shadow fae lands look like? They had been one of the great fae courts. But when the fae wars occurred, had their lands been destroyed? What happened to their cities and strongholds? She had no way of knowing.

“This—us working together—is what your mother would have wanted,” he continued.

For a moment, his words fell upon her like she shouldered the weight of a mountain.

Or the fate of a realm.

Part of her felt sad for her mother, who’d been held in captivity for years against her will. At the same time, Arabella couldn’t bring herself to prioritize what her biological mother might have wanted. Because she already had a mother, and her name was Iris.

Still, the shadow fae were her people. And perhaps it was a side effect of awakening her new abilities, but she realized she felt responsible for them.

No one deserved to be trapped for an eternity in the Abyss.

“I must see to the safety of my mate and the humans of Shadowbank.” She licked suddenly dry lips. “I can’t save my village from the threat of demons only to bring that very same threat to someone else’s home.”

He nodded as though in understanding. “Tell me, have the fae courts done anything to protect Shadowbank? Have they reinforced your ward or brought their armies to slay the creatures?”

She didn’t answer.

“Did they build new wards? Did they go out of their way at all to ensure the mortal realm was safe?” he pressed.

“No. The Twilight Court is selfish, as are the other fae courts. They look after their own needs first and don’t raise a hand to help those who don’t impact them. Those they consider beneath them.”

He took a step toward her and then another until he was before her, their chests nearly touching.

“Join me, and not only will your mate be by your side, but Shadowbank will be protected. We will reinforce the wards before returning to the fae realm,” he said. “Then we will return to the Shadow Court and rebuild until we are strong enough that none can threaten us ever again.”

His offer was tempting.

Did she dare unleash that darkness upon another realm? For the first time, she allowed herself to truly consider.

He’s right. The fae never lifted a finger to help us, a darker part of her thought. Perhaps it’s their turn to face the unyielding dark.

There was still so much to consider.

“Don’t forget that you’re part demon, too,” he said.

The sharpness of his tone felt like she teetered on the edge of a blade, ready to tip over with one wrong word.

“The other courts will never accept you. They will see you as a threat and take you down. Especially if they learn about your ability to control the dead. You and your mate will never be safe.”

Fists clenching at her sides, she considered his words. Before she could respond, he was already speaking.