Page 20 of Queen of Carrion

He blinked. “You want me to…”

“Take a flying leap, yeah.”

A slow grin spread his ruined lips. “I’ll do you one better.”

He unbuttoned his cloak, letting it fall to the ground, and ripped his shirt off, along with his other glove a beat later, adding to the pile at his feet.

He was left in only his pants and boots, his scarred torso on full display.

In a glimmer of blue magic, he produced a dagger seemingly from thin air. I recognized it immediately as the one he’d taken from me, the one I’d used to escape my room my first night in the castle.

He fell to his knees and held out the knife to me, presented on the flat of his palm.

The restraints holding me were gone in the same instant, allowing me to hop off the table and smooth down my skirts.

I eyed the dagger for a moment before taking it carefully in my hand. The last time I’d held this thing, the soul trapped inside had spoken to me and tried to get me to leap to my death—that was the only way she knew of to escape the Lord of Bones.

“Kill me, Rayven.”

I gaped down at the demon, who lifted his head to peer at me through the curtain of his unkempt locks. “Bury the blade in my heart.”

I shook my head slowly, unable to fully process what he was telling me. This had to be another trick. The god of death couldn’t die… Could he?

“What will happen?”

“You will get your revenge.”

“But will you die?”

“Is that what you want?”

What I wanted was the version of him I thought I was getting when I gave him my soul. According to him, that was also him. What if it was just another lie?

“Do it…”

The voice hadn’t come from me, or any of the household items watching the scene unfold. It hadn’t come from Belial either.

“Strike him in the heart,” the soft, feminine voice said again. It was coming from the dagger.

Belial seemed surprised for exactly a second, and then his smile locked into place. “Pierce me in the heart, and two women will get their revenge. What’s that human phrase? Two birds, one stone?”

“Two women?” I paused, my blood turning frigid. My gaze bounced between him and the blade. “Who else would want…”

“Catherine.” Belial’s voice was emotionless. “Her soul clung to the blade in your hands the last time she died.”

My throat tightened at the truth, and I fought to swallow my unease.

“Kill him now, before it’s too late,” Catherine’s faded soul whispered.

“Shut up!” I snapped, my fingers clenching tighter around the dagger as my hand began to shake. “I’m trying to think.”

“She’s right, Rayven.” Belial’s smile was unwavering, even though I was sure it was just another mask. “I gave you the opportunity to run on the cliffside when I showed you the door back to your realm. This is your second and final chance to leave me.”

“You will die, won’t you?”

“That doesn’t matter. Stab me, and you’ll wake up in the Patherick tomb as if nothing happened.” The demon’s lips peeled back to reveal unnaturally pointed canines. “Well, except for your pathetic little boyfriend. He’ll still be dead.”

I looked down at the face I loved and loathed in equal measure. What in the actual fuck was I supposed to do? This decision would change the course of my life forever. I did believe this would be my last chance to leave Limbo.