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Rexton and I are the first to teleport to the meeting point. It’s several miles from camp, deep in the mountains. My group is responsible for inspecting and clearing a five-mile stretch of land near the pass where we estimate Prince Nolic is marching his army.

We don’t have many eyes within Greed, but the few reports we’ve gotten confirm our suspicions. He’s heading this way, and he probably already has several soldiers scouting the area.

The others in the group appear, some slower than others. I forget how hard it can be for demons to teleport, and I still cringe as I recall my blunders during the years I was perfecting the art. I’d frequently make mistakes, and my fathers came to my rescue more times than I can count.

It’s second nature to me now. To Rexton, too, it seems.

“Does everybody remember their positions?” Our officer pauses. We mutter affirmatives. “Don’t linger,” he continues. “Check back in between locations, and be careful.”

Obviously.

I teleport to my first designated location, beyond pleased to finally have a moment alone. It’s only for a few minutes, but it’s cathartic. Rexton should be about a quarter mile to my right,examining the area closest to the pass. I take offense to the fact that they’ve given him the most dangerous position.

My boots sink into the ground, and I grimace at the mud coating them before focusing on the task at hand. I’m searching for any sign that Prince Nolic’s men are heading in this direction or have already been through here. Given the recent rainfall and mud, it should be easy to see. They’ll have left deep footprints behind. This shouldn’t take long.

There’s a quiet whistle. It comes from behind, and before I have the opportunity to teleport closer and inspect, piercing pain spreads through my chest. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I suck in a shaky breath before pulling in my power and teleporting away.

I only make it a few feet.

I look down.

Fuck.

I’ve been speared.Speared. A long, wooden shaft protrudes from the center of my chest, and I can just barely see the base of the attached metal tip. It’s deep inside me, and it fucking hurts.

I didnotsee this coming.

I force myself to look up, to look away from the blood rapidly pouring down the front of my shirt. The area is heavily wooded, but I immediately spot the Greeds hiding between the trees. There are four of them.

They’re covered in mud, coated from head to toe. It hides their scent, and it’s the only reason I didn’t sense them immediately. All four of them are wrapped up in furs, prepared for the frigid nighttime temperatures.

They’ve been watching and waiting, and it’s just my luck that I was sent the day they decided to attack.

The spear is bottom-heavy, the weight tugging the wooden shaft downward and the speared tip upward. It’s beyond excruciating, and it’s borderline impossible to ignore.

I need to focus.

“It’s a woman…” A moment of silence, then, “It’s Aziel’s firstborn, Cassia.”

The realization is filled with excitement, and the four Greeds teleport closer. They’re quick, and I stumble forward in preparation for a fight. They aren’t actively holding weapons, but there’s a glint of silver at their waists. It’s enough to set me on edge.

I see no other spears, thank the fucking heavens.

The largest of the group stalks toward me, almost within my reach. Now that he’s closer, I can smell beyond the mud he’s covered himself in. The power that seeps from him is slightly above average, but nothing worth noting. I assume he’s the leader of the small group.

“We have to bring her back alive,” he says.

That’s a cute thought.

The man on my right shakes his head. “Those aren’t our orders.”

“We’ll make an exception for theprincess.” The leader spits the word ‘princess’ like it’s an insult. It’s not. I’m royalty, and he’s nothing. His judgment reeks of jealousy. “Prince Nolic will be ecstatic to get his hands on her.”

The Greeds begin circling me. I let them exit my line of sight. I’m not a regular demon. I’m Aziel’s daughter, and I don’t need eyes to track them. The spear in my chest fades to the back of my mind as I focus on their footfalls, keeping tabs on their location and proximity.

They’re closing in on me. They’re making a mistake.

I may have a spear sticking out of my chest, but I’m still Cassia, Crown Princess of Wrath. It’ll take a lot to bring me down.