Page 48 of Soulbound

Bishop looked at her. Then away. "Then I won't ask. And I won't push." He reached for her hand, stroking her fingers. "I trust your judgment."

Verity let out a long sigh as she crossed the carriage and slid onto his lap. "I hate keeping secrets from you."

Bishop pressed his face against her neck, squeezing her tight. Verity brought so much lightness to his life. He couldn't remember what it had been like before she tried to steal the Chalice from him.

"I just hope I'm right in keeping it," she whispered.

Chapter 11

THE DEMON COULD sense the thinning of worlds. It kept its eyes closed, channeling enormous amounts of raw power into its great spell works, feeling every little rune and charm it had cast in the past two weeks wake up as it tested the pattern.

Perfect. This body had so much potential, so much power. All was nearly ready. All it needed was—

A door slammed shut, breaking its concentration.

"They have the Wand," said a strident female voice. "That piece of filth betrayed me. And you."

Morgana.

The demon opened its eyes, the golden patterns across the lawn winking out of existence as he withdrew his power. He looked toward the back door of the manor he was currently residing at, and saw her striding across the back lawn, her red skirts swishing about her legs.

"I know they have the Wand," it said.

Morgana drew up shortly, as if surprised by its lack of emotion. "That makes two of the Relics Infernal, Great Lord." She lowered her eyes as if suddenly realizing how much she dared when she confronted him. "They could destroy you if they get their hands on all three of them."

"That is why the remaining Relic is safely in your hands." He turned and gestured toward the two women kneeling nearby.

Both women rose, shivering slightly. He noted the small signs of weakness.

It's not weakness, Drake whispered inside him. You've had them kneeling in the snow for three hours.

The demon sometimes forgot about human foibles. What it did not forget was how often Drake seemed to be speaking to it these days, and it crushed the former Prime down deep.

He's stronger than I thought.

Morgana wrapped her cloak around her. "Well, what are we going to do about it?"

Nothing. I am going to do nothing. "Drake's hold on this body is remarkable for a vessel," he said. "I dare not risk a direct confrontation with his sons. I swore I would not harm them when he allowed me to take this body. I will not engage them until I need to."

"You can't just allow such a challenge to go unmarked." Bitterness flashed in her green eyes.

He repressed the urge to simply slit her throat here and now. She still has some use. "I am not ready for a confrontation." It gestured to the lawn. "I still have days of preparation ahead of me."

And the Relics are unimportant. For now.

"You don't have to confront them," Morgana said, peering across the lawns, though she didn't understand what he was trying to do. "I could do it. Let me do it for you, great lord."

He stared at her. "Kneel."

Confusion flickered across her face, and then she went to her knees before him. The demon captured her chin, tilting it up. Seeing it in this body caused her some pain. This body had memories for her. An ex-husband she'd never quite forgiven. Or forgotten.

"I will allow you to make a strike in return," it said. "I need time. I need them distracted. If they focus on the remaining Relic, then they are not focused upon what I do here. How do you intend to do it?"

Her mind raced behind her green eyes. "They'll all be gathering for the Ascension Ball. They'll never expect an attack there. Only a madman would attack an assembly of nearly four hundred sorcerers."

"Perfect."

Morgana smiled.