The Book of Azrael (Gods & Monsters 1)

“YOU KNOW, I’VE ALWAYS WONDERED IF THE CELESTIALS’ CONVOYS WERE NICER THAN THE PUBLIC ONES USED IN THE CITIES,” I said as I popped another small piece of chocolate in one of the lounge chairs, absorbed in his studies. An array of computers and readers surrounded him, and he had been hunched over them since we boarded.

I was leaning against a high glass table, picking treats off a silver tray. Plush chairs were arranged in comfortable groupings, and a liquor cabinet was tucked against the wall. I thought I’d heard Vincent say this convoy had twelve rooms. It seemed like a lot, but when they could go anywhere in the world, it made sense they would have space. The convoys had replaced trains once celestial magic and technology became one.

‘You know, I’d always wondered if the celestials’ convoys were nicer than the public ones used in the cities,’ I said as I popped another small piece of chocolate into my mouth. ‘I can definitively say that they are.’

Liam glowered at me, which had been his response each time I had said something. It had lost its effectiveness over the last hour, and I had started to poke at him just to see how long he would keep it up.

‘We are going to have to communicate if we are going to work together, you know.’ I popped another piece of candy in my mouth and grinned at him.

His face held no humor, as usual. ‘I am busy.’

I rolled my eyes as I pushed off the edge of the table and walked to the large window. We were passing through the mountain range, the various shades of greens and browns broken by the foamy white of cascading waterfalls. I had never been to this side of Ecanus, and I never dreamed I would be seeing it from a luxury convoy.

I stepped away from the window and sighed, flopping onto the lounge opposite Liam’s. That earned me another glare over the multitude of screens. ‘How much longer until we get to Omael?’

‘Too many.’

I had a feeling he enjoyed being stuck with me as much as I did with him.

‘I just want to make sure we get there on time. Nym is a high-end fashion designer who rarely stays in one place for long.’

He waved his hand toward me, the lights from the computer screens casting a blue glow over his features. ‘I do not see how a designer of fashion will be of any help to us.’

‘I told you, she is at the end of Kaden’s—‘ I paused, thinking of how to word it, ‘friends list. She may have information on a certain excommunicated witch that could help us.’

Liam raised a single brow. ‘Excommunicated?’

‘Let’s just say she wanted a position and someone disagreed.’

‘And this woman in Omael can help?’

I nodded. ‘Yes. She can also help with passports, IDs, credit cards, you name it.’

‘We do not require any of that. I can go anywhere and do anything in the world I wish. No one will stop me. I do not fear your Kaden, and I do not want to prolong this journey any longer than necessary.’

The way he waved toward me when he said journey, let me know what I’d suspected was right. He didn’t want to be around me, and I most certainly didn’t want to be around him.

I stared at him, sure he was joking. When I saw he wasn’t, I scoffed. ‘Seriously? You can’t use anything that is personally yours. He can track all of that. I killed a crowned prince in Zarall, and Kaden watched the entire thing from the other side of the world. He has access to the type of technology you can’t imagine, and he has solid connections. I want to stay off the radar as much as possible. Kaden has already sent his shadow assassins after my sister, and that was just a warmup. I will not risk her because my presence annoys you. I know you don’t know him, but he will go to extreme lengths to get,’ I paused, the thought alone making me hesitant, ‘to get what he wants.’

I waited for him to argue more since that seemed like the only time he wanted to speak to me, but he didn’t. Instead, his eyes bore into mine, a single muscle ticking in his jaw. He lowered his gaze and resumed flipping through the screens in front of him.

The next few hours were mostly silent. My nerves were slowly getting the better of me as my new reality sat in, but I had no choice. I refused to let Gabby suffer any more for my actions and decisions.

The lounge chair was comfortable, and I tried to nap, but nightmares plagued my sleep. I woke as I sat straight up, clutching at my sides. Liam’s eyes flicked to mine and held. He didn’t ask what was wrong, and I didn’t offer any explanation. There was no way I would tell Liam that I’d dreamed of Kaden’s laughing face as his damned beasts dragged me back to him. I shook my head and swung my feet off to the side, rubbing a hand over my face. I stood and wandered to the window, watching the changing scenery. The snow-capped mountains were further away, and the trees on the hills were filled with color, announcing the onset of fall.

‘We are almost there,’ Liam said. I felt his wary gaze on me as if he were afraid I’d set something on fire. I nodded, still lost in the nightmare.

He studied me for a moment longer before returning to those damn screens. How long had he been watching them? Vincent had set up the workstation and supplied Liam with more videos before we left. Liam was using the travel time to continue to familiarize himself with Onuna. His vocabulary already seemed more normal and less formal. I wondered how smart he actually was. Learning history and languages as quickly as he did was no easy task.

‘How’s your head?’ I asked as I folded my arms around myself.

He didn’t look up. ‘Fine. Why do you ask?’

I shrugged. ‘I figured you would have a headache with all the videos Logan and Vincent feed you. Learning the languages, history, and culture as quickly as you have is quite the task. Plus, you haven’t slept since I’ve been here, and that’s been almost a month,’ I said.

That got his attention, his dark brows furrowing deeply. ‘And how would you know that?’ He folded his arms, the shirt straining over his chest and biceps.

‘You radiate power. I can feel the energy you give off through the walls. Even in that fortress of a building, I could feel you pacing back and forth these last few weeks.’

Fear flashed in his eyes. It was so quick I would have missed it if I hadn’t been holding his gaze. ‘My sleep schedule is none of your business.’

He wanted to play? Fine.

I tilted my head. ‘Actually, it is. If we are going to kill Kaden and find this mythical book you think doesn’t exist, then I need you to be in top –tier god fighting condition.’

‘I assure you I am fine.’ He shifted in his seat as if the mere conversation was uncomfortable. ‘Besides, I was more than capable of taking care of you and the shades your maker sent.’

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. ‘It’s honestly surprising how I can even sit in this convoy without being suffocated by your massive ego.’

‘It is not ego. It is merely a fact. I have lived far longer than you. I have fought and slain beasts far greater and more powerful than you or the shadow benders Kaden sent.’

‘They are not shadow benders, and you don’t have to worry about them anymore since I killed their leader. That was the last clan known. The rest died eons ago, which is another reason Kaden will be pissed.’

Puzzlement filled his expression. ‘Kaden would be angrier that he lost his allies than by the fact he’s lost his consort?’

The corner of my lips twitched. ‘Consort? What does that even mean?’

‘You both derive pleasure from each other. That is what you said. Yet Kaden does not care enough about you to make you his,’ Liam paused, his brow furrowing as if searching for the word, ‘the mortal word for it is wife, I believe.’

I shook my head, memories of the last few years making me uncomfortable. If Kaden ever mated, I had no idea who it would be with. He never spoke of love or showed he had any experience with the emotion. It seemed beneath him. As long as I had known him, the only thing he truly desired was power. ‘That was not our relationship. Kaden and I are not connected like that.’

‘My point entirely. He cares about the allegiances he has more than his own consort. Which would not be peculiar, except for how close he keeps you.’

‘If you call me a consort one more time, I will incinerate this convey with you in it.’

‘It is perfectly fine to have consorts. I’ve had many. Almost all the gods did, male and female, but they do not mean anything. You do not mean anything.’

My chest tightened. I knew that, and it was one reason among many why I was here.

‘Gods, you’re a fucking joy to be around.’

‘I do not know what that means.’

I held up my hand. ‘You don’t have to tell me what I do or do not mean to Kaden, okay? I already know.’

He merely shrugged as he leaned back, all power and arrogance. Most women would want to climb him like a tree in that position, but I was imagining stabbing him again. ‘It was not my intent to offend you, Miss Martinez. If we are to work together, we need to at least be honest. Communicate, as you put it.’

‘Oh, so you do listen to me.’

‘It would be nearly impossible not to, with the high pitch of your voice every time you speak.’

I shook my head, pursing my lips. Gods, he was a dick, but I ignored the jab. ‘That’s another thing. Call me Dianna. You can’t go where we are going and call me Miss Martinez. Everyone will know exactly who you are by the formalities alone.’

‘Because your kind is not polite?’

I snorted. ‘My kind? You really are every bit of the self-righteous, pretentious asshole they said you would be. I get it. You’re a spoiled brat who grew up in a magical world where everyone literally worshiped your ass.’

‘Volatile.’ He cocked his head to the side. ‘That is what you are. One statement you do not agree with, and you lash out. Not to mention, you are very crass and rude.’

‘Like you aren’t?’ I snapped. I was already annoyed, and we were just beginning this journey.

‘I have been polite. I have given your sister shelter while you are working for me, even though you blackmailed me into the bond by threatening the life of someone I care about. So please, Miss Martinez,’ he emphasized the words on purpose, which only set my blood to boil. He leaned forward, folding his hands in front of him. ‘Tell me how I have been rude.’

‘Everything that comes out of your mouth is an insult.’

‘Have you not insulted me? Or brought up things just to throw them in my face? Things you can’t begin to understand.’

I started to respond, but he held up a single finger, stopping me.

‘I am not done. Before you dare bring up your captivity or the means by which I attempted to extract vital information, may I remind you, you attacked me and mine first. You tried to kill me. I also explained the consequences if you did not tell the truth, and you proceeded regardless.’

I leaned forward in my seat, snapping, ‘Oh, don’t play the martyr. Your precious Hand isn’t around, and you don’t have to save face here. You would have killed me the second I gave you what you wanted.’

I watched the muscle tick in his jaw once more before he gave a curt nod. ‘You are correct. If you had given me the information I needed, I would have had no further use for you. Do not forget, Miss Martinez. You made yourself a threat and one very similar to those I have executed in the past.’

I leaned back in my chair. ‘Is that what you plan to do to me after this is over? Execute me?’

The corners of his mouth turned up. ‘I think it’s too late for you to worry about what I will do to you afterward. Wouldn’t you agree?’

I swallowed hard at the realization because it was true. It wasn’t a surprise. I had considered the possibility, and we hadn’t discussed the fine print when I made the deal. My focus had been on ensuring Gabby remained safe and alive. Maybe a godly prison was not in my future. Maybe he really would end me. I looked away from his penetrating gaze, watching as the mountains and trees zipped by.

‘I changed my mind. Maybe we shouldn’t talk.’

Ding.

‘Let me do the talking.’

Ding.

‘That should not be a problem since that is all you do,’ Liam said. I turned to glare at him, but he just stared straight ahead, his hands clasped in front of him as the elevator rose.

Ding.

‘I’m serious. If she even suspects who you are, I doubt she will help.’

Ding.

‘And why is that?’

‘I don’t know why, but some people are scared of you.’ I tapped my foot, watching the numbers crawl higher.

‘Good. That proves some of you are intelligent,’ Liam said, glancing at me meaningfully.

‘Did you just call me stupid?’ I snapped as the elevator doors opened. I shook my head and turned toward the open layout of her apartment. It was a large, bright suite with hardwood floors. Windows made up the back wall, showcasing the city. Various paintings of people in different poses hung studio style and spotlighted.

I stepped forward and called out, ‘Nym!’ I walked a little further inside. ‘It’s Dianna. I hope you are decent.’

‘Oh, Dianna, decent is for old crones.’ I heard the patter of her bare feet as she rounded the corner and stopped. Her short blonde bob swayed at the abrupt pause. Her eyes met mine, and then she glanced at Liam as he came to stand beside me. ‘And you’ve brought company.’ She wrapped the sheer white robe around herself, failing to cover the overpriced lingerie beneath.

‘Am I interrupting something?’ I asked with a grin.

She waved a hand, still looking at Liam. ‘Oh, no. It’s early. I was just making coffee. Come in.’ She turned, heading toward the hallway on the right, leading us further inside.

‘This is Kaden’s informant?’ Liam asked, sounding skeptical.

I shrugged. ‘Kaden likes pretty little things that do whatever he says.’

He turned to face me, his familiar scowl in place. ‘You don’t say?’

I arched an eyebrow at him as if daring him to continue, but he just turned and followed Nym. I shook my head and took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. As I started after them, I whispered to myself, ‘This will work.’

The living room was filled with artistically designed furniture that looked horrifically uncomfortable but seemed to be Nym’s style. A small kitchen sat off to the far right, and a bedroom with its door slightly ajar was behind me. Nym was in the kitchen, pouring coffee into cups that probably cost as much as a nice car.

‘So, Kaden got you a new sidekick?’ she asked as she placed one cup on the center island and turned back to the coffee. I felt the charge in the room as Liam bristled. He opened his mouth to say something, and I kicked him with the side of my foot. He glared down at my foot, then up at me. I mouthed for him to shut up and slid my hand across my throat twice. His nostrils flared, and I assumed he was offended at my disrespect. We argued silently until Nym turned back around with the other two cups of coffee. We faced her as if in sync, both of us oozing innocence and calm as if we weren’t about to rip each other’s heads off.

‘Yes.’ He forced a smile that looked more like an aggressive baring of his teeth. ‘I am to help Dianna.’

Even if it was said with a growl, the sound of my name coming from him made my breath catch. Slightly shocked at my reaction, I explained it away as just relief that he was playing along. Nym nodded, pink dusting her cheeks as she pushed the cups closer to us. I took a seat at the island, and Liam followed suit, the stool creaking beneath his weight. I picked up my cup and sipped while Liam made a face at his and nudged it away.

‘So what’s with the surprise visit?’ she asked, taking a sip of her coffee and eyeing us both.

‘Kaden has me,’ I paused, ‘well us, on another round the world mission. But we need to stay low profile.’

She nodded as she placed her cup on the table. ‘Sounds about right. So what do you need? Cards? Passports? Clothes?’

‘All of it, really.’

‘I can do that.’ She leaned forward, her robe slipping down her shoulder as she placed her hand underneath her chin. I knew the flirtatious display wasn’t for me. ‘So, what’s the mission this time? Word on the street is that he’s had all of you searching for some ancient artifact.’

‘Yes. We are still working on that, but Kaden has me going a little further underground.’

She nodded, lifting a brow. ‘Makes sense. The Otherworld has been buzzing lately. I heard rumors about that freak storm in Arariel. Some are saying it brought something ancient back.’

A chill ran up my spine as I glanced at Liam from the corner of my eye. He didn’t move or shuffle, just sat listening.

‘I think it was just a weird weather anomaly.’

‘Beats me. All I know is everyone is suddenly looking for a way to get on Kaden’s good side, and they will do just about anything to make it happen. Well, except for me. I would rather stay out of whatever that man is up to if I can. I will do my part and then go about my business.’

‘Speaking of that, I know you helped hide an ex –member of Santiago’s coven. I need Sophie’s location.’

She smiled, lifting her mug slightly. ‘Whatever you want. I would hate to face Kaden’s wrath for refusing you.’

‘Thanks ever so much.’ I smiled, but my stomach sank at her words. I knew I was definitely on Kaden’s bad side. The only thing I’d gleaned from this conversation was that word of Alistair’s death had not spread.

‘I need to make a few phone calls, but the passports shouldn’t take more than an hour.’

I felt Liam bristle next to me, but he stayed silent. I knew he didn’t want to extend this little trip with me longer than necessary, but we needed these new IDs if we wanted it to work.

Nym pushed away from the island and walked toward the bedroom. Liam glared at me, annoyed about having to wait even an hour.

‘So, how’s Kaden, anyway?’ Nym called over her shoulder as she entered her bedroom. ‘You know I have not seen him in months. Tobias stopped by for the Omael Metropolitan Fashion Show two weeks ago, but only to pay me for my last little involvement. He seemed really uptight. Well, more so than usual.’

I turned sideways on the barstool to respond to her. ‘Yeah, sounds like him, and Kaden is Kaden.’

Nym returned, holding a shimmering black bag and her phone. ‘Well, at least you have decent muscle to look at on this long trip,’ she said, smiling at Liam as she stopped in front of me. I fought to control my facial expressions. I didn’t want her to see me cringe at her comment. She winked at Liam before handing me the bag.

‘There are a handful of credit cards in there that are untraceable and a few burner phones because I know how easy it is for you to lose things. The passports will take at least an hour if I am going to fake them right. I have at least a week’s worth of clothing for you, but him—‘ She stopped and looked him up and down again like she wanted to lick him up. ‘Lucky for you, we are in Omael. I can get anything I want here, but your height puts me back at least an hour. I just have to make a quick call to one of my guys, and then I will get started.’

As she walked away, typing on her phone, the lights flickered. I glared at Liam and pointed toward the lights. ‘Stop it!’ I hissed under my breath.

Liam’s nostrils flared, the muscles in his jaw flexing. ‘Another hour,’ he growled, too low for Nym to hear as she walked out of sight.

I lifted my hands and pantomimed choking him. He snorted derisively, his eyes daring me to put my hands on him. We glared at each other, another battle of wills taking place between us. A light burst, raining shards of glass onto the floor as Nym returned with a dress tossed over her shoulder. Liam and I sat side by side, smiling as if I hadn’t just threatened to choke him.

Nym jumped and laughed, looking at her light fixture before shrugging. ‘I swear, I pay so much for this place, and if it’s not a random leak, it’s the gods forsaken lights.’ I didn’t correct her, letting her believe it was a random electrical occurrence and not the ill-tempered god sitting next to me.

‘Okay, I have someone on the way for passports.’

‘Sounds lovely. Thanks again, Nym,’ I said. I was smiling more than the news warranted, but I wanted to give the illusion that everything was fine and dandy.

‘Not a problem.’ Nym sat her phone on the counter and turned her attention back to Liam. ‘So, your accent, I’ve never heard it before, and I’ve been from here to Naaririel. Where are you from, handsome?’

I watched his jaw clench briefly, and then his features softened. He relaxed as he looked at her, and my worry that he would blow our ruse eased. He smiled, and my breath caught at the devastating beauty of it.

‘Far away,’ he said in the understatement of the fucking year.

We had left Nym’s well over six hours ago, and she had supplied us with enough to get us through our little adventure. I was especially happy with the darkened sedan she had loaned us for the trip.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes. Why was I so tired? It was probably due to the stress I had been under over the last few weeks.

‘That is the fifth time you have yawned in the last hour.’

I sat up straighter at Liam’s words and glanced at him. His eyes, like always, were drilling holes into me. I focused on the road. ‘You are counting now? Do my yawns annoy you, my king?’

‘Do not call me that,’ he snapped.

‘Why not? Don’t you own the universe or something?’ I mocked.

‘Because you do not say it out of respect. ‘I saw Liam’s hand clench against his knee. ‘You only say it to pester me.’

‘Oh, look,’ I faked a smile his way, ‘he’s learning.’

Liam didn’t respond, but his energy roiled in the small confines of the car. I stubbornly refused to admit to him that I was tired. After drinking the coffee at Nym’s, you would think I’d be more alert.

I drove deeper into the forest, the beams from the headlights jumping as we hit another small bump. Thick trees lined the gravel road, their beautiful colors dulled by the darkness. Adonael was a small city nestled against a forest that continually threatened to reclaim it. When the shards of Rashearim fell and sank deep into the planet, they carried minerals that set nature into overdrive. It was one of the few good things to come out of that experience.

The small wooden cabin was secluded, but Nym knew where Sophie lived because she was the one who helped her stay off the radar. Sophie had been kicked out of Santiago’s coven years ago for a little stint that had put him on the celestial’s radar. Since her excommunication, she had been doing readings and spells for unsuspecting mortals. I think she wanted the cabin so far out for aesthetic purposes. She was eccentric, to say the least.

I pulled into the slightly curved driveway and placed the car in park. The light next to the door showcased a small wraparound porch. Several potted plants hung from the rafters, and a small bench covered in throw pillows was a welcoming touch.

I saw her silhouette through the window as she stood and walked from the living room and out of sight. Good, at least she was home. I opened my door and stepped out, my boots crunching against the small rocks. Yips and howls lit up the night, another reminder that the cabin was located in the depths of the Adonael forest.

‘This is your friend’s home?’

I shrugged as Liam came around the front of the car. He studied the house as if he was memorizing every door, window, and square inch.

‘Friend is a stretch,’ I said and walked toward the porch, Liam at my back. ‘Let me do the talking, okay? I doubt she knows anything about me breaking away from Kaden, so we’re going to play it off that I am still working for him, and you are just my overgrown, annoying muscle, as Nym said.’

He sighed, and the porch light flickered as I knocked lightly on the door.

‘Stop that! Play it cool. Just don’t, you know, talk or speak or move much.’

The door opened, and Sophie froze, her brunette hair swaying behind her. Her mouth went slack, and her eyes widened as she took in, first me and then Liam.

‘Hey, Sophie, long time no see.’

Her eyes were like saucers and focused on Liam. She froze in place, and I snapped my fingers in front of her face.

‘Sophie!’ I dropped my hands and smiled. ‘Honey, you’re drooling.’

She shook her head as if coming out of a daze, but I knew it was something other than attraction even as she plastered a small smile on her face. It was fear, plain and simple. I could smell it.

‘Dianna. It’s been a while. What brings you into town?’ She stepped back, opening the door wider, and we entered. She was apprehensive, but that wasn’t unusual. If she still thought I worked for Kaden, she would assume I was here to collect on the debt. Add in the man looming at my side, and I am sure she thought it was a debt to be paid in blood.

We walked further inside, and Sophie closed the door behind us. The cabin had modern conveniences, but it looked as you would expect a cabin out in the middle of nowhere, owned by a witch, to look. It was an open concept, and from the entry, we could see the small dining area in the kitchen and the stairs that led to the second level. The fireplace in the living room was dark, but the thick fur rugs added warmth. The brown and beige color scheme gave the cabin a homey feeling if you discounted all the mounted animal heads on the walls and the clear jars full of who knew what.

She walked toward the fireplace and raised her hand. A tiny spark of green energy flew from her palm, and the logs burst into flames. Sophie was pretty, especially considering she was pushing four hundred years old. Liam’s eyes followed her movements, but I couldn’t tell if he was looking at her ass in the tight spandex pants she wore or if there was something about her little magic trick that had caught his attention.

‘Look, I don’t have a lot of time. I need your help.’

That got her attention, and she turned to face me. ‘Oh, do you? I thought you’d all forgotten about me after my little mishap.’

I snorted. ‘Mishap? You tried to double –cross Santiago, and he found out. You’re lucky Kaden didn’t throw you in the pit.’

She shivered at the mention and tugged at the sleeves of her white top. ‘So you’re not here to collect my head or something?’

‘Nope. I need you to keep it and help me find an ancient artifact.’

‘The one Kaden has been looking for?’ Her shoulders seemed to tense.

I cocked my head to the side slightly. ‘And how would you know about that, being excommunicated and all?’

‘The creatures of the Otherworld talk, Dianna. You, of all people, should know that.’

‘How much have they talked recently?’ Apprehension rippled through me, and I struggled to hide my unease. I wandered around the room, running my fingers over the jars lined up on a shelf. They shared space with various ferns, dust collecting on those she rarely used. A few held feathers, and one a weird foot from gods knew what. There was a jar of eyeballs that more than likely once belonged to mortals and another filled with insects. I picked up the jar with the bugs and shook it slightly.

‘Why? Do you have something you want to hide?’ She looked at Liam, her gaze raking over his form. Thank the gods that he remained silent. ‘New boyfriend, maybe?’

‘No,’ I snapped in disgust. ‘He is here if you decide you don’t want to play nice. Then we would tear you into tiny pieces.’

She glanced at Liam and back to me, clearly thinking about how he could dismember her. ‘I’ll pass on that. So how am I supposed to find this artifact if Kaden’s right –hand woman can’t?’

Good. If Sophie thought I still worked for Kaden, that meant she didn’t know about Alistair. ‘Don’t you have a spell or something you can do? I mean, it’s ancient and probably cursed, so you know, right up your alley.’

She nodded once and sighed. ‘I might have a spell or two I stole from Santiago’s grimoire.’

I winked, placing the bug –filled jar back on the shelf behind me. ‘Knew I could count on you, Soph.’

‘Okay, let me run upstairs and get some supplies. I’ll be right back.’ She looked at me and then at the jars behind me. ‘And please don’t touch anything.’

I smirked at her. ‘I promise.’

She glanced at Liam once more before heading upstairs. As she disappeared around the corner, I stepped closer to Liam and whispered, ‘Good job. I’m actually impressed. You didn’t say one word.’ He didn’t turn or glance my way, showing no irritation at my comment, which was strange. His gaze remained fixed on the stairway as if he could see through the walls. ‘What is with the staring thing you two keep doing?’

He didn’t answer, and his stare never wavered.

‘You want some alone time with her? If she finds the book, I can run and grab it. You two should be done by the time I get back, and it might actually help to remove that large stick up your—’

‘Your friend is lying to you,’ he said with such surety that I was taken aback.

‘What?’

He turned toward me with a look of confusion on his face. ‘How can you not see it? The fidgeting, pacing, and lack of eye contact. Even if that was not the case, her scent alone spiked the second we entered.’

‘Yeah, that’s because she is sweating over you, Mister Tall-dark-and-annoying. Sophie isn’t smart enough to double –cross anyone, and even if she did, who would she turn to? Kaden owns the largest coven, and Santiago hates her. She has no one.’

He held my gaze and cocked his head to the side. ‘Neither did you, and now look where we are.’

My smile faltered as unease twisted my gut. ‘I’ll go check on her. Make sure she is actually grabbing the spell.’

He went to lead the way, and I raised my hand, pressing it against his chest. I couldn’t stop myself from flexing my fingers against all that hot, solid muscle. ‘Wait here, just in case.’

He looked at my hand, then back at me. ‘I am growing tired of you instructing me on what I shall or shall not do. I am the king of this realm and every realm in between. You do not command me. Remove your hand.’

I did, letting it drop to my hip. ‘Yes, a king in another world, but not this one. Just wait. Please.’

His eyes scanned mine, his nostrils flaring once. ‘Five minutes.’

‘What?’

‘Four.’

Realization clicked.

‘Oh, it hasn’t even been a minute yet,’ I said before heading up the stairs as quietly as possible.

The hallway was dimly lit and small. Pictures hung on the walls, but they were not of Sophie or her friends. They were the impersonal paintings of flowers and landscapes, the kind you would see in a hotel. That was weird. I knew Sophie well enough to know she loved to look at herself.

I lifted a frame and noticed a receipt taped to the back. What the fuck? She’d purchased it today? I lowered the picture and started down the hall. I passed a small end table with an assortment of knick-knacks on top. There were three doors off this hallway, two of which were closed. The third, at the very end, was ajar, and shadows danced within the dimly lit room.

‘I told you she would come.’ Sophie’s voice was a whisper, but it stopped me in my tracks. I pressed against the wall and crept closer.

‘If she brought the World Ender with her, he won’t come,’ a deep male voice responded.

I peeked inside and saw Sophie standing next to a large armoire, her hands clasped before her as she pleaded with someone in the mirror.

The mirror held no reflection, only a dark, murky shimmer. I couldn’t see or make out who she was speaking to, but I could feel his energy filling the room. It had to be one of Kaden’s men.

‘Listen, I can still bring her in.’

‘Let’s hope,’ he said, and the mirror flashed before returning to normal.

‘Well, once a traitor, always a traitor,’ I said as I pushed the door open and stepped into her bedroom.

Sophie jumped and spun toward me. She met my gaze as she pressed against the dressers behind her. I saw her arms move and shook my head. ‘You have nothing here that will kill me. You know that, right?’

She swallowed hard. ‘You don’t understand.’

‘What don’t I understand? The creepy creature you were talking to in the mirror, or that you’re not as excommunicated as I thought? Or maybe Kaden has been lying to me about a lot of things.’ The last part made me seethe. ‘How much did he offer you for my head?’

‘Why does it matter? You would do the same.’

She lifted her hand, and the door behind me slammed shut. I looked over my shoulder, knowing the sound would alert Liam. When I turned back, Sophie stood with a small crossbow cradled in her hands.

‘The plan was perfect. Nym texted me everything. I will take you back to Kaden. Once he is done with you, I’ll be back in the coven, and Nym will get a seat next to Kaden.’

Before I had time to react, she pulled the trigger. Instead of one single arrow flying at me, several small needle-like projectiles raced through the air. They hit me square in the chest, knocking me onto my back. I propped myself up on my elbows as my canines descended. I was going to rip her to shreds. She stood at my feet, a smile nearly splitting her face.

‘This won’t kill me, you dumbass,’ I snarled, looking up at her.

She placed a hand on her hip, lowering the crossbow. ‘No fucking duh. But that coffee you drank at Nym’s had a little extra something in it. I’m sure you’ve been feeling the effects. The arrows carry the same poison. I think I am going to like being rich, and I can’t wait to be back in the coven. I will rule alongside Kaden as Onuna burns.’

The strength seeped from my arms, and I collapsed back on the floor. Poison? They had poisoned me. Nym had double –crossed me. I looked down at the needles sticking out of my chest and tried to reach for them. My arm was too heavy, and my hand dropped to my side before I could touch them. I coughed, my throat starting to ache as darkness played at the edges of my vision.

‘Trust me,’ my voice cracked and weak, ‘that’s not a seat you want.’

‘Says the one who has all the power. You wouldn’t understand. You’ve always been Kaden’s favorite.’ She pressed her foot against the needles, forcing them deeper into my body. I gritted my teeth, fighting against the pain. ‘Now, I am going to hide you in the closet and go downstairs to distract the World Ender until my backup arrives.’

A wave of nauseating dizziness washed over me, and I knew I wouldn’t be conscious much longer. Sophie leaned down, looking at me with a smug smile as she waved. ‘Night, night, bitch.’

The door exploded with a loud boom, the ground shaking as shards of wood erupted into the room. Sophie’s eyes went wide, and she lifted the crossbow, aiming it above me. She had no time to pull the trigger before an invisible force sent her flying. Liam stepped over me as the room flickered in and out of focus. A whoosh sliced through the air, followed by a solid thud. The world went black, but a tug and a sharp, piercing pain in my chest pulled me back to reality. I wavered in and out of consciousness, Liam’s irritation a familiar comfort in a sea of agony.

Tug.

‘—infuriating—‘

Tug.

‘—disobedient—‘

Tug.

‘—aggravating woman—‘

As the last needle left my chest, I felt like I was floating. My arms and legs hung limp as I was cradled against a hard, warm surface. My eyesight grew blurry, the effects of the poison taking over. The last thing I saw was Sophie’s head near the foot of her bed, her dead eyes unmoving and staring.