Page 124 of Madness of Her Mages

After the girls filled up on warm milk and biscuits, Nikkos put them in our bed. When they begged him not to leave, hewas forced to sleep between them. I stayed with them for a short while, kissing them each goodnight and rubbing their backs as I tried not to dwell on what could have happened hadn’t Ember alerted us to the demon. I was too distraught to sleep, so Blaze took me to the sofa below, holding me in his arms while the servants finished cleaning. Drae sat beside us, tension lines framing his eyes and mouth as he stared into the hearth.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when Malvolia arrived, her black robes billowing around her as her sharp gaze swept the room. Finally, she crooked a finger at me, directing me toward the balcony.

My heart filled with dread as I regretfully left the warmth of Blaze’s arms and followed her. I wrapped my arms around myself, repressing a shiver when the chilly and damp early morning air seeped into my bones. I was very aware of Drae moving to a chair by the doors, pretending to sip tea while watching us.

Malvolia paced the balcony, stopping to look at the ribbons of light that stretched over the horizon and painted the seawall in a soft pink glow. “I received news from my spymaster yesterday that was too fantastical to be believed until that shadow demon tried to attack you.”

“What?”

Her expression was grim. “An indus worm in Fachnan’s court.”

“An indus worm?” I asked. “What is that?” And was this the bad news my aunt had received earlier?

“It’s a demon monster,” she said darkly. “More deadly than a dragon.”

I gritted my teeth. I hoped this monster hadn’t harmed my sister. I was afraid to ask about Tari and risk angering Malvolia.

My aunt pulled a book out of her robes and handed it to me. “I’ve been studying up on demons. I suggest you do the same.”

I frowned down at the book.The History of Demons.The moisture evaporated from my mouth, and I had to work hard to push out the words. “Will they use it against us?”

“No. It’s dead.”

I was about to ask how when she held up a silencing hand. “And before you ask, I don’t know how it was killed, but its head was found in the bed of Duke Viggo’s niece, Prince Helian’s betrothed.”

Why did I have a feeling my sister had something to do with it? At least the monster couldn’t harm her now. “That’s good, right? Maybe all is not well between the two courts.”

“Chaos always follows demons, but it’snotgood.” Condescension dripped from her words as she looked at me like I was a naughty child who’d been sent to the corner. “If they can resurrect one monster from the bowels of hell, they can summon more.” She nodded toward the book. “There are two types of demons. Naraka are succubi that inhabit mortal bodies. Some of them have their own magic, but mostly their powers depend on their host’s magic. They are harder to detect. The infernals are easier to detect, as they don’t have mortal hosts, but they are harder to kill.” She opened the book and pointed to a marked page of a giant worm with venomous fangs that towered over frightened people. “They are like indus worms and shadow demons.” She flipped the page and pointed to a hideous creature with birdlike feet, a huge belly, and three eyes in a canine face. “Lamashtus are rare and powerful infernals, and their magic only grows stronger with each kill.” She paused, visibly shuddering. “They have the power to create naraka, and they inherit the magic of the witches they devour. I have a hunch this mistress is a lamashtu, which explains how she turned my soldiers into demons and why she’s hunting you.”

My stomach roiled. She was hunting me!

“I was hoping to have more time to work on strengthening your magic,” she continued as she slammed the book shut, “but we need to attack Fachnan’s and Viggo’s armies before the demons gather more strength.”

I didn’t want to go up against my sister, and I certainly didn’t want thousands of innocents to die, for the three cities at the Tribus Point were too close not to get caught in the crossfire.

Malvolia paced again, a fog of black magic clinging to her like a shroud. “I’ve been thinking about what you said a few nights ago. Do you truly believe the mind spinner is behind all this?”

Nervous tension coiled around my spine. This was my chance to convince her she’d been tricked, that my mother and sister didn’t mean her harm.

She wants to talk about Thorin,I projected to my mates.

I know,Drae answered.I can hear. Tell her.

I fought my apprehension, forcing out the words. “I do.” I cleared my throat. “At least most of it. He and this demon mistress.”

She stopped pacing and stared at me, her eyes like twin sharpened blades. “Why?”

My tongue felt like a deadweight in my mouth, my nerves rattling my bones, making it hard to speak, much less stand beneath the weight of her scorching glare. “Many reasons.”

“Tell me.” She approached me slowly, like a cat creeping up on a mouse. “Answer me truthfully.”

I swallowed. “Starting with the fact that his spells last years.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Do you have any concrete proof of that?”

I shrugged. “He erased Tari’s memories for at least two years. He’s led you to believe that my parents killed Lord and Lady Inferni.”

She crossed her arms, impatiently tapping her foot. “Didn’t they?”

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