Page 95 of Broken Shadows

Gideon steps close to Aiden’s back and quietly hums. “It’s most likely only a deterrent.”

Both of my brothers are right, but I’m done fucking explaining every detail of my thought process. I squeeze Evie’s hand, tuck our laced hands close to my back, then stoop below the arch and saunter into the swirling darkness.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Lorcan

Ezra whistles a breath while rolling back onto his heels. “Home sweet Hell.”

He and Gideon pass us as we stand on the uneven, stone path leading from the archway. Fog shrouds the castle walls and candles flicker from the dark, arched windows above like dying stars. Nothing has changed. Even the same spirits haunt the courtyard, except the remnants of their human forms have mostly faded.

Evie’s grip on my fingers is tighter than usual, as if she’s aware how stepping foot onto these grounds affects me. How my heart stutters and sweat trickles down my spine. The last time I was here, my brothers dragged me into a fucking cage. I exhale with forced slowness through my nose.

“So,” Evie says with a tense breath, “this is Lucifer’s Court.”

Rosa adds, “It is, right?”

“It is.”

Rosa and Aiden sigh in tandem, the trials now behind us, left for the next unsuspecting souls. I walk ahead, a bittersweet heartache spilling through my veins as I recall the good and bad times here.

“Did you grow up here?” Evie asks, her brows creasing, a smirk shadowing her lips as if the idea of me as a child is incomprehensible.

“Yes.”

The hollow eyes of spirits follow us as we walk through the courtyard. My gaze drifts to the tallest turret, and I trace each stone step leading from the window down to the roof, now suffocated with purple vines. It feels like a lifetime since my brothers and I would play up there. Granted, much like the human game hide-and-go-seek, except our version was more like torturer-and-victim. Once, we found Asher after three days, struggling to breathe while trapped in a chest. Then we threw him down those steps.

Evie glances up at me with those soft, brown eyes. “What are you smiling about?”

“Remembering playing here with my brothers.”

“Awe.” She gently squeezes my hand, and I chuckle.

“You wouldn’t say that if you knew what games we’d play.”

Aiden rubs arms with Rosa as they cautiously step beside us now that the path to the doors has expanded for us all to fit. “I can imagine,” Aiden says, gripping the back of his neck. “Are there demons here?”

“Of course there are,” I state.

He swallows thickly, the bulb in his throat bobbing up and down.

Rosa rolls her eyes and tugs Aiden closer. “Ez!” she yells as Ezra stands under the gigantic, arched doors. They’re using fucking nicknames now? Fucking Hell. She’s going to become a permanent part of my life, isn’t she?

Demons in their human forms—giving fresh energy to the saying a wolf in sheep’s clothing—loiter the darkened foyer, bathed in purple candlelight and glowing fog. Once they see us, they fall back into the shadows, their eyes never leaving us. Wrapping my hand around Evie’s waist, I pull her closer, making it very fucking clear that she’s mine.

A low growl resonates in my chest and Evie cranes her neck to look at the demons.

Can I use my magic here? Now that the trials are over

Yes, and you absolutely should if anything tries to hurt you, but don’t let on what you can do.

“Ezra!” Samuel’s voice echoes around us like nails on a fucking chalkboard. “Gideon. And is that little Lorcan I see behind you?” He appears through a cloud of mist in the middle of the spiral staircase, his fingers grazing the intricately carved banister of human suffering.

Ezra hisses, “You say that, but you’re the shortest out of us all.”

Gideon scoffs a laugh, his sword glowing on his back as a reminder that he could easily strike Samuel down with it. In fact, he just fucking might.

Samuel’s smile drops and for once I’m glad Ezra is on my side. It feels good. Like having a brother, a teammate, and I almost say thanks.Almost.

---