Page 70 of A Fury Of Shadows

“I have allied myself to every Sorcerer King since the first man to take that throne,” he said tightly. “Each one listened to my guidance when it mattered the most. This is a mistake. I doubt theBook of Lightis still in New York. You should—”

Black magic tinged with dark red flames saturated the air on a ripple that made the demon blink.

“Shut your mouth!” Vedran bellowed.

Barquiel grunted in surprise when he was shoved back a foot by the power emanating from the Sorcerer King.

Oscar cried out and fell onto his bottom. He clutched his chest, the blood draining from his face.

Barquiel’s belly knotted at the incredible force battering him.Those flames! Are they—?!

Drabek screeched, the lynx’s cry matching her sorcerer’s tortured expression.

Vedran stilled at the sound. He closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath. The oppressive weight bearing down on the chamber eased. Oscar gasped and wheezed.

Barquiel’s muscles quivered as he fought the urge to stride across the floor and rip Vedran’s heart out of his chest for daring to challenge him so. The only things that stopped him were the fact that he still needed him and what he had just witnessed.

That was definitely Nikolai’s Hellfire Magic!

Vedran opened his eyes. His gaze landed on Barquiel. “Go with Oscar.”

His tone was composed once more, as if the fury he had just shown them was a lie. The demon was not fooled. He could see the darkness bubbling in the man’s eyes.

Soon. Soon I will obtain what I need and kill you myself.

Vedran turned on his heels and looked out of the window, unaware of the silent promise the demon had just made to himself. “Bring me that book.”

Barquiel quelled his murderous compulsion and headed for the exit. Oscar followed him.

The sorcerer didn’t speak until they’d left the tower. Though the corridors of the castle were pretty much empty, most of the Dark Council sorcerers and witches still recuperating in the infirmary after being subjected to the Sorcerer King’s debilitating magic the night before, they both knew the walls had ears.

Oscar hugged Drabek to his chest, his voice trembling slightly. “What’s gotten into him?”

“Your father is desperate.” Barquiel glanced at him. “He believes the sooner he gets his hands on theBook of Shadows, the closer he will be to realizing his dreams.”

A mutinous expression tightened Oscar’s face. “Like you said, there’s no guarantee that damn book isinNew York.”

Barquiel couldn’t be certain of that. He’d told Vedran the artifact was likely not in New York to buy himself time.

Mae Jin would not be so foolish as to leave it unprotected, would she?He narrowed his eyes slightly.Then again, if the artifact is in New York, then this might represent the perfect opportunity to obtain it. And to kill Oscar without Vedran’s suspicion falling on me.

“We have no choice in this matter,” the demon told the unsuspecting sorcerer. He paused when he reached the junction that would take him to the northeast tower. “Meet me on the roof. We leave in two hours.”

Oscar watched him leave with a brooding expression.

Barquiel’s steps quickened as he approached his quarters.I want to see her.

He slammed the door shut after him, transformed, and opened a rift to the region of Hell Deep he had long hidden from Satanael’s eyes, too overcome with the urge to lay his eyes upon the woman who occupied his every thought to institute his usual safeguards.

Sulfur clouds engulfed the demon when he emerged in the valley that led to the cave where he had concealed his most precious secret. He spread his wings and arrowed toward it.

* * *

Nikolai falteredas he approached Barquiel’s suite.

I must be out of my mind.

Alastair made a soft sound on his shoulder. The crow didn’t seem to be discouraging him from what he was attempting to do.

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