Page 73 of A Fury Of Shadows

Nikolai’s heartbeat boomed inside his skull as he slowly put together his own version ofNegate,just as he had crafted that other conjuration. Sweat was pouring down his face by the time he completed it. He panted, his pulse racing.

His fingers trembled as he raised his hand and invoked the spell. “Negate!”

The air quivered. Barquiel’s barrier split open. Nikolai and Alastair darted through the crack. It closed behind them with a hiss of corruption. He turned and found himself in the mouth of a dark tunnel. His scalp prickled.

No. It’s not completely dark.

A light pierced the shadows in the distance. Though faint, it was enough to guide him when he added the gleam of his own Hellfire Magic. He headed toward the pale glow, the thread of white magic that had drawn him and his familiar here resonating strongly within their cores.

Nikolai walked for what felt an eternity, though it was likely no more than a mile. The tunnel bifurcated over a dozen times, the rivers of lava and bottomless chasms he had to navigate past slowing him down even more.

At least there are no hellbeasts down here.

Alastair clicked in agreement.

Just when he thought they would never get to the end of the interminable passage, the light started to brighten. Nikolai slowed. He could hear faint voices.

He pressed his back against the wall and crept forward silently, Alastair as still as stone on his shoulder. The tunnel curved. He dropped down and inched his way around the bend. A cave gradually came into view. One filled with a dazzling radiance that blinded him for an instant. His vision cleared.

His breath caught.

A sarcophagus sat on a plinth in the middle of the circular chamber. Floating above it, within a dome of powerful demonic energy, was an ethereal figure.

It was a woman who reminded him strongly of the Witch Queen. Her hair was longer and her face more mature. Right now, she was frowning at the demon who stood before her prison.

“Cease this madness, Barquiel! In the name of the friendship we once shared, you must free me and relieve yourself of the body you stole. Abandon the Sorcerer King and return to Hell. Your rightful place is here, not on Earth!”

Nikolai swallowed convulsively.Is that—Ran Soyun?!

He couldn’t think who else would look like Mae and possess such strong white magic.

“But I am close to reviving you, my love.” Barquiel’s eyes shone with fanatical devotion. It was as if he hadn’t heard a word the woman said to him. “Soon, I shall get my hands on theBook of Shadowsand retrieve the other half of your soul from its pages. And once I gift you the first Sorcerer King’s soul and the core inside Mae Jin’s heart, you shall return and reclaim your throne as the most powerful Witch Queen who ever—!”

Brightness seared the chamber, making Nikolai wince. He blinked away the black spots filling his sight.

His heart raced wildly. Fierce white magic surrounded Ran Soyun. Her eyes burned with the same otherworldly light enveloping her as she glared at Barquiel.

“And like I have told you a million times before, I shall reject everything you offer me! I am sick of you repeating the same thing over and over again, Barquiel. I will not have you sacrifice my daughter’s life for your foolish plans. I will never be yours, demon!”

“Yes, you will.” Barquiel’s face hardened. “I will bring you back to life. And you will be my wife, like you would have been had that bastard Azazel not stolen you from my grasp!”

His roar echoed around the chamber.

Nikolai’s eyes rounded.What?!

Corruption clashed against white magic as the demon’s wrath made the air boil.

“You shall never have my heart,” Ran Soyun promised in a deathly tone.

“I shall be content with your soul, witch!” Barquiel grated out.

Nikolai’s stomach churned.So, all this time, he’s been coming down here to see Na Ri’s mother? He’s kept her alive all these years so he can revive her?!

His gaze locked on the stone coffin. Horror drenched him in a cold sweat as the truth dawned.

No. He kept her body down here, so that both her mortal remains and the half of her soul that Azazel spared could not escape his grasp!

Barquiel’s next words turned Nikolai’s blood to ice.

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