Page 95 of A Fury Of Shadows

Mae ground her teeth, the crippling pressure weighing her down. Her knees sagged. Hellreaver howled in her grip as he slumped under the demon archduke’s powers. Brimstone bared his fangs, his body bowing.

Barquiel froze when they slowly straightened.

“How—?!” The demon’s crimson eyes rounded. “How are you doing that?!”

The power of three blazed in Mae’s bones, the runes of the spell she and Na Ri had concocted on the drive to the mountains melding together.

“I realized something interesting when I took down Vedran’s barrier yesterday, outside that awful palace in the forest.”

Barquiel flinched.

Mae sneered. “If you combineAbsorbwithNegate, it has an interesting effect. Want to know what that is?”

Dread tightened Barquiel’s face for a moment. A determined scowl creased his brow. Darkness bubbled in his eyes and bloomed around his body as he called forth the black magic he had obtained through Vedran and Dietrich.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna work!” Mae growled. Fire throbbed across her bond with Brimstone and Hellreaver as the incantation came to life. “REVERSE!”

The hellish power congealing the air dissipated with a thump that made Barquiel gasp. He clutched his chest and groaned. Panic contorted his features.

Mae knew he’d just realized the invocation was absorbing his powers even faster thanNegate. She closed the distance to the demon, blood pounding in her skull with every step she took.

“Now, tell me where my mother is, you scumbag!”

“My witch!” Brimstone barked.

Mae’s pulse stuttered.

A crimson portal had opened behind Barquiel. He tipped backward into it, a mocking light brightening his pupils.

Horror turned her blood to ice.No!

Na Ri’s presence filled her mind. Power burned her cores, freezing her breath.

The incantation left Mae’s lips unbidden, her first incarnation instinctively invoking the one spell that could stop Barquiel where he was headed. A spell their demon father had taught them.

“CHAOS SEAL!”

Demonic magic seared the air. An incoherent scream escaped Barquiel as the portal twisted around his falling body.

It closed with a hiss.

* * *

Nikolai’s pulsethumped when he entered the castle foyer from a side passage. His gaze found Oscar on the landing where he stood barking orders. It took everything he had to hide the revulsion churning his stomach at the sight of his brother.

It was a moment before the closest Dark Council sorcerers and witches clocked his presence. A hush fell across the foyer and spread into the gallery overlooking the entrance. Alastair tensed at their stares.

Oscar turned.

Nikolai crossed the hall at a casual pace. “I heard you were looking for me.”

His voice echoed in the strained silence.

Oscar frowned heavily. “Where did you go?! We’ve been searching everywhere for you!”

Nikolai shrugged. “I went for a walk.”

Low murmurs started around him. His answer turned Oscar’s expression ugly.

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