Page 101 of A Fury Of Shadows

Mae scanned the shadows, tension tightening her limbs. “Anything?”

“No, my witch,” the demon fox grunted.

Mae scowled.Where the hell has he gone?!

Hellreaver froze where he was bobbing in front of her. Crimson detonated around him. He dove for the floor with a snarl.

He’s here, my witch!

Mae barely had time to reinforce theSoul Shieldshe’d erected inside the three of them before the ground opened up and swallowed them whole.

They tumbled headlong into a black hole.

She landed on something invisible seconds later, her breath knocked out of her. She jumped to her feet and whirled around,Devourbrightening the air with a red glow where it sizzledabove her hand.

A feral sound rumbled out of Brimstone as he loomed protectively beside her, his crimson gaze sweeping the darkness.

“Can you see anything?” Mae asked, her heart thumping against her ribs.

“Not yet, my witch.”

Hellreaver gnashed his teeth as he hovered defensively before her.I can taste his scent, my witch! It’s all around us!

A chill coursed through Mae.

Hellreaver is right, Na Ri said.This darkness is more than just an absence of light. This is pure black magic!

Mae could feel her first incarnation’s blood lust. It was like a living beast roaring through her mind. A thought came to her. She swallowed.

“Could this be the portal Vedran manifests?!”

Vedran’s voice oozed out of the shadows on their right. “How clever, Witch Queen.”

Mae jerked around. “Nullify!”

The spell revealed nothing. She ground her teeth.

Of course it wouldn’t! He’s using his black magic and Nikolai’s Hellfire Magic to mask his presence!

Heat flooded her veins as she drew on her cores and the power of her bonds.

“REVERSE!”

Something flickered in the gloom to their left. They whirled as one.

“That one actually stung, witch.”

Vedran’s tone turned Mae’s blood to ice. Not only was it coming from a different direction to where they’d just glimpsed movement, it had an edge to it she hadn’t heard before. One that made her stomach roil.

Vedran sounded insane.

“Obliterate.”

Mae barely had time to register what the Sorcerer King had said before his spell swept over her. Corruption tainted with Hellfire Magic robbed her of air and sucked at her magic.Soul Shieldtrembled.

Brimstone roared, his tails quivering with a violence that made the air vibrate. Hellreaver blurred as he cut desperately at the inky veil, leaving crimson trails where he passed.

Mae’s throat ached when she tried to inhale. Her vision swam. Despair numbed her senses.

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