Page 93 of A Fury Of Shadows

“One, we don’t abandon our friends. Two, there’s a demon up there who intends to carve out the core in my heart so he can revive my dead mother and a sorcerer who wants to kill his own son so he can become a god.”

Vlad’s pupils flared with redness. Cortes grew deathly still.

Violet shared a shocked look with Miles.

“What do you mean?” the witch mumbled, pale-faced.

Mae had to fist her hands to stop them from shaking while she told them what Nikolai had discovered only that day.

“Your mother is alive?” Serena said.

Mae gathered from the super soldier’s surprised expression that the Immortal seer she was close to had not foreseen this.

“Alive is a questionable status.”

Serena hesitated. “I’m sorry.” She gazed at the grille above them before looking at a culvert facing south. “We should split up. Dietrich is down there with his modified devils.”

Mae furrowed her brow. “You should take someone who can use magic.”

“I’ll go,” Violet volunteered.

“No.” Vlad’s incubus energy washed across Mae. A crimson ball flared on his fingertips. “This will be more useful against those devils.”

“Are you sure?” Serena shot a glance at Mae. “I thought you’d want to—”

“I’m sure.” Vlad faced Mae. “We’ll finish this and come back you up.”

Her belly clenched as she watched him. She knew what she was feeling was selfish. She’d just reunited with Nikolai. She had no claim on Vlad. But she couldn’t fathom what it would do to her if she lost the incubus.

I might not be in a position to give him my heart. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care for him deeply.

Mae swallowed and forced herself to say the words he needed to hear. “Be careful.”

Vlad smiled faintly. “I always am, Princess.” His smile faded as he looked at Nikolai. “I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” the sorcerer muttered.

CHAPTER35

Barquiel paced his suite,his hands fisting and opening at his sides.

Things were starting to fall apart.

Nikolai putting on a disappearing act was one thing. Vedran losing control over it was a whole other matter.

Never mind what happened in New York!

He snarled and punched a wall at the memory of the Witch Queen’s note. Stone cracked beneath his fist.

Barquiel marched over to the windows. Lanterns moved in the gloom as the Dark Council continued to scour the grounds for the missing sorcerer. He gnashed his teeth.

This is why humans are useless!Had Vedran kept a closer eye on his precious progeny, things would never have gotten this bad!

Nikolai was too important for him to overlook in his schemes. Stopping Vedran from absorbing his core was only one reason. The sorcerer might prove useful once Ran Soyun was revived.

His white magic complemented hers, which meant he could act as a source of power for the newly arisen Witch Queen.

Where the hell could that little rat have gone?! It’s a goddamn island!

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