Page 63 of Witch Queen

He could feel it. No, see it.

The magic trembling around Vedran was testimony to his core being whole once more. But there was more to it than that. He had never sensed this level of power from his father before.

Not only was he stronger, absorbing the cores of the dead had added an even more sinister element to his already sickening magic.

The pain afflicting Oscar faded.

Vedran released him. “Now, let’s see if this thing will finally work.”

The Sorcerer King removed theBook of Lightfrom his cloak and studied it with a zealous expression.

Hellfire Magic burst into life in his father’s palm. Oscar recoiled. The dark red sphere whined and sizzled as it spun rapidly on itself, causing the air around it to ripple with intense heat.

Several hellbeasts growled and pulled back. Even the ghouls and devils seemed nervous in the face of the ominous flames.

Vedran shaped the Hellfire into a key, inserted it inside the compass, and twisted. There was a soft click.

A tremor shookVoid.

Oscar startled. His head jerked, his gaze sweeping the infinite darkness surrounding them.

It came again and again, an escalating pulse that made his eardrums throb and shook his bones. Restless grunts and clicks sounded as Vedran’s army retreated farther into the shadows, their pupils bright with fear.

The Sorcerer King never looked away from theBook of Light.

Oscar’s stomach roiled when he realized the waves of power were coming from the compass.

The fabric of space ripped open a couple of inches in front of the artifact. Glee brightened Vedran’s face. A crimson light spilled out of the tear.

Horror drenched Oscar in a cold sweat as it widened, revealing the secret place it had long hidden. The sound of a storm roared throughVoid.

There, spinning within a tempest of demonic energy, was a black book wreathed in shadows.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

Armaros frowned at Alicia.“It was Barquiel?”

“Yes.” The Reaper queen’s knuckles whitened on her drink. “I’m convinced it was his demonic energy. I felt it faintly in Hell Deep, through one of my Reapers. I was making my way there when I crossed paths with Azazel.”

Mae’s pulse quickened at this news. She’d suspectedChaos Sealhad imprisoned Barquiel in Hell since that was where Azazel first created the spell, but this was the first time she’d had confirmation of that fact.

“I also detected a trace of his presence.” Azazel frowned. “His powers felt…odd. Not at all like those of the demon I recall.”

Astarte stared. “What do you mean?”

Azazel hesitated. “It was almost as if I could sense two beings where there used to be one.”

Ilmon furrowed his brow.

Mae’s stomach knotted. “I—are you sure about that, father?!”

Azazel blinked. A pleased look dawned on his face. “It feels good to be called that after so long, child.” The demon sobered. “Yes. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced I could feel another inside Barquiel.”

Mae squeezed her eyes shut, hope bringing a lump to her throat. She opened them to find Azazel and everyone else giving her a puzzled look.

“What’s wrong?” Nikolai asked guardedly.

“It’s Rose.” Mae swallowed. “I’m sure of it.”

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