Page 207 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“Like hell I can’t, I’m literally the leader here,” I bit out.

If I wasn’t angry before, I was now. It only took a quick thought before the bars dissolved cell by cell. My chest was heaving by the time the last bars dissolved and I wavered on my feet, but it was done.

Yet not a single soul moved to free themselves.

“They have been here for longer than me,” Elkan said, a somber edge to his words. “I’m barely able to walk. They probably can’t.”

“Then we send for them soon,” I said, shoulders back and chest out, refusing to take another hit. They were demons, they would survive a little longer until I could appoint a new demon, one who would carry out punishments with a bit more neutralityand a whole lot more humanity. Even Loki and Odin had shown that much.

I stormed down the hall and up the narrow stairs. The door at the top was thick wood, and I shoved it open so hard it slammed into the wall beyond.

Every scream I’d tuned out came to an abrupt halt. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked around at the crowd forming around us in seconds.

“How did you get in here?” a demon demanded on a snarl. From his black armor, I knew he was a guard.

“Hel is gone. This realm is mine. You either obey, or die.”

The ultimatum was met with cries of outrage. I was not backing down. This was the time to use a firm hand, to show my strength.

A singular guard was bold enough to pull a weapon on me. This time there was no thought, only instinct. I had to protect the vulnerable demons behind me, no matter the cost.

I wouldn’t lose Monty again.

With a sharp slash of my hand, he was turned to ash. The show of power was enough to drop the others to their knees, noses skimming the damp stone floor as they cowered at my feet.

“How can we serve you, My Queen?” the closest guard asked.

“Take me to the warden’s office. I have unfinished business with him, and I know he’ll attempt to return here.”

When he did, there would be nothing left of the demon who’d betrayed me so boldly.

I was no longer simply Harlow, I was a vengeful queen ready to fix what Hel had broken.

Roman

Gargoyle Stronghold

“This would be a lot easier if you had wings, small man,” Achar said as he looked down at Hiro with an unreadable expression. Then his gaze shifted to me. “I’m not even sure those wings would work, either.”

“We’ll find out eventually,” was all I gave him as we trudged our way through the wasteland. If I thought the demons at Dark Haven were unsettling, this was so much worse. Spirits, souls, whatever they were called here, wandered the wastes without a purpose. Every time we passed one, the temperature dropped drastically and bone-deep sadness would take over.

My heart hurt for them all. This was no afterlife. Was this a punishment for the life they lived or was this Hel being a bitch again? It was something I knew I’d bring up to Harlow.

Achar didn’t seem to notice, or pretended not to. I guess if you have only ever existed here, you’d be immune to the creepiness.

In the distance, the howling winds and wailing cries turned into a symphony of horror. If not for our footsteps crunching on the ice for me to focus on, I’d go mad here.

But at least I was here.

I still couldn’t shake the feeling of being glad I went first, that I didn’t have to witness them all die. But they had to see me die and I felt equally as awful for that.

And even if it was awful, the death was necessary.

Here in Helheim, we were alive again. Stronger this time, and our own people. I was real and so was Hiro.

This was what we had needed in Dark Haven.

It was still weird to look over and see Hiro’s face, talk to him and get a response. I could only imagine the look on Harlow’s face when we got there. It fueled each footstep as we trudged toward our mate.

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