Page 212 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“You can’t act with human compassion. You’re a queen now.” His words were blunt, and I couldn’t ignore the validity.

“That’s why I’m asking for your opinion… as my commander.” I could feel his smugness just from the title alone. “Hel was too corrupt to trust her judgment. And I don’t know how this realm works. She didn’t exactly give me a guide.”

“There’s no way to know. There are no records in Helheim. I doubt many knowwhythey’re here. But... not all souls are good souls. Judgment happens here just like the humans on Earth feared.”

“So, I either risk imprisoning innocents or possibly letting out the malicious ones,” I concluded. “Fucking great.”

I’d really like to keep any riots at a minimum. We still hadn’t closed the portal on Earth, meaning Dark Haven was likely overrun.

One problem at a time.

“You need a warden,” Monty said. “Someone who can be here and monitor and can watch over the souls we bring back.”

“How do I appoint someone? I know about five people in Helheim, and one is a wraith at the castle.”

This time, I turned to Elkan since he was here during Hel’s reign.

“Zetta?” He had a soft smile on his face that grew when I nodded.

“She’s the only one that’s given me answers,” I admitted.

“She was my sister in a past life. Hel never appreciated her,” he said with a sigh before shaking away whatever memory he was lost in. “Your power comes directly from the realm. You simply pull on it as you would use it, then send it to the person you’re appointing. It’s easier said than done but that will give them access to a small portion of the realm’s power. That’s how your commander, here, has the gifts that he has,” Elkan explained. “But remember, once it’s given, you cannot take it, only temporarily bind it or lock it away like Hel did to us.”

“I guess that explains this place,” I said, feeling even more lost than before.

I started walking forward again as I thought over his words, despite my stomach turning at every sight.

The issue was the two demons behind me were falling behind. Both looked near death. I slowed down, then stopped altogether as something shifted in the air.

“Harlow.” My name was a mere whisper, and I wasn’t sure it was said out loud.

More than that… I felt it in mysoul.

If I even had one anymore.

“Kol,” I breathed out his name, spinning around and wishing I could see beyond the bars. It felt as if it were coming from all around me. “He’s here. I can’t fucking see.” My last words came out as an angry growl.

“Are you a Queen?” Monty mocked. It was half-hearted at best but enough to annoy me into producing fire. My frustration had me setting the entire hallway on fire. Monty and Elkan barely made it to my side as flames engulfed the edges of the floor, flickering up the bars.

“Well, that certainly worked,” Elkan said as he peered into the cells. Most demons were curled in on themselves and impossible to see. Not one even bothered to cower from the flash of light I provided.

“He’s not here,” I said as I looked in each one, desperation clawing its way up my throat, making my voice shrill.

“Yes, he is,” Monty said as he walked through the flame to one of the cells. I dissolved the bars for him, my brows scrunched together in confusion as he approached a pile of rags, and a small body curled up underneath.

That was too small to be my gargoyle.

Then Monty lifted the dirty cloth and a scream tore its way from my throat, the flames growing even brighter in my fury and pain.

It wasn’t a demon, but a chunk of my mate. His neck and half of his torso, a single arm and wing tucked tightly to the stone slab that was his former body.

His presence shifted around me again, begging me to find the rest of him. There was endless pain and sorrow in our weak connection, a desperation I felt echoing in my own chest.

I threw the cloth aside completely as I fought back the tears threatening to fall. I’d already shown too much emotion for the Scourge, I couldn’t risk another sign of weakness.

“Find him, there are more pieces,” I said as I dragged the stone to the hall. It was insanely heavy, a statue broken to pieces, but I refused to stop.

The demons were too weak to help and I growled anytime a guard approached my mate. They had allowed this to happen and right now I was near feral in my pain.

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