Page 34 of The Devil's Trials

“Okay,” I interrupt and get up to take my plate to the sink. “Let me get changed, and we’ll go.”

“Actually,” he says, “we have to wait until tonight.”

“But you just said—”

“I know, I know.” He flicks his wrist, waving me off. “I just had a brilliant idea.”

My eyes narrow. “I’m afraid to ask.”

Blake shrugs. “So don’t. Just trust me.”

He knows I do, which is why I don’t respond to that, instead saying, “Can you gather the council? I want to strategize before the trials start.”

The corner of his mouth kicks up, and he nods. “Excellent. Give me half an hour.”

True to his word, thirty minutes later, we’re sitting around the living room. It’s too small for the seven of us, but we’re making it work. Blake, Francesca, Greer, and Roman squeeze onto the couch, while Jude takes the chair in the corner with Declan perched on the arm, leaving me standing in front of the unlit fireplace.

“I appreciate you coming on short notice,” I tell everyone.

“You don’t have to thank us,” Greer says, tucking a stray copper curl behind her ear. “We’re here for you. For whatever we must do to get you from here to your throne.”

“It is our duty and our privilege,” Declan offers, resting his arm on the back of the chair near Jude’s head.

My gaze slides to each member of my council, taking in their solemn expressions. “Most of you have lived in our world and among our kind longer than I have. And until now, I’ve been plagued by a part-human existence, which made my experience…challenging.”

“Are you concerned that experience will impede your ability to face the trials?” Roman asks, causing Blake to glance sideways at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“It certainly won’t help,” I mutter, leaning against the mantel and sliding my hands into the pockets of my jeans.

Francesca sighs. “You need to let go of your human life.”

I look at her as Jude chimes in, “She’s right.”

“He knows that,” Blake says before I can.

“The trials are to test your ability to be the demon king.” Greer’s voice is level, and she folds her hands in her lap as she continues, “A human wouldn’t survive. And you won’t survive unless you let the human part of you go, completely and permanently.”

“I have.” The words are out of my mouth in an instant.

“You’ve embraced your demonic traits, have you?”

My eyes narrow at Francesca. “You’d like to test me?”

She purses her lips, then shakes her head. “Just making sure.”

“Based on the history of the trials we have, the first is the easiest test you’ll face,” Jude explains, then warns, “Don’t let that fool you into letting your guard down. It will be designed to do just that. You must give in to your newly strengthened demonic nature to be successful. Tune out everything else and follow your instincts.”

I nod. “Understood.”

“Besides that,” Francesca says, “the best way to prepare is by feeding to ensure you’re also at your strongest physically.”

Blake shoots me a grin. “Oh, I’ve got that part covered.”

The sky is dark when Blake and I pull into a nearly packed dirt parking lot at…a barn?

Unbuckling my seat belt, I turn to him. “I’m confused.”

“Remember when I reminded you about what today is?”

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