Page 38 of Blood and Reign

Kiarra narrows her eyes on us, knowing exactly what we’re doing. I give her a look, telling her to let us have this one.

We’re all on edge right now and having a damn army near the one person we need in this damned world isn’t helping.

I glance over at the others and catch each of their eyes flicker over to Kiarra before returning to the guards closest to them.

I knew we could easily take them. Any of us, especially Kiarra, but putting her at risk when this can be done peacefully was acting foolish.

We quickly make our way down the long road, coming to an open area with high pitched red tents.

The guards part, with two staying to the front and another to the back of us. They usher us inside the largest tent in the middle. I stay close to Kiarra as we walk inside. There’s a large table in the middle of the tent with a half a dozen stationary guards along the walls.

Two men in similar black armor are hovering over the table, though they look more like the leaders than a soldier. One is older, with a gray streak through the side of his head. His dark eyes are shrewd as he looks at each of us. The other is about the same age as us, or at least looks it. His brown hair and matching eyes narrow on me.

Soren dips his head to the older man. “Ivor.”

Ivor steps around the table. “Soren. Things must be desperate if you’ve come back here.” He chuckles to himself, clearing his throat when no one laughs.

Soren ignores Ivor’s joke, getting straight to business. “Orthis wasn’t at the gate.”

Ivor’s expression grows distant until his eyes find Kiarra. They widen slightly but he covers it quickly, clearing his throat to focus back on Soren.

“We know, but itwaslocked.”

“Where is he?” Soren pushes, a hint of anger in his tone.

I share a look with Rion.

Let’s see how this plays out…

Rion nods his eyes at Kiarra and the guard closest to him.

Ivor ignores Soren’s rise in temper. “Tell me how you made it past the gates?”

Soren clenches his fists by his side. “Tell us where Orthis is and we will.”

The temperature in the room shifts as the guys around me narrow their eyes on Soren. I keep my smile to myself at their protectiveness.

Kiarra moves closer to me, gaining the attention of Ivor once more. The guys cover their smirks and chuckles as she tries to block me from Ivor’s view.

Warmth floods my chest as I look down at her slight frame, someone half the size of the men around her and still she stares each one down without an ounce of fear.

I take her hand, pulling her beside me. She glares up at me, her eyes demanding I let her look after me. But if it’s between me and her, I’ll always pick her.

Besides, Soren isn’t that stupid to hand me over. He’s seen what we can do, and even with an army around us, we’d rip this place apart if we had to.

“As stubborn as always.” Ivor moves over to Soren, slapping him on the back. Something Soren doesn’t appreciate, but Ivor doesn’t seem to notice or care.

“Orthis is in the Prison realm helping out with an incident.”

“Why would he—” Soren begins but Ivor cuts him off.

Ivor’s face ages in an instant. “The Lords of the Underworld are dead.”

CHAPTER 8

KIARRA

Soren turns pale.“How is that possible? They’re immortal beings, touched with the essence of Erebus himself.”

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