Page 2 of Shadow & Stars
“Well?” Ismael pressed. “What do you have to say, Xavier?”
This situation may be dire, but this wasn’t the end. I would get Darcy and myself out of it, along with Butterfly. I might loathe every inch of the demon, but he was the smartest demon in existence. If anyone had the knowledge and the skill to reverse this damage, he did.
Unless this change is permanent…
“Answer your king!” Past Me bellowed.
I glowered at my naked past self, his hand on Ismael’s lower back. Protective, ready to die for him like the old days.
A knot of grief tangled in my chest. It hurt seeing Ismael again, a piece of him always inside me. Yet time had moved on, as time liked to do. I found myself in a new place, my hearts racing for my new man.
Roman is mine.
I am his.
I want us to be one beautiful heart.
“Pay him no mind, my love,” Ismael said to Past Me. “What matters now is the path to victory. I am free. We are all free.”
Tanith, a snake demon and my former best friend, sidled up to him. He welcomed her into the fold with a nod. She was loyalto him through and through. She was currently trapped in the dark green scales and cobra-like head of her giant snake form. Her forked tongue tasted the air, white eyes burning with hate for me.
“And so we begin,” Ismael added. “Here we shall spill the first of our enemy’s blood in this war.”
We’d see about that…
Ismael straightened his spine, puffing up his chest. “My fellow monarchs!” His voice thundered across the beach, seeming to disturb the pink streaks in the blue-black sky. “Put aside any rivalries from the past. This is your rebirth, your gift. Do not waste it on pettiness. Embrace it.” He raised his arms, becoming the head of the royal pack with each passing second. “We are vulnerable to death, but do not fear it. Let it make you stronger.”
I should be running, not listening to this rubbish. Fear kept me cemented to the spot. Real, crippling fear. Darcy’s life was in my hands, and Roman was missing. A mighty pressure fell on my shoulders, crushing me, wanting me to yield in the face of such danger. Resistance was futile against this power on the beach.
Don’t give in now. Not with so much hope at stake…
I drew sharp breaths, hating myself for allowing the weakness in.
Don’t give in…
“We march as one!” Ismael bellowed. “We will reclaim this realm! Those who wish to join us will be welcomed into the fold. Those who oppose us will die.”
A rapturous applause followed.
What a wanker.
Ismael’s eyes flared. “Kill the human and the butterfly. But spare my love.” He took Past Me by the hand. “For now.”
The time for fear was over.
“Get ready to run,” I whispered to Butterfly.
The monarchs cried for blood, their collective voices an assault on my ears. They cheered each other, posturing in a display of might, but still not attacking. Too stuffed with self-importance, the dead queen forgotten now.
I burst into a run, Butterfly mirroring me in an instant. We tore across the snow, pouring every effort into our escape.
The demon monarchs roared as one behind us. I glanced back, the royal army surging forward in a mighty stampede.
2
ROMAN
“Let me pour that for you, sweetheart.”
