Page 120 of Cruelest Kiss and Fairest Blood
“It’s too bad I don’t have more time to play with you. My sister wants you dead. You wasted my time trying to escape. Can’t you see that was never an option? All these years and my sister and I have never failed.”
“Fuck…” I gasp. “…you.” The dagger jams into his carotid. Unlike with Harrow, I don’t leave it in. My muscles burn as I yank it free.
Cassius’s blood sprays onto my face. He drops me. The impact on the unforgiving stones of the courtyard floor sends knife-like pain slicing through my left hip. Cassius stumbles away, cradling his neck. His blood rains down, painting the gray stones.
Mytha slithers toward me. “We mussst get you to sssafety.”
Her face is badly brutalized. The green of her eyes is muted compared to its usual, ethereal brilliance. She reaches a hand to me, but the boot that comes slamming down on the back of her head sends her straight to the ground. Cassius kicks her again. Mytha never cries out, but the light in her eyes dims further.
Laughter gurgles out of Cassius’s blood-filled mouth. He spits, wiping his chin with the back of his hand.
“Stupid little girl. Haven’t you figured it out? I may not be able to come back from the dead like you but channeling magic allows me to heal. Your efforts are a waste.”
A fresh wave of fear spills through me. How am I supposed to fight someone who can heal after every attack? Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mytha’s body shrink down. Black feathers explode outward as she takes to the sky. Her raven form is wobbly but fast.Where is she going?
“Abandoned. Too bad. I wouldn’t mind an audience.” He looms over me, extending his hand. “Why don’t you give that little knife to me before you hurt yourself.”
My hands shake, but my mind is sharp. I merely blink up at him, andI know what to do.
The sound Cassius makes when I jam the dagger into his balls is unlike anything I’ve heard.Inhuman anguish. Wrenching it free, I crawl backward and launch to my feet.
A wailing Cassius crumbles bone over bone to the hard stones. He rolls back and forth, clutching his mutilated groin.
That felt amazing.
Chapter 36
Harrow
Power spills from the mirror with such force I have to steady myself. From the first hoof I can tell this demon is no fucking joke. The mirror monster is every bit as horrifying as Lenore said it was. If I had to classify it, I’d say it’s some version of a hellhound. The animal-like physicality matches to the general shape of a hellhound. The mangled half-dead people fused to the length of its body, however, is not a hellhound characteristic. Blue light emanates from all around it. The same light glows from behind the black glass of the mirror the creature just portaled out of. Whatever it is, this thing is not from our world.
Catreena rises from the bed, greeting the monster with a loving stroke across its cheek. The humans trapped on its body flinch as she walks past. She sits in a large golden throne that clearly does not belong in this room. I’m not surprised she had itmoved here. The success of her reign is tied to this creature. She would want to stay as near to it as possible.
“You’ve underestimated me if you believe that creature alone is enough to take me down.”
“Not true, harbinger. I can sense your power. Which is why I’m not taking any chances.”
The mirror swirls again.Please tell me the hellhound doesn’t come as a matching set.
It’s not another beast that steps forth from the mirror, but a person. Two people. Three. Four. The more that come out, the more I start to question how many supernatural beings I’ll be able to take on at once. Those taking formation before me aren’t regular humans.They’re dead. Twenty-six in total. I know from personal experience how hard dead things can be to kill.
They line up in rows, making the room feel infinitely smaller. Crumbling half torsos, missing limbs, all gifted new life with some dark magic. A mist matching the one that covers the floor flows through each. That’s where they’re getting their life force. I use the word ‘life’ loosely. If they came from the mirror, they’re still teetering on some variation of death. I weigh my options. Death fighting death. I need to call in a favor from the living.
“Amidia.”
A raven appears on my shoulder. With Mytha busy guarding Lenore, Amidia is my stand-in right-hand. I lean in, whispering a command before sending her on her way.
“Cute pets,” Catreena muses.
I’ve already arranged for Mytha to help my beloved, now I need Amidia to find someone to help me. I know just who to summon. Collecting my power, I allow it to quietly build. When it strengthens enough, I release it in a shockwave that spreads across the land faster than a mortal can blink. With any luck, it will reach my reinforcement before Amidia does and be enough magic for my ravens to ferry him here.
“I’d be more cautious if I were you.” Catreena taps her fingers along the arm of her golden throne. “Using up all that power is unwise. We haven’t even started playing yet.”
The hum of my recently released magic ripples back, alerting me to the successful approach of my guest. “The game will be a lot more fun in a few moments. Trust me.”
A cloud of ravens swarms in through the open doorway. The tornado-like formation hides their passenger, but I can feel him. Catreena must be able to sense him too. She sits up straighter.
“We’ve been missing one of the key players.” I offer her a smug grin.
