Page 74 of Stone Heart
Chapter 24
Rhodack refused to let go of Rina. He didn’t want her pulling one of her little disappearing acts again.
He remembered this part of the demons’ lair and could almost smell the dark magic in the air. His gargoyle was on high alert. The gargoyles may have wiped out most of the demons, but that didn’t mean there weren’t traps laid for them.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Rina whispered behind him.
The dark tunnel that led to the lair deep within the mountain was provided shallow light by the fire scones hanging on the walls. It grew narrower the deeper they went. The damp air held a hint of magic and deceit.
They were growing closer to the necromancers.
He grunted, having memorized every place the demons had dragged him along. He would have loved to be the one who’d killed Geica but he had gained satisfaction watching Rina throw her from the dragon. It was almost as pleasing as when he’d taken the lives of the three demons who’d thought they’d be able to take him down.
Voices echoed through the caves. He slowed down, feeling the muscles in Rina’s arm tense. He strained to hear the words that were floating through the air, but he was unable to make them out.
They came to a fork in the cave, and instantly he knew which way to go. Geica had made him follow her out of the lair as if he were a lovestruck puppy.
“This way,” he murmured.
The voices grew louder as they made their way through the dark cave. What little light they had started to dissipate as they drew closer to the demons’ hidden lair. The building designed deep within the mountains would have been damn near impossible to find without clear directions.
The narrow path opened up to a large cavern, and he froze in place. Rina slammed into his leathery wings with a curse.
“What—” she exclaimed but drew silent as she peeked around him.
Before them, her father was frozen in the air, being controlled by Chukai. The other Fae warriors were petrified in place on the ground.
“Father!” she screamed.
She tried to dart past, but Rhodack grabbed her, pressing her back against his chest. He held her in place, and she struggled to break free.
“Let me go!”
“Ah, you’re just in time to see me drain the power of the king of Faery,” Chukai snarled, his light force holding the king above them.
The other two necromancers stood behind Chukai.
“Run, Larina!” the king shouted, struggling against his invisible bonds.
“No need for her to run. She will be next. My king will be pleased. Not only will we bring him the powers of the king of Faery, but that of the princess, too,” Chukai bragged.
“You will not touch her.” Rhodack’s muscles tightened.
“Oh? And who will stop me?” Chukai taunted, his eyes narrowing on Rhodack. “If you think the princess pushed the rest of the necromancer magic from you, then think again.”
“You cannot control me any longer.” Rhodack’s breath caught in his throat; the feeling of having control of his own body started to disappear. Panic filled his chest.
Not again.
He released a curse and tried to move his fingers, but they tightened on Rina instead.
She cried out from the force of his grip.
“What have you done?” he roared. He held her to him, lifting her off her feet.
“I let you think that the magic the demons put over you was gone. Do you really think it would just vanish the way it did?” Chukai boasted.
The king roared.
