Page 65 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

Ruby answered from the front. “No, High Esteemed. Only the movement alarm was set off, no charms or defenses. I believe the opening of the gate triggered it.”

I wove a four-affinity barrier over the gate. “Stay here until we know more.”

“Yes, High Esteemed.”

I portaled to the next gate, finding Winona and Delta there. “No demons here either?”

“Not that we can tell,” Delta answered, then shook her head. “That’s one hell of a gate.”

The entrances to the demon realm inspired what they were meant to—a fearful respect of what may walk out, and a fearful respect of walking through. The obsidian door sat in the middle of a ravine, closer to the coven than it used to be. The heavy entrance with the carved demon holding crossed verdun blades was swung wide open. Two enormous horns curved above the gaping entrance. “It can look however it likes as long as nothing comes out,” I replied to Delta, then gave them the same orders.

Weaving my barrier over the entrance, I then portaled to the next gate, and then the next, finding the same verdict at each.

Finally, I portaled to the farthest and fifth gate.

Wild walked to join me. “The other gates are open too.”

“They are. All covered with a four-affinity barrier now. No signs of other demon activity.”

The fifth was no different.

The demon king had opened all the demon gates. “Why?”

Wild glanced over his shoulder. “That’s the question of the hour. Is it to inspire fear? That would help to fuel their power.”

And he’d achieve it with the simple act. The thought of sleeping tonight would be far-fetched for any of the magus here. The demon gate in my room could have opened at any time, but the visual of having it open was different somehow. “Or he wants to send something out once we let our guard down.”

“Magic or his people?”

Exactly. We had little knowledge of how a demon’s magic worked. The demon I’d fought had based her magic in blood—which I would consider dark magic. Was that usual though or just the most potent form of their power?

They could have any number of weapons at their disposal that we were ignorant to. “Set new alarms,” I told Wild. “And further up and down the ravines, too, in case they can get around one alarm. Put a silence barrier over the gates as well. I don’t know if they can hear through these things. Actually, let’s place barriers to cover all the senses. One that prevents them sensing our magic too.”

“I’d like to double sentry numbers.”

“I agree,” I replied. “I’ll instruct Delta to begin demon training with the coven tomorrow. We’ll hold a meeting with the advisors now.”

“I’ll remain here. We should keep a force at each demon gate until we’re sure nothing is coming through in the immediate future.”

Agreed. “I’ll give you an update when I can.” About to call Huxley to join me, I paused. “Why don’t I have a sentry pendant?”

Wild grimaced.

My eyes narrowed. “Spill.”

He lowered his head to mine. “Because you already have a coven pendant around your neck.”

The one that allowed me to call the advisors. “And?”

“I don’t want mine to be outnumbered.”

I absorbed his words. He referred to the ruby foundation pendant he’d given me. He… “You don’t want yours outnumbered… like having more coven pendants than Wild pendants means you’re less important?”

Wild clenched his jaw.

I kept my words slow. “I need to communicate with you and those at the gates.” I refrained from telling him he shouldn’t have purposefully kept me away from the sentry pendant. That wasn’t his choice to make. Others could be listening in, though. Even if they seemed pretty focused on the gaping demon gate.

“If you wear another one of mine, then I’d feel better about it,” he eventually relented.

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