Page 207 of Of Nine So Bold

“We know,” Dex said shortly.

Brock bowed briefly to Niko. “My wife is leading the children and those too sick or weak or scared to fight to a more secure location within the temple. The rest of us are yours to command.”

Behind him, the other giants made noises of agreement.

Niko nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”

From the quick way they glanced at one another and drew themselves a little straighter, I wondered how often any of them had been thanked for anything in the past.

Another gong-like sound reverberated through the air, prompting a few muttered curses. Ruhl’s head whipped from one side to the other, his green eyes sweeping the walls. His fangs peeked past his lips as he hovered on the edge of a growl.

Ignatius’s hands splayed briefly, his gaze darting across the walls too like he could read something from the stones. “Syloriawillhold,” he said like he was willing the temple to obey. “But we must go.” He nodded to the decorative wall that had already swung shut behind us, concealing the tunnel to the grotto. “If I may, Highness?”

To his credit, Niko barely blinked before nodding his approval and stepping aside.

Ignatius hurried past him, lifting his arms and already whispering spells under his breath. Byron and Casimir followed him.

Staying close to my men, I walked after them. Apprehension tangled in my stomach as my scholar and vampire nodded to Ignatius and then began the spell.

This had to work. Had to be a good idea.

Gods, please let us all survive it.

A shiver rolled over my skin as Byron and Casimir’s powers called upon the gateway spell. The magical link between us thrummed, sending them my power and, through me, the strength of the others as well.

The decorative wall suddenly blurred, the stone carvings swallowed by shadows that hadn’t been there a moment before. Deepening quickly, the darkness took on a sense of extending so much farther back than it possibly could go. Farther than merely the length of the temple, or even of Erenelle itself.

Maybe even deeper than the world.

And for a few moments, the darkness seemed empty. Vast and containing nothing at all. But then nervous awareness prickled over my skin.

A shiver quivered through my middle. This must have been how ancient humans felt on moonless nights when they could justtella predator was watching them from beyond theircampfires. Because while I couldn’t see anything, every instinct I had screamedsomethingwas there.

And its eyes were on me.

A low, hungry chuckle came from the darkness.Ah, little doomed one. We meet again.

When I tensed, Dex cast a quick glance at me. “Is it here?”

I nodded. I didn’t bother asking why he couldn’t hear it and I could. Making sure this massive, invisible predator wouldn’t eat us was a more pressing issue.

“We need your help,” I said, determinedly holding my voice steady. ”We need to reach the apothecary district in Lumilia. Can you take us there?”

The gateway demon made a considering noise. From the edges of the gateway’s darkness, distant laughter echoed, cackling and somehow soundingsmallerthan the other creature to whom I spoke.

Ooh, the Nine,came a taunting voice.Aren’t they shiny with all those little links between them?

My heart sank. The other gateway demons were here too. The ones whodidseem smaller, but who liked to threaten to eat us.

“Please,” I said, trying to focus on the so-calledbig one.“You told me to call when the time came.” I braced myself. “I’m calling now.”

Noises of sarcastic surprise came from the smaller demons. But the larger one was silent.

From the corners of my eyes, I could see my men glancing warily at each other and at me.

A deep, wry chuckle rumbled from the gateway, like I’d amused the creature somehow.

Oh gods, please don’t let this be a mistake…

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