Page 219 of Of Nine So Bold

My eyes skipped to the walls. The ceiling. The floor. Rotting filaments of fungus were climbing across them all, like a miniature version of the destruction her magic was wreaking on the ley lines and the world.

The castle was steeped in the magic of the nexus. It was saturated with it to the point the building itself was very nearly alive. But with its roots twisting down into the earth itself, how much more saturated by the nexus was the tree?

“She’s using the royal tree as a channel to the nexus, using it to create all of this,” I said. “The apple trees we saw in the countryside. The fruits that steal people’s wills. Even the rot growing in the castle. It’s all connected. But if we…” Gods, it hurt to say. “If we kill the tree, maybe that’s how we can break her hold on the nexus.”

The twins and Niko shared a wary look, while Ozias glared at the walls as if blaming them for this personally. Dex frowned, looking away as if seeking a strategy, and Byron watched him as if hoping to spot when he came up with one.

“If she’s tied her corruption of the tree into the nexus,” Casimir said carefully. “Killing it might damage the nexus too. Perhaps irreparably.”

I hated that he had a point. “Or it hurts her enough that we have a chance to killher.”

“With her gone,” Byron said, nodding, “the Voidborn might lose the hold they’ve gained on this world. Or at least on her magic. We could stabilize the nexus then. Use it to drive them out.”

Ozias gave a low sound of displeasure. “Assuming it doesn’t devour us first.”

“I will not let it,” the demon countered dismissively.

He sounded so confident, it pulled a smile from me in spite of everything.

“You’re riskingheron that,” Ozias snapped back.

The demon hesitated, a hint of anxiety flashing over his face.

“With our powers as they are now,” Dex spoke up. “This might be the best chance we’ll ever get, so we need to take it. Agreed?”

Nods passed among the others, but Ozias just scowled.

The demon reached over, putting a massive clawed hand to his shoulder. “You and I will guard our mate, friend Ozias. We will make sure she is not devoured by this contemptible magic.”

My heart melted a little.

Gods, please let us all survive. I wanted a life with these monsters and men.

Closing his eyes briefly, Ozias nodded. “We will.”

“Okay,” Dex said. “Then there’s only one other problem.”

“The tree is in the courtyard,” I filled in.

Clay made a noise of understanding. “Where I’m guessing all the monsters will be waiting for us?” He nodded to himself. “Great.”

Ozias hefted his ax, grim resolve coming from him. “Then we kill them too.”

A breath left me, and I nodded. “Yeah.”

Harran stared around at us. I braced myself for him to protest. Surrounded by my giants, he looked like a frail old man desperately out of his depth.

But after a moment, the steward only exhaled sharply. “I will come with you.” Lifting his chin, he hefted his bucket like he bore the weapon of a king.

Dex nodded. “All right. We move fast and we protect the princess. No matter what.”

I frowned, but the others only voiced their agreement. Even the thin steward.

“Good.” Dex jerked his chin at the demon to lead the way. “Let’s go.”

56

DEX

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