Page 46 of Of Nine So Bold

“Quiet. Find me a mirror.”

“A mirror?”

My head twitched toward him in irritation, though my eyes didn’t leave the west.

“Yes, Majesty. Right away.” His footsteps fled the courtyard.

My jaw clenched and my fangs bared. Behind me, no Voidborn made a single sound. No human nor creature did either.

And there wasn’t a damnedtraceof Alaric’s voice to be heard.

Because of course there wasn’t.

I straightened in the light of the rising sun, its radiance unable to burn me as it danced across the gold and silver glints in my skin. I’d defeated that eel-faced bastard. I’d consumed the blood of Gwyneira’s angel and defeated the light of the sun as well.

And when this was done, I would stand upon the grave that held all her men.

“If you survive the dark, Gwyneira,” I whispered, “know this. Demons die. And so will you.”

12

GWYNEIRA

“Hello?”

Nothing.

“Roan? Ozias? Is anyone there?”

Silence.

In the dark, I twisted and turned, lost in a place where there was no trace of up or down. I couldn’t feel my body. See my own hands before my face. There was just… me.

And the darkness.

“Please! Can anyone hear me?” My terrified voice barely pierced the emptiness. “Casimir? Byron? Any?—”

Low laughter rolled through the night, cruel and familiar. “I see you, Gwyneira.”

Oh gods.

Panic gripped me, and before I could think to question, I was already fleeing into the dark. I couldn’t let her catch me. Not if I wanted to survive.

But… where was the way out?

The darkness grew thicker. Colder. Emptier in a way that felt like nothing of substance or form could survive. I’d made a mistake coming here.

White as snow…

I slowed at the faint traces of a woman’s voice drifting through the darkness.

Red as blood…

I twisted and turned, searching. I… Iknewthat voice. I’d heard it on the edge of a dream.

Dark as ebony…

“Hello?” I called, but the emptiness swallowed my cry.

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