Page 40 of Shadow's Heart

“The code to unlock these magics is . . . a puzzle.” He all but vibrated with anticipation. “One must crack the Lore’s most challenging puzzle, a conundrum that would baffle any creatureshort of a sphinx. Once begun, failure to solve it will bring”—his lips curled, revealing a flash of fang—“death.”

“Sounds ominous.”

Lothaire’s grin deepened. “Did I ever tell you about the time I drank a sphinx?”

Seven minutes later . . .

The portal to Nightside opened, the rock face disappearing, leaving air in the shape of a large door.

Lothaire demanded of Kristoff: “Admit it.”

Sharp shake of his head.

“Admit it. I’mthatgood.” Lothaire fogged and buffed his claws. “Yet you refuse to acknowledge how alike we are? Some people can’t take a compliment.” He strode through the portal without a care.

When Kristoff hesitated, Lothaire turned back. “Best hope I don’t perish—me, poor Furie’s only chance.”

With a muttered curse, Kristoff followed into some kind of cave. When the portal snapped closed behind them, leaving a seamless rock wall, he attempted to trace, but that ability must be bound here. “Congratulations, you insufferable ass. We’re trapped. And weaponless.” Their swords had disappeared. “How are we to save Mina if we’re imprisoned in this land of the forsaken with her?”

“It’ll come to me, I’m sure.” Lothaire found an opening out the cave and headed into the night. He lifted his face and inhaled. “I already have her scent. Ah, and another one? A sorcerer is likely with her. Well, that’s a bad break. Enchanters, right?”

Wouldn’t know.

“She might not know up from down when he gets through with her.” At Kristoff’s questioning look, Lothaire said, “I once played cards against the King of Lies. Took me a decade to right my mind after that.”

“How do you fight an enchanter?” Was Mina in evenmoredanger?

“Depends on what his abilities are. All I know for certain is that Sorceri are not to be trusted. This way.” He strode onto a rocky path.

Kristoff trailed after him, surveying the area with a gimlet eye. Lava and misery. “I can’t believe I followed you into this place.”

Lothaire gestured around them. “I offer you an opportunity to learn about the Lore—this is the classroom—but you resist me.”

“Didn’t you say the same to Mina? That’s what got us into this situation.”

“You were raised by humans and lived among them for centuries. You’re just as sheltered as Mina is and equally in need of education.”

Born in Helvita, Kristoff had been smuggled out of the castle as a babe after his mother’s death. He knew little about her, piecing together that she’d been stricken with the plague following his birth and then executed.

If the same malady had befallen Mina, would her king kill her?

Lothaire continued, “I’m not greater than you because of my age and earned strength, or even because I’m part Dacian. I’m greater than you are because of all I know.”

“I started building my army hundreds of years ago. I’ve been immersed in this world.”

“Yes, but since then, immortals have worked together to keep you—and your army of turned mortals—in the dark. They don’t favor former humans.”

“Perhaps so, but three of my generals have wed Valkyries, and they are learning much.”

“Ah, the legendary Wroth brothers. But are those warlords passing on all they learn? If you think any one of them will choose you over the well-being of his fated Bride, you are laughably mistaken.”

“They would never lie to me.” Especially not the two oldest. Three hundred years ago, Kristoff hadmadethem, dripping his blood into their mouths to revive their dying human bodies.

Lothaire continued forward and Kristoff kept pace, sensing information to be had. The Enemy of Old didn’t disappoint: “If Furie rises, she’ll likely sentence to death any Valkyrie who allies with a vampire. Those Wroth Brides will be fugitives from their own coven. Will your generals allow that? In your own power base, a family of warlords will be united by blood and steel against your female.” With clear glee, he said, “You need to look farther down the board, brother. And all gambits lead to one eventuality: the fall of your queen.”

His analysis was disturbingly on point. “You’ve said Furie will be my greatest asset, yet now you hint that she’ll be the dividing wedge in my army. So which is it?”

“I said she would be an assetifyou could tame her. It all depends on what emerges from those depths. One way to find out. Sign my ledger.”

---