Page 99 of House of Mages and Raven

Ruin fixed his chilling stare on me with a dark promise, as if he’d heard my silent challenge. Cruelty and greed was etched on the Shrieker commander’s monstrous face, tainted further by Ruin’s touch. I was still terrified of the ancient god, but I did not shake like a leaf but stood my ground, leveling my steady and vengeful stare on him. I’d have looked more badass if I pointedat him with Deathsong, which I’d stolen from him, but Rock was holding my blade.

The werewolf was getting the hang of it as he fought by Killian’s side and hacked at the remaining dozens of Shriekers, burying the evil blade between their eyes. The chaos prince cut through the horde mercilessly with his death power and lightning. He was an apex predator after all, formidable and a sight to behold.

An ache burned in my core and longing seared my eyelids. I looked away from him, for fear the mating heat would jump back into me if I kept drooling over him.

The Shrieker army started to retreat, following their commander. If my father had gained his full strength and come in person instead of remote-controlling his vessel, none of us might stand a chance against him.

I needed to be ready before he came knocking again. An urgency hit me like hail, a flood of anxiety whirling in the pit of my stomach, as I sensed that we were running out of time.

“We can’t let any of them escape,” I shouted across the bloody battlefield. “Kill their commander first!”

I was in no shape to chase them myself, and without my invitation, the heirs wouldn’t risk channeling me again. I didn’t know what would happen to us if we kept mingling our powers. This was new territory, and I was always dangerous to anyone around me, so we needed to tread carefully.

Killian and Rock could handle a dozen or so Shriekers. Killian led the hunt, and Rock followed. Then the retreating horde crashed into a force field that blocked their exit. Queen Lilith stepped into their path, starlight and hellfire bursting out of her and engulfing the commander. His shrieks didn’t last long before he became a pile of ash, bones, and machine parts.

No one but I had caught a moment between her and the commander with my father in him. They’d traded a look beforeher power hit his vessel. When her starlight and hellfire lit up the commander, my father was absent. He’d left his vessel a second before getting torched.

I was the daughter of God of Ruin. I would sense his terrible presence everywhere. No one else, except Killian’s betrothed, had realized that the ancient god had hitched a ride, and he’d been right outside the Veil to Mist of Cinder within his vessel.

It meant that he’d come soon in person. My blood iced over again.

As a former fallen star and the ruler of the Underworld, Queen Lilith could also kill the Shriekers. She shared a look with Killian, then they both raised their hands, like a perfect fucking team. Their powers rushed out of them, joining forces, and burned the rest of the horde.

She beamed at him, her hand on his broad shoulder.

My relief at our victory against the Shriekers turned so sour at the sight of them together that I was afraid I’d heave out all the contents in my stomach right where I stood now on shaky legs.

The heirs stalked toward me, questions in their eyes.

I stretched out a hand, summoning Deathsong. It wouldn’t do Rock good if he carried the evil blade for too long.

Rock, I like you, but my mistress is calling,I heard the blade say in Rock’s head, and his eyes widened. It’d take a lot get used to an evil blade talking.Hope to see you soon.

Deathsong peeled itself out of Rock’s large hand, sent him an air kiss, and flew toward me. When my fingers curled around its hilt, it greeted me in glee.When’s the next happy hour, Mistress Barbie?

“I gotta go. Shower time,” I shouted at the heirs before they reached me.

I zoomed toward the Veil, not looking back, not wanting to see Killian and his powerful betrothed together. As I dragged myexhausted body through the shimmer, a falling sensation swept over me.

And I was falling and falling.

33

Sy

Barbie curled within me in a tight ball like a depressed shrimp and slumbered.

I was up, my grin brighter than sunshine.

We had an invitation to the heirs’ party, but Barbie was in no mood to celebrate, especially after seeing the demon queen steal the show and fight with Killian as if they were a team. I’d urged her to cut off the hand that lay on the chaos prince’s shoulder and claim her man boldly and openly, but she’d shrugged me off and fled through the Veil instead.

Well, now she suffered another heartbreak and raged alone. I had to put some distance between us to avoid her fury and negativity.

Tonight, I’d go to the party in her stead and as Rowan’s official date for the first time.

I shall shine for both of us,I promised Barbie.

Rowanand I stepped through the leyline located in the Valley of the Mist.

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