Page 66 of House of Demons and Bones

“The Maiden ambushed me in Windsong Woods, saying bad shit would happen,” I said.

“So I bounced before she could spew more negativity.”

“What bad shit?” Cade asked.

“You don’t need to share if you aren’t ready, Barbie,” Killian said. “I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you.”

I sighed. “There are several parts to the prophecy. You all heard the first—about the One bringing back old magic. The Brides Selection started because of that. Here’s the second part:Magic fades. Mist reveals, and Ruin comes. The cursed and the blessed are One. The darkest flame has emerged. Fuse it with light, or its power will devour the worlds and all whom you love. The Wheels of the Fates have turned.”

“When she was in my house, Lady Moirai warned about turning the Wheels of Fates before all ends,” Killian added. “Her exact words were:Ruin’s coming for her, for you, for all of us. He’ll consume her and then feast on us. Push her to the breaking point so she shall rise, or everything will fall, and the world ends.She meant Barbie. We must protect her at all costs.”

“How can you be so sure it’s Barbie?” Silas challenged. “Now she’s your true mate, you want her to be safe. Next, you’llbroadcast she’s the prophesied Bride, so you can use her to claim the high throne. We aren’t fools, Killian. Your fucking machinations won’t work.”

“I don’t want to be fucking High King,” Killian growled.

“Actually,” I said, “the oracle spoke of two Brides. New threads have been woven.”

The heirs froze. “Two Brides? Why did the prophecy change? What does it mean?”

“Beats me.” I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. “But I won’t be one of the Brides in the Selection.” I turned to the shifter prince. “So chill. There are no machinations at work here.”

I wouldn’t stick around to see the Brides Selection play out. The Underworld held Heaven’s Arrow, and I had to retrieve it. The Maiden’s prophecy gripped me tight—I needed to split from Sy before my father got his hands on me.

Without my sacrifice, Ruin would consume everything I loved.

I kept that dark fate hidden from Sy. Where I was headed, no one could follow. Not Sy. Not my true mates. My chest squeezed tight and my blood turned to ice as I faced the reality of leaving them all behind.

While the heirs fixated on the second prophecy, brooding, the Fury slipped from Cade’s face. My show of weakness had fed her confidence.

She glared and stuck out her tongue, taunting me with a hiss.I’ll never let him go. He’s mine! And there’s nothing you can do. Your father will come for you. I can’t wait to watch him eat you alive.

A wave of rage surged through me at how she’d turned Cade’s life into her personal torture chamber.

Take her down!Sy’s snarl matched the Fury’s challenge.

If I didn’t strike now, this chance might never come again. Any shit could happen to me, and I’d be gone soon enough. What would become of Cade then? I could end this. I could end Cade’s suffering right here.

One second, I was lounging against Killian. The next, I leaped across the expanse of water, my fingers morphing to claws as I slashed at the Fury.

She plunged into Cade, but not before my claws scraped her phantom cheek, leaving a trail of pale smoke in her wake.

She escaped again!Sy hissed.

Not this time, she won’t,I said. My hands seized Cade’s face.

Cade gasped, choking. I’d pushed too hard, his mage magic streaming away from him. My goal was to starve the Fury out, but I had to watch it—one wrong move and I’d wreck Cade instead.

Silas and Louis shot to my side.

“What are you doing?” Louis’s voice cracked with panic. “His face is gray. Are you draining him?”

“Let him go, Barbie!” Silas ordered me.

“Just give me a fucking minute,” I hissed, not letting go of Cade.

“He doesn’t have a minute!” Silas snapped. “You’ll kill him. Is that your plan?”

“You’re too ruthless, Barbie. Let go of Cade!” Rowan joined the shouting.

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