Page 69 of House of Demons and Bones

A rush of light and dark wind wrapped around me, and I surged forward.

Barbie

When we reached the Veil,a small army of supernaturals had rallied around the heirs—over three hundred strong and itching for a fight.

We pushed through the shimmering Veil. Cade and his team had fortified the ward, with Bea—now one of his high mages—flexing some serious magical muscle.

The army of Shriekers darted through the burned woods toward us, their clanking and rumbling echoing across the wasteland. They halted fifty yards away, a dead zone of blackened dirt stretching between us.

I’d scorched this land, draining its magic in panic while fighting off three Shriekers who had hunted me down. The guilt of siphoning the land’s magic still gnawed at me, but back then, I’d been backed into a corner.

The Shrieker horde emerged like walking nightmares—eight-foot-tall terrors with mechanical torsos and massive scorpion claws. They lined up in battle formation, perpetual hunger twisting their monstrous faces.

I held my ground beside Killian, the other heirs flanking us with Rowan sticking closest, standing guard over me.

The largest Shrieker stepped forward, more humanoid than monster. It bore Ruin’s mark, skulls in chains, between eyes that locked onto me. I could feel my father’s presence swirling within them like inky smoke. This new commander was different. Not only was my father’s presence stronger in it than his previous vessel, but his power was wrapping the abomination in a shield.

Ruin was leveling up.

Anxiety and revulsion scraped against my bones.

“Give us the princess and you’ll live.” My father’s voice slithered from the commander, icing my spine.

Shit!

I’d planned to reveal my true identity to the heirs in a controlled environment within Underhill, but that motherfucker had just beaten me to it and ruined everything for me all over again.

“What princess?” Silas barked.

“Princess! Yes, princess!” The horde’s chorus was like nails scratching over broken glass, making my teeth chatter.

“You’ll die for defiling our land,” Killian said, his voice arctic with rage.

My father’s glacial gaze locked onto Killian. “So, you’re the one she fucks. I remember you from last time, and I’ve marked you. I’ll give you one last chance, foolish boy. Deliver Princess Ruin of North Kingdom, who calls herself Barbie now—a pitiful choice—and I’ll spare your realm.”

I snarled at the sound of Princess Ruin. My rage burned hotter when he dared insult my mate. He would pay for both. Yet beneath my fury, dread coiled in my stomach as I waited for the heirs to discover my identity.

“You won’t have her!” Silas declared, his voice hard as steel.

Relief flooded through me, though I was surprised the shifter prince had jumped to defend me so fiercely.

“Barbie stays with us,” Louis said, his lips curving into a snarl. “And you’ll die today.”

The heirs shifted forward, their shoulders aligned in a protective crescent before me.

Rowan smiled, cold and lethal, as he drew his fae blade from behind his back, steel glinting in the light. None of the weapons the supernaturals wielded could deal a death blow to the Shriekers—I’d told all the heirs this—but they still drew their weapons out of instinct.

“Then we’ll pick the flesh off your bones,” the commander said, its scaled lips pulling up in a grotesque smile.

The Shriekers screeched at their master’s promise, scorpion-like claws pounding their metal chests, filling the battlefield with haunting echoes. Behind me, our small army of supernaturals winced at the grinding sound.

Rage pulsed through the heirs like a rush of electricity, and I felt every volt of it through our connection. Dark flame coiled inside me, eager to break free, but I held it back.

Not yet. Not yet.

“Steady, warriors!” Rowan shouted.

Our warriors straightened and bellowed battle cries, fire blazing in their eyes.

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