Page 57 of House of Demons and Bones

“You’ve got nothing to trade. We know your secret,” Silas said.

Killian frowned at him.

“You’re Hades’s heir, we get it,” Cade said.

Killian shot me a look. I blinked slowly, all innocence.

He sighed. “I have more dangerous secrets than that.”

“Told you the asshole can’t be trusted,” Silas said, throwing meaningful looks at the others.

“This is bigger than my secrets,” Killian said. “If we don’t do this—if we don’t bare our secrets—our alliance breaks. No trust means the truce between our kingdoms shatters too.”

“We’re brothers, aren’t we?” Rowan said. “Time to act like it and trust each other. The realm is in more danger than you know.”

“You in or not?” I asked, power infusing my voice.

All eyes locked on me.

“Is this about Barbie?” Silas asked, looking around.

“Yes,” Killian answered impatiently. “You’ll learn who Barbie really is. We’ll make a new pact between the five of us—a blood pact.”

“Trust me, it’ll be worth it,” Rowan added. “Barbie’s more than meets the eye.”

“Never doubted that.” Silas flashed me a smile, and Killian growled.

The shifter prince treated me like dirt when he thought I was a boy with a dormant wolf. He only started seeing me in a new light after Killian brought me to the House of Chaos. Still, he’d helped save my life with the others, so I’d moved past my grudge against him and Louis.

“Fuck it. Let’s do this.” Louis yanked out a blade and slashed it across his palm.

“Underhill will witness your blood oath,” I said, backing into the dark forest. “When you’re done, it’ll let you in.”

“For the sake of being received by Underhill, I’ll do it,” Cade said.

“Fine, count me in,” Silas said. “I don’t like being left alone. If there’s any conspiracy, I want to know about it.”

As I waited by the pool, the heirs sauntered in one by one. Shadow beasts escorted them, growling at the scent of their blood. The wounds would seal soon—perks of being the most powerful supernaturals. The beasts wouldn’t attack, snacking on the heirs, under Underhill’s tight leash, but the heirs didn’t seem concerned anyway.

They craned their necks and gazed around in awe.

Except for Killian in his dream walk, none had ventured into the dark forest before. Rowan had access only to the cabin at Underhill’s edge when Sy joined him. Silas and Louis had tried forcing their way in last time and nearly broke their necks when Underhill hurled them out in warning. And this was Cade’s first step into the forbidden forest.

Ancient trees scraped the sky. Flowers glowed like stars. Tiny winged fairies zipped between branches. Blue magic fire roared to life in twin hearths materializing beside the spring lake. Three tables shimmered into existence and dotted the center of theclearing, gold goblets brimming with fairy wine. There were even plush towels stacked on carved benches.

The lake with the purest water in the world glowed from the bottom, misty light rising into the air like a forgotten dream.

“This is incredible!” Louis grinned ear-to-ear.

Underhill had created a magical resort.

A column burst from the center of the lake, morphing into a fountain of wine. Liquid rainbows swirled at its peak, and a dozen crystal cups floated around the fountain.

Cade’s eyes went wide. “Wild magic!”

“You should’ve said this was a party,” Silas shouted at Killian, throwing back his head and howling before stripping.

“Keep your pants on,” Killian barked.

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