Page 42 of Court of Heathens

“I hate that. They deserve to be buried,” I snap, looking them over, “not to burn in the flames that stole their homes.”

“Let me,” my demon calls, taking my hand. “I will make it quick. They won’t feel a thing, my little witch, and it will protect their spirits and their peace. Let me help you.”

I turn to him with a nod. I take his hand, and we step forward. He’s solemn for once, and even he looks angry and disgusted at what happened. Demons are creatures of evil, but not this evil.

With a click, flames appear in his hand, and he blows them across the bodies. We stand there, the heat licking at us as it absorbs into the corpses and the magic flames swallow them swiftly, making it as respectful as possible.

When the flames recede and extinguish, all that is left is the burnt earth, and I know it will stay like that for an eternity, scar for what happened here. Good.

“They are at peace,” Phrixius murmurs.

I nod, and they wander around the village, searching for any others, while I turn to the tree, standing before the bloodstained branches.

How could someone do this?

How could someone kill innocents all because of an old grudge? These people did nothing. They were killed because of their ancestors’ actions. How is that fair?

I might not agree that necromancers should be killed at birth, but I’m starting to understand why some feel that way. If one is capable of such death and destruction, then what would an army of them be capable of?

Phrixius appears at my side, but I can’t look away from the tree, something akin to fury igniting within me. The gods let this happen.

Gods . . .

“Shouldn’t you tell the other gods?” I murmur, still staring at the tree.

“Not yet, not until I’m sure,” he replies, and I glance at him in confusion as he cups my cheek. “Doing so would put you in danger. I will not allow that. Trust me, Freya, to handle this.”

“What does that mean?” I whisper, staring into his shining eyes.

“Trust me,” is all he says, and I nod as my demon returns.

“There is nothing else left.”

“Then let’s leave this place.”

I nod again, and Phrixius takes us away from the horror, but I swear it follows me back home.

I swear I can still taste the smoke and blood, and I know I’ll never be free of it.

I have been changed and scarred like that earth.

CHAPTER 23

She’s right, I should tell the other gods, but if I do, they will come to Earth and hunt for the necromancer, leaving nothing unturned, and they will find her. They won’t care about my reasons or my hopes.

They will slaughter her.

I cannot let that happen. It is selfish, but I have to protect her. I know I can hunt this necromancer alone, and I will do it quickly before it draws the gods’ attention. No doubt Mors already senses something amiss. I will do everything I can to protect Freya.

My eyes fall on her. She’s standing, silent and seemingly lost. She is sad and horrified by what she saw. It shouldn’t make me happy, but it does. It shows me exactly why I’m doing this. She’s not evil. She’s not darkness, not like that. She cares, and she showed that much tonight. Even when the darkness took her earlier, she caught it and called to me. I still remember the panic in her voice. I’m just glad I was here to bring her back from it, but it had been close.

We need to be more careful because the closer we get to this person, the more her powers will react. We cannot lose her along the way.

She turns and walks to her bed, falling into it beforewrapping herself in the bedding. I hear her soft sobs moments later, and my heart breaks for her, but I let her feel it as I meet the demon’s eyes.

“We have to keep her safe.”

“Then let them go, let them kill. I will not risk her,” he snaps.

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