Page 80 of Court of Heathens

I hurry through the bodies, ignoring the way the eyes track me despite my men tearing into them. They do not react. They simply stand there until I’m over halfway through them, then suddenly, the path closes before me. I turn to see those behind me marching straight at my men, their eyes glinting with determination and power.

I want to shout a warning, but it’s clear they already know. Still, I hesitate as they converge on the men I love.

Gritting my teeth, I turn back to the wall of black-eyed soldiers standing between me and the wide glass doors of the skyscraper. I don’t wish to expose myself to the magic again and risk becoming consumed by them, but I have to choose.

Conjuring my power, I let it fill my palms as I walk towards them, knowing my hair is darkening and my eyes shine with magic. They do not react, not until they step back as I come towards them. I drawcloser to the door, confusion swirling through me as my magic crawls up my arms, begging to be used.

The whispers of death on the air call to me, and I ignore it as best as I can, unwilling to let even one of the faceless people touch me. Who knows what would happen?

As I reach the door, the black eyes follow me. I expect them to stop me, and I prepare my magic, but they incline their heads and step back, forming a passage between them. I hesitate at that. Why would they let me pass?

They have to know why I am here.

As I reach the door, darkness falls around us, and I raise my gaze to the once bright sky to see shadows reaching up into it, blotting out the light.

The shadows obscure the sun, plummeting the whole city into darkness.

Taking a deep breath, I turn back to the door and push inside, ready to face death.

CHAPTER 42

Ispare Freya a look and see her stepping inside the building. Good, we bought her a chance. I wish we could be with her, but the army he created turns their eyes to us, and now that she is clear, their intention to destroy us fills the air.

She might be facing him, but we are with her in her heart and soul. He is assuming our deaths will make her weak, but I will not allow that. I will not allow him to hurt her like that. Her soul and heart are already ours, and he cannot have them.

This is not the first war I have fought, and it will not be the last, but it is the most important because it is for her. Freya called to me and gave me purpose, and she showed me love and kindness.

I have fallen madly and deeply in love with her, and despite my duty and station, I choose her. As I dive towards the undead soldiers filled with power of past necromancers, I let them see there is no one more determined than a god in love.

I bulldoze into the soldiers, feeling the touch of death wash over my skin as they try to claim my soul for the darkness.

If only they knew the darkness already claimed it—the darkness that lives in her.

SHA

They are strong. Before, it was like tearing through grass, easy and endless, but now they are fighting back. I feel Phrixius above me as his magic hits the crowd, melting them where they stand. They do not even scream, and even if they are missing limbs or dying, they continue to stumble towards him. He grabs them and lifts them into the air, dropping them from an incredible height before diving back down, cutting through their masses with his swords. Heads tumble to the ground, but their bodies carry on their assault.

Teeth dig into my side, and I snarl as I turn, focusing on those attacking me. My shadows swallow their silent screams, crawling along their skin and dragging them down to the ground, which opens. It swallows them whole, leaving no trace. My long arms swipe out, sending more flying. I hear bones break as I tear through the never-ending masses, refusing to give up or slow down.

Freya is counting on me. I will not let her down.

She is my reason for living. She is my master and my lover. I will decimate any army for her. I will bring their hearts to her as a trophy, and when this is over, I will show her what it means to be loved by a monster.

Snarling loudly, I bite the head of the next foe, spilling blood across me.

ADDER

We are spread out now and cut off from one another. They think that makes us weaker, but they are wrong. I am a demon born to do evil, and today, I let everything I keep inside out.

Fire scorches the earth as I step forward, the scent of sulphur fillingthe air, and those nearest to me catch fire. They still head my way, but as they bump into others, the fire spreads, moving across their masses.

Conjuring a portal, I shove a few through, knowing where they will end up. Sharks eat them as they drop into the water. Turning, I wave my hand, and a net comes down on more, acid burning through them as it captures them, pinning them to the ground.

I laugh and let all my wild, evil magic out, turning others to insects and stepping on them. I keep moving and killing. Their blood spills over me, only urging me on. My fires burn hotter until even the buildings around us scorch with the heat.

I will not stop, not until there are no more threats to her.

This battle is ours, just as the one up there is hers.

---