Page 52 of Gods' Battleground

Lonely stone columns were all that remained of former buildings. There were no walls or ceilings.

A palm tree grew out of a rusted, hollowed-out car.

Pots and pans dangling from the tree branches, clanging together like chimes in the wind.

There was even a fireplace planted inside a ring of orange trees, like a bizarre piece of post-apocalyptic art.

The ground was perilous, pocketed with cracks and chasms. It looked like a giant had punched great holes in the earth, ripping away the overgrowth, exposing layers of ruined levels below. Bella navigated around the obstacles, making her way toward the Beast.

She stopped in front of him, just steps away. “Well, I’m here,” she declared, putting on a brave face—and a brave voice. “And you’re here. So let’s get this battle over with.”

He just stood there, unmoving. Like a statue.

“What’s the matter, big guy?” Bella asked, smiling. “Too scared to fight little ole me?”

The Beast lifted his hand. I thought he was going for a weapon—Bella must have thought so too because her whole body tensed up—but he was only reaching for his helmet. He pulled it off his head, revealing the face of an angel.

It was Harker Sunstorm.

CHAPTER 18

THE SUN QUEEN

Harker stepped toward Bella. “I am scared of nothing, least of all you,” he declared with a derisive snort. He tossed his helmet dramatically to the ground, like he didn’t need armor to fight the likes of her.

It was all obviously part of the show. A moment later, he joined the telepathic amphitheater in my mind.

Are you all right?he asked Bella.

All she could do was stare at him in shock and stutter,How…

“What’s she doing?” complained the Night Prince. “Fight, girl, fight! Don’t get distracted by his pretty-boy face!”

Several of the princes chuckled.

Uh, guys? You might want to at least pretend to be preparing to do battle,I told Bella and Harker.The crowd is getting restless.

They responded to my words immediately. Harker drew his sword. Bella pulled out her wand. They started circling each other.

How did you find me?Bella asked again.

I eavesdropped on one of Leda’s private conversations,he said without a shred of guilt.I came to the Veil, but I was delayed when I ran into some trouble with a clan of bizarresupernaturals. By the time I was ready to travel to the Night Prince’s world, I was too late. You’d already been captured. And, by the way, Leda, since I know you’re listening, you nosy?—

That comment was rich, especially coming from someone who’d just casually admitted to eavesdropping on my private conversations.

—how the hell did an all-powerful deity allow herself to be captured by a bozo in a frilly costume?

I was really glad Harker couldn’t see the costume I was stuck wearing right now.

Getting captured was all part of the plan, genius,I told him.

Your plans don’t make any sense.

Sure they do,I retorted.And you guys are supposed to be pretending to fight, remember?

Harker swung his sword at Bella, but she shot some kind of glowing stuff out of her wand. It shattered the steel blade upon impact.

When I learned of your capture, I had two choices,Harker said, tossing his broken sword aside and drawing a new one.Option number one was to break into the Night Prince’s fortress and rescue you. However, I felt that a full-on assault was too risky. In order to get past that many guards, I’d have to blow up larger chunks of the castle, and I didn’t want to risk debris falling on top of you, Bella.

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