Page 125 of The Crown of Nyx

The Elysian King didn’t look at me as he rolled his shoulders back. Tension lined his figure, rolling off him in waves. “There is a demon, full blooded and powerful, living inside the cabin.”

I wasn’t sure what it was about his words that made my blood run cold. My heart thundered as I stared up at him in confusion. His anger was almost palpable; it thickened the air and made everyone else wary.

Stay by my side,Elias said, reaching for my hand.Just in case.

I let him entwine our fingers.No complaints here, I replied.

Either we had just stumbled into a trap designed by Dante, or somehow, there was a demon living here without anyone’s knowledge.

It hadn’t sounded like the female from the palace ruins liked us very much, so I doubted she knew about a demon being here.

But howdida demon get all the way out here? If the creature wasn’t with Dante, then was it possible that a demon had stayed behind after the war?

It should have been impossible, but based on the way Damon glared at the cabin, maybe there was a chance.

I frowned, itching to reach for him, but held back. “Do you know who it is?”

Red eyes met mine sharply, his nostrils flaring. “I’m afraid I do.”

Somehow, I shuddered again. My magic didn’t react negatively, though. It remained a calm presence in my chest, neither hesitant nor afraid. And yet, I summoned it to the surface.

Damon wasn’t giving me the impression that the person in the cabin was a threat. Maybe I was misreading the demon king, but he didn’t look afraid, either. He appeared apprehensive more than anything.

Before I could ask anything, he stalked into the downpour. Despite being a tall, imposing figure, the torrential rain almost made him disappear.

“No!” I made to reach for him, to walk into the rain myself, but Elias held me back. “No one goes off alone,” I said.

“He isn’t,” Maeve replied. I shot her a surprised stare, but she didn’t meet it as she, too, entered the rain.

“Dammit,” I hissed. I stopped fighting Elias, though I remained tense. “I don’t like this.”

Hawk appeared in my periphery. “I have to agree. I can sense the demon. But I have no idea who it is. All I do know is they are powerful.”

My heart rate picked up. The figures of Maeve and Damon appeared near the cabin, but I couldn’t tell much else, other than they were too far away to be heard over the rain. Even with my heightened hearing, I couldn’t tell if they were communicating or not.

Shaking my head, I tugged my hand free of Elias’s just as the front door of the cabin opened.

Magic coiled tightly in my chest as whoever lived there stepped into the rain, passing the doorway entirely.

I moved before anyone could stop me. The rain almost came to a stop as I ran, turning from streaks of water to droplets in the air. I didn’t stop to admire it. I must have tapped into Maeve’s speed, because before I knew it, I was standing between her and the demon from the cabin.

My breath left me in a huff as I stared into the dark eyes of the male demon from the cabin. That tight coil of magic in my chest recognised him and exploded.

Darkness greeted me,familiar and comforting. Was I in one of Damon’s shadows? I wasn’t sure. It didn’t feel like it. This darkness was different. But I knew why. I just couldn’t reach for the memory.

I felt for my mates, reaching for the presences—their bonds. But each one slipped out of my grasp, disappearing into the black void around me.

Maybe I’m in a dream, I thought. But even in dreams, I could find a way out.

“You are running out of time,” a voice whispered.

I turned sharply. It wasn’t a voice I recognised at all. My skin prickled as the smell of smoke filled my lungs, heavy and unidentifiable.

“Who’s there?” I called, searching the darkness. I thought I had my blocks in place to keep dream demons and Fae out, but maybe they’d failed.

My memory came back slowly. The cabin, Damon rushing off towards it, the demon male with the dark eyes.

Then my magic exploding and…

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