Page 42 of Immortal Throne

If I survived.

“Trial one will now begin,” Malachi announced, his deep voice shaking my nerves.

Silence fell over the crowd, interrupted occasionally by the rustle of dirt as feet shuffled. No one stepped toward the portals.

That was it? That was the only direction the grand Council of Six planned to provide? Yeah, Zane and Chupey gave me a crash course, but surely the council planned to elaborate.

I stared down the portal as if it would start blabbing all its secrets if I glared hard enough. Each portal sat on the edge of the cliff, making the act of stepping into one a brutal trust exercise.

“What happens if someone without a claim tries to go through the portal?” I asked no one in particular.

“They fall off the cliff,” Ryker replied. He leaned down, his breath fanning my neck. “It’s time to find out.”

“Find out what?”

“Who’s your daddy.”

I shot him an annoyed look. “We already know who my daddy is.” Was.

Fuck.

Maybe I should’ve taken more of Zane’s advice. I pulled down on the tank top and string shirt combo and turned back to study the portals again. I had no other choice. I had to walk through the portal. Staying here meant death. Returning to the mortal realm meant death. The only option that provided a modicum of possible survival stood in front of me with that eerie buzzing energy and blue swirling air.

I had to walk through it alone.

Instead of joining me, Chupey held back. He’d already told me he couldn’t come along for the first trial, but the distance between us still cut at my chest. I wanted my demon familiar beside me.

Somehow, I’d drifted closer and closer to the first portal, the crowd parting for me. Warmth spread through my chest as the dark blue energy called to me, whispered to me, enticed not with words, but a pull of power. I was meant to do this.

I belonged here.

This close to the portal, the heat of its magic licked my face. I peeked over the ledge of the cliff and gulped. The treetops below were so far down, the drop easily over three-hundred feet.

I wouldn’t survive the fall. No one would.

“Hurry up, princess,” Ryker growled.

I startled, not realizing he’d trailed so close behind me, step for step, like the demonic stalker he was.

“Back off,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “You’re more than welcome to go first.”

“Actually, tradition states the heir of the last Lucifer gets the honor.” Ryker’s tone dropped, low and growly, it vibrated against my skin.

My lips tingled, remembering our kiss and wanting more.

I snarled until the feeling went away. Now was not the time to process whatever that was.

The crowd behind me began to growl and snap obscenities. They might respect tradition, but they certainly didn’t respect me.

Chupey yipped in encouragement. Or maybe he just wanted me to hurry up, too, so he could nap.

“You could step aside and abdicate your claim.” Ryker stroked his chin.

“Or…” I reached back and hooked my arm around his. “I could take you with me.”

Without another word, I stepped through the swirling blue magic of the portal and hauled Ryker with me.

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