Page 84 of Happily Ever Bitten (Underworld Royals 2)

None of them argued, surprising me even more.

They all believed in me. Because Lucifer had created me? Because I’d proven myself to them?

Because they love and respect you, Grigory whispered into my mind. We know your heart, Zay. You’re not going to take this lying down. You’re built to fight, so stop fucking around and kick the rest of that enchantment out of your head.

The fire in his tone spoke to my soul, encouraging me to do exactly as he demanded.

I used my hands to rip the rest of the nets away from me. While I couldn’t physically feel the cords, I mentally sensed them. They shredded beneath my touch, her spell shattering around me and releasing me from the supernatural bindings she’d threaded over my conscious.

I wasn’t sure how she’d done it, but she wouldn’t be able to do it again. Some foreign part of me absorbed the knowledge of her web, building a defense against it to prevent a follow-up attack.

The horsemen, I realized. They were rumored beings in our world, figments in the night meant to police their kingdoms, and Lucifer had confirmed they existed, that I’d come from them in some convoluted mix of magical evolution.

I felt them thriving within me, each gifting me a strength I would need for the upcoming fight. They provided knowledge of the realms, information on how to protect myself, and more—how to play on a spirit field I never knew existed.

Souls.

So many souls.

I could feel them in my mind, their auras colo

rful and providing a wealth of detail about each individual character.

And right now, I was surrounded by red.

Passion.

Violence.

Anger.

Adrik, Valora, Narissa, and Grigory were all ready to fight. And I was ready to join them.

Grigory helped me into a sitting position, his body warm beside mine as Jeremiah entered the room. “They’ve breached the outer defenses. Lux says it was too easy, so she believes Charis has manipulated more minds on the inside. She’s currently administering figs to everyone.”

She found more figs? I asked, having missed that development.

Yes, Narissa helped her, Grigory replied. Well, she provided details on what was needed. Lucifer returned with a barrelful.

He really does love your mother.

I know.

“Good, that will help,” Valora said, responding to Jeremiah’s report.

She’d retrieved Adriatica at some point—or maybe Adrik brought her when he arrived. The little girl’s aura was so serene I hadn’t noticed her presence when searching the room. She was sleeping peacefully in her mother’s arms despite the chaos thriving around the palace. I suspected Valora had something to do with that.

Adrik disappeared into Grigory’s closet to find weapons while Grigory studied me. “Tell me what you feel.”

Not how, but what.

Because he already knew I was recovering from the mental attack, could likely see the blocks I’d latched into place to keep it from happening again. Such a natural response, one I wouldn’t have recognized months ago but somehow did now. As if the knowledge of my birthright had unlocked something inside me.

Or perhaps it was just me finally living.

Or it’s who you were always meant to be, Grigory suggested, pulling me close. Now tell me what you feel, Zay. Where’s Napia?

You think I can locate her with my mind?

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