Page 99 of Devoted

Settle.

Listen to my voice.

Calm yourselves.

The darkness only grew wilder, whipping around me in a frenzy. Pain slashed across my forehead, warmth trickling down my face. My tongue flicked out. Blood.

There is nothing to fear. Yes, this world is loud, but that is only the sound of lives that will be yours, soon enough. Do not begrudge them their joy and their sorrow while they can yet feel.

I didn’t know where these words came from, but the ribbons slowed, undulating through the air as if they were listening.

There are pockets of quiet in this realm. Many of them. If you like, I will find them for you. I opened my eyes, and all around me the weaving ribbons were barely swaying, like wheat sheaves in the breeze. As if they were waiting for me.

But first, I ask a favor. There are demons here that do not belong. I have to hunt them. Kill them. But I need your help.

The shadows sucked into my body in a long, frozen slide that felt like death itself taking me over, flooding this form with power and the chill of the grave. Silence filled my head at the same time, a deep, blissful quiet that made the entire world go still.

So that’s what it’s like.

This is quite nice.

Without the shadows ripping the world apart, I took my first good look around.

Chunks of grass and rock were torn up and tossed around, dark gouges carved into the fortress walls, which, unlike last time, were still standing. But Emilia’s wards… were completely gone.

My knees almost went out from beneath me as I realized nothing stood between me and Emberline.

Nothing except for Emilia.

Who was crouched on the ground next to Lucien, blood staining his face, pouring from his ears. One of his feet twitched, so he was, at least, alive.

Severin bent over them both, his hand curled over Emilia’s shoulders, not concerned about the fallen ward or the eight-foot monster standing a few meters away. Totally focused on them, he checked Lucien’s pulse, nodded, then kissed the top of the High Priestess’ head.

I froze, watching them together. That casual familiarity.

The way she reached up and touched his cheek.

Like lovers would.

Severin murmured something to Emilia and straightened, his attention never leaving me, that shocked expression growing on his face as he took me in from head to taloned toes. “I knew you could fucking do it. I knew you could.”

Warmth suffused my chest at those words, at the pride shining in his eyes.

Severin grinned up at me. “And since you didn’t level the fortress this time, I have to go.”

“What could possibly be more important than this?” The voice—not mine—that gonged out of my mouth echoed with power, reminding me of Dante’s, whenever he turned into his fire demon.

“A mandatory emergency council meeting, remember? Bright and fucking early.” Severin winked, pointing to dawn breaking over the fortress walls. “I expect a riveting day full of accounting reports and Blackwood’s self-important aggrandizing, after which I plan to drink myself into oblivion.”

Emberline ran up, followed by Gabriel and Dante, and that was awe, not fear, on her face, delight, not horror. “Gods. What are we supposed to do with you? You’re even bigger than Dante.”

“What are you even talking about?” Dante muttered, puffing out his chest and straightening to his full height as he looked me over.

He was still a foot shorter.

Emilia chuckled, helping Lucien sit up. “I’ll walk Nico through transforming back into his mortal form, which should only take an hour.” Her eyes sparkled. “Or two, depending on how stubborn this Emissary is.”

Lucien rubbed his face, smearing blood everywhere, not looking quite so cocky now. “I feel like I got hit by a truck. You weren’t fucking kidding.”