The king gasped and raised his arms, protecting himself. The dagger sliced into his forearm, ripping flesh open. The blade scraped against bone.

Issari screamed.

Raem reached out, grabbed her wrist, and twisted. The blade clanged to the ground. A second later, the king's fist drove into Issari's chest.

She fell back, unable to breathe. She tried to suck in breath; horror engulfed her when she realized she could not. The pain bloomed through her.

"Father—" she tried to whisper.

He grabbed her. He twisted her arms behind her back and manhandled her forward, his blood dripping.

"You treacherous whore." His voice shook. "You worm that crawls with maggots. You betrayed me."

Issari managed a hoarse whisper. "You killed your own father. You unleashed demons upon this world. You are the traitor to Eteer. You—"

He clamped a palm over her mouth, and she screamed into it. He shoved her up the stairs, his blood leaving a red trail. When she fell, he dragged her. Her hip banged against each step. She tried to fight, to punch him, to kick, but could not. Another blow from his fist rattled her jaw. A slap sent her reeling.

"Father, please!"

Blood filled her mouth. And she knew that begging wouldn't help. She had stabbed him, almost killed him. Her life was forfeit.

I should have flown north with the dragons, she realized. I should have fled. Now I will die here, alone, afraid.

He dragged her down a corridor, past tall bronze doors, and into the palace throne room.

Once a place of splendor, it had been transformed into a hive of fire and brimstone. The porphyry columns, once pure and pale blue, now stank with serpentine demons that wrapped around them, oozing drool. Once a mosaic had covered the floor, featuring birds and dolphins. Now globs of rot hid the artwork, and demons rutted in the puddles, grunting in their passion. Once the throne had risen in a beam of light; now it rose from a mass of writhing creatures who bit, licked, and clawed one another. Angel herself now lurked here, clinging to the ceiling like a bat, drooling lava and hissing down at her minions below.

Issari gasped as her father tossed her into the chamber. She fell, landing in a puddle of rot.

"Demons of the Abyss!" Raem called out.

The creatures ceased their racket and turned toward him. One paused with another's leg between its jaws. Others froze, still linked together as they rutted. They stared, hissing, tongues lolling.

"Here lies a traitor." Raem pointed down at Issari. "She is yours to do with as you like. Mate with her. Eat her flesh if you like. Keep her alive for your amusement or kill her. But one thing I demand: Make sure she never leaves this chamber again."

With that, he left the hall and slammed the doors behind him.

Issari leaped up, raced to the doors, and yanked at the handles. Locked.