Dorvin hit the ground, claws clattering. Trickles of lava streamed between his feet. Angel writhed beneath him, still alive, her three exposed hearts pumping.

The demon tried to speak, but her throat had melted, revealing tendons bustling with insects. The other dragons landed around her, staring down at the dying creature.

Issari approached the demon. Blood coated her white scales. The dragon raised her head, then released her magic. Issari returned to human form—a woman clad in white, two lights upon her palms, her raven braid hanging across her shoulder. She stared down at Angel, her eyes hard.

"This is for Eteer," Issari whispered, drew her dagger, and slammed the blade down.

The dagger drove into one of Angel's three hearts.

Even with her ravaged throat, the Demon Queen screamed. The heart burst, showering blood. Issari stepped back, painted red, staring with cold eyes.

Laira stared down from Jeid's back, her face twisted with disgust. She nocked an arrow and tugged back her bowstring.

"This is for Sena," said the Queen of Requiem. Her arrow flew downward and slammed into another one of Angel's exposed hearts.

Blood showered. Angel convulsed. Red tears flowed from her eyes.

"Please," the Demon Queen whispered. "Please. I am Taal's daughter. Show me mercy as he would."

Dorvin too released his magic, returning to human form. He unstrapped his spear from across his back.

"I know nothing of gods," the hunter said. "But my sister did. She worshiped the stars, and she was the kindest, bravest, noblest soul I knew. Your army killed her." He raised the spear high, and he roared with his rage. "This is for Alina!"

He slammed the spear down, piercing Angel's last heart.

The demon bucked and screamed. Her legs thrashed. The faces sewn into her innards cried out in agony . . . and fell silent.

Angel's head tilted sideways, her stony flesh melting, running along the cavern floor in streams, until the Queen of the Abyss faded into nothing but a puddle of magma.

Across the cavern, the thousands of demons screeched with fear. Panting, Dorvin raised his head. Many dragons had died, but hundreds still flew above, battling the minions of the Abyss. The demons, seeing the death of their queen, turned to flee. They fluttered into burrows and halls. They dug through rock, vanishing into the floor and walls. Many willingly bit into their own flesh, slaying themselves and falling dead to the floor. Within moments they were gone.

The dragons of Requiem roared for victory and sang the songs of Requiem.

Dorvin glanced at his friends. They stared back.

"This isn't over yet," Dorvin said. "Where's that bastard Raem?"

The cavern began to tremble.

Light blasted out.

Dorvin turned and saw a great tunnel gaping open like a cervix, leading into a womb of crimson light. Laughter rose from within, deep and cruel.

"We will seek the hall of the underworld's king," Issari said softly. She shifted back into a dragon and took flight. "Follow! For Requiem!"