I try to reach for my magic, but it’s like I’m drowning underwater—and no matter how much I try, I can’t break the surface to grasp it. At this moment, I’m truly helpless. Right now, I’m not certain I will make it out of this alive.

But worst of all, I know there’s no one coming to help me.

33. Malice

33

Malice

“Poor Malice. It must be so terrible to discover you’re not the only creature in this world who can plan ahead.”

My lip curls back in a snarl as I gaze up at Slaine’s haughty expression, a wave of murderous rage cresting in my veins that rolls off my skin in heated waves, thickening the air with a swirling red vapor that reflects the fury in my eyes.

The other five soul pieces are spread around the clearing, each of them restrained similarly to me. There are at least three soldiers to every demon, holding them to the ground and keeping them from making a sound—and I know I will soon lose the right to speak as well. So I better make the most of it.

“Go fuck yourself and die,” I say, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground at his feet.

Slaine’s smirk widens as he raises a hand in the air, bringing it down in a devastating blow to my temple that has my brain rattling and stars sparking behind my eyes. A warm stream of blood pours from the fresh gash on my head, coating the side of my neck in dark blue fluid and staining my armor.

I blink against the fog coating my vision, trying to discern what Slaine is saying but unable to hear past the violent ringing in my ears.

“.... should have known. You’ve always been a traitorous brat.”

“What was that?” I ask, trying to speak past my swollen, throbbing tongue. “You’ve always been an inadequate, spineless worm?” I raise my head with a taunting grin of my own, laughing despite the pain the action brings. “I’m glad to hear you finally admit it. Acceptance is the first step toward personal growth.”

Slaine’s mouth presses into a thin white line as he clenches his fist at his side, the hatred swirling in his milky eyes powerful enough to set the forest alight. “Even in the face of certain death, you find the energy to be the most irksome demon in this realm. It’s truly astounding.”

“I aim to impress.”

Instead of the anger I expect, Slaine’s mouth tips in a small smile, and he gestures toward someone—or something—hiding in the shadows over his shoulder. “Come out, Zairn. There’s no need to keep the lovebirds apart any longer.”