“We designed the trap especially for him, knowing of his eagerness to save lost human souls,” Juri said, gazing at his reflection in the blade of his knife and wiping the blood from his chin. “It was worth the wait, and all the weeks of planning and collecting. When he came into this room, all he saw were dozens of frightened young faces. All tied up, helpless and desperate to be rescued.” His eyes glinted, and I knew he was seeing all of it through Malachi’s memories. “As soon as he freed them, they turned on him. At first, he had no idea they were all Mazikin. And even once his situation became clear, he … hesitated. He was afraid some of them might be human.”

Juri looked down at his bare chest, the curves and ridges of muscle he now controlled, and then sauntered over to Malachi’s armor and clothes. He pulled the shirt over his head and secured the baton to his belt. “They were gentle, even though he killed many of them,” he said softly, gesturing toward the far wall.

For the first time, I noticed the huge booth in the farthest corner of the room, where the shadows were deep. It had obviously been meant for VIPs. But now bodies were piled onto the seats and stashed under the table like human trash, used and tossed away by demons from hell. “I’ll reward them for their sacrifice,” Juri said.

He wasn’t talking about the humans. They were only shells to him. He was talking about his Mazikin family. He’d reward them by bringing them back and letting them possess others. By killing more people. Suddenly, it blazed all the way through me like a wildfire, the fight that had been torn away by grief. Malachi had died trying to save innocents. The Mazikin had exploited his selflessness, his courage, his determination. They’d taken his goodness and turned it to weakness. They’d used his compassion as a weapon against him. “I’m going to kill you,” I breathed, my eyes scanning the floor and spotting my knife.

I lunged for it, but he was on me before I reached it, crushing me to the floor. He grabbed a handful of my hair and ran his nose along my cheek. “I love your fire, Lela. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to bring myself to turn you.”

He caught the confusion in my eyes. “Did you really think we wanted you for our Queen?” He laughed, the deep vibrations humming against my back as he held me tight, half lover, half enemy. “No, don’t be insulted. You would be a perfect vessel, but the Queen will not leave the realm until all her children are here.”

“Why, then?” I whispered, fighting furious, helpless tears as he ground himself against me.