She’d need to stab him with the reaping pen. That was the best bet. If she stood by the door with her back flat against the wall, she might have a chance. She’d slash with the dagger and jam the pen into his chest.

Before she could move to the door, she heard a shuffling on the other side of it, then the iron ripped open with a bang. There goes my element of surprise.

The dark silhouette of a man stood in the doorway. Not Abrax. Not Bael. Yet she knew instantly he was one of them. Another powerful shadow demon. Darkness emanated from him, and fear slid through her bones. The lights dimmed, and around her, the room seemed to fall away. She now stood on the edge of a precipice, black and bottomless—a void. Her entire body went cold, and for a moment the chasm called to her, beckoning her into its bottomless depths.

The room refocused as the demon studied her, his eyes shining like starlight. Ursula lifted her dagger.

The demon stepped closer. His skin was pale as milk, a stark contrast to his raven-black hair. He wore a black cloak that swirled around him like smoke on the wind. His stunning features looked a lot like Abrax’s. “Put the dagger away,” he cautioned, his cold voice sliding over her skin.

Ursula clutched the dagger in front of her. As she recognized his face, terror ripped her mind apart. He had the icy eyes of the man in her dreams. “Who are you?” she stammered.

“Most know me as Nyxobas.”

A sharp tendril of dread pierced her.

Looking past her at Kester’s limp form, the god continued, “Kester and I have met previously. You, however, are new to me.” Yet, the way he said it, she could tell he wasn’t convinced. “Who are you?”

“Ursula,” she stammered.

“Ursula.” He closed his eyes, savoring the word like it was a delicious morsel. “Like the constellation?”

“I guess.” Why had Abrax wanted her to meet the god of night? “Why are you here?

“Abrax summoned me. It seems that Bael has gotten into some trouble.”

“He’s alive?”

“What do you care if a demon lives or dies?” Nyxobas’s eyes narrowed.

“He helped me.”

Nyxobas studied her with a keen intelligence. “Interesting.” turned, beckoning her to follow. She didn’t know where he was taking her, but questioning a god seemed like a bad idea. Ursula stuffed the dagger into her belt and followed Nyxobas into the starlit stone hall.

Bael and Abrax stood a few feet from each other, and Abrax glared.

Nyxobas stalked in front of the incubus, his cloak swirling around him. “Abrax, my oldest son. Why have you carved The Sword’s wings from his shoulders?”