nding against the scorched earth. Lincoln trailed clos

t have to

with black armor and burning eyes. They emerged from the rocks and crevices like in

ap!" Linco

tightened. Of

The one who hated Daresh more than any of the others, who controlled

de igniting with blue flame. "

tle was

t Daresh's blade in a symphony of metal and rage. He cut through

something

ir sh

ng from the clouds like vultures. They were eerie, skeletal creatures with translucent wings that shimmer

ade an allia

s voice was distant, drowned

circled him like a storm, their wings flapping in unison, cr

screamed a

away from Lincoln and Clifford, tumbling acro

ded throug

d, but they were

face, his chest, his sides. Their swords, thin as needles but

d from a do

sn't one to b

wouldn't give u

y the throat mid-strike. Its eyes widened in shock as h

ripped its h

isintegrat

roze, their green eyes

blood on his face. "That'

le. Easy to crush-if you co

lun

ugh them one by one, his hands and blade finding necks, wings, anything he could destroy. Their s

last one fled, D

overed in blood-h

ere deep. Too deep. Even his

is bearings, trying to figure

Maje

s voice, cutting

ught himself against a rock, breathing hard, his hand

nd dust, his face pale. "I tracked yo

owled, though blood d

ed to support him. "We need to

the ca

mbushe

oom as he stormed in, his boots leaving bl

nless. Beside him, on the right, sat Callum-the Crown Prince-hi

is brother w

zen places, blood still seeping from the wounds. He reeked of sweat an

thy, leaning back in his seat. "Surely you could handle a c

playful even. But

always ha

y-or perhaps he understood to

father-the King-paid him no attention, treated

d

d

e soldiers followed him without question. No matter how hard Callum trained, no matte

some. Popul

lum wanted to

m hated h

ted hi

angerous. His eyes locked onto Callum's with an intim

h. Just smiled that

Daresh turned and stormed out of the

a trail of blood behind him. It seeped from h

up-scrubbing the black stone on their h

hem was

the cloth over the bloodstains, her mind elsewhere.

bl

the cold blue eyes. The one who'd smirked at

hurt.

ng him, despite what he'd done to h

do I

w that. He was a demon

stop the pull she

anced around. The other slaves were focused o

was w

pounding, and slipped

he cor

d his

he door open w

lit, the only light coming from the dying embers i

n she s

shri

upright. He was badly wounded-his head cut and bleeding, his body stabbed in multiple p

like dea

ou doing he

sharp despite his weakness. He

wasn't sca

d, her voice calm and

out again-she walked confidently into his bathroom

to clean h

est. He just sat t

wiped away the blood and dirt. When she was done cleaning, she applied b

wounds. But Reina had learned from her servants-they'd been her only

in shock, w

is girl. This slave. This human who

lt before-giddy, uneasy, happy all at

him. Instead, she was

mired

ante

ted to know everything abo

emon women who'd thrown themselves at him, trying to seduce him, to find

a was di

ment he'd seen her in that courtyard, look

nking thoughts he could hear in her mind-though

Even if she didn't f

s driving

her to the bed. Do sinful, wicked thin

f his wounds brought him

ave. There were bruises on her arm and forehead from whe

a sharp pa

gdom. He'd led the army that destroyed

she was, ca

h

r own thoughts as sh

y for him. She didn't know why. She should hate him. After all, he was responsi

ould feel for

methin

he didn't w

e said softly, forcing the

m. The other maids would be looki

ta

tracks. Not in her mind this

n't

if she was a trap set by his brothers. He no longer cared

everything

is heart ache-more painfully th

go," Rein

en she

in her chest. It always beat lik

't under

couldn't

hardly sleep

is wounded body, his blue eyes watching her as she cl

eel this w

n. Just a common princess who'd been viewed as not

ich human king before the attack on the castle. She'd proteste

them had sneered. "What use

day, and she'd decided then a

own castle when the demons attacked-when they kil

apped in a different

to find

the main gates-that would be suicide. But maybe if she ran far enough, fa

ught it, her mind d

pr

re

had roamed over her body. She'd seen something i

the same i

Stop

d herself. They tempt you. They le

t

es shut and wille

EXT M

up bright

repared tea, and carried i

esitate. She entered th

iately re

ce was h

shorts. His torso was bare, every muscle defined and perfect. H

ocked her m

e wounds

y bite mark. They'd all healed co

st night had n

, her mind struggling to co

a tray slipped

red on the floor wit

ping to her knees immediately

p the broken pieces

ards was shar

r palm, and blood w

ssed i

the prince was stand

and. Without a word, he tore a piece of fabric from his

as surprisi

?" he asked, his

llowed.

e and met her eyes. "Thank you f

art sk

ll me Dares

ickly. "Okay,

cker across his face-annoyance, maybe. Or

said

y, her pulse racing

en she

ai

corridor, one thought

this palace. As

the way he