Chapter 15 Chapter 14
Traveling through the Shadow Realm felt like drowning in ice and fire simultaneously.
Azrael's hand was the only solid thing in a world of swirling darkness and whispered screams. He pulled me through the rift he'd created, and reality twisted around us in ways that made my stomach heave and my head spin. Through the bond, I felt Kael's panic as the distance between us stretched, felt him trying to track me and finding only shadows.
Then we were crashing through another rift and stumbling onto solid ground. I fell to my knees, gasping, my whole body shaking from the transition.
"I've got you." Azrael's hands steadied me, warm and solid. "The first time traveling through the Shadow Realm is always rough. It gets easier."
"Where are we?" I managed, looking around. We were in an alley, dark and empty, with the distant sound of traffic from the street beyond.
"South side. About three blocks from where the Crimson Court is holding Luna." He helped me stand, his eyes scanning our surroundings. "We don't have much time. They'll know we're coming. But if we move fast enough, we can get her out before they mobilize their full forces."
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, studying his face. "If your father is working with the Crimson Court, helping me goes against him directly."
"My father and I haven't seen eye to eye for centuries." Azrael's jaw tightened. "He wants to tear down the Veil and let demons flood Earth. I think that's insane. Destructive. Humans would fight back, and the war would destroy both our species. I've been working against him for years. Quietly. Carefully. But I'm done being quiet."
"So this is rebellion."
"This is choosing what's right over what's expected." His hand cupped my cheek. "Something you understand better than most. Now come on. We need to move."
We ran through the dark streets, and I felt power humming through my veins. The shadows responded to me here, eager and hungry. Being in Azrael's element made my own magic stronger, wilder. I could feel it pushing at the edges of my control.
"The building ahead," Azrael said, pointing to an old warehouse with boarded windows. "That's where they're keeping her. Six vampires inside, maybe more. They'll have wards against demon magic, but your Shadow Witch power should cut right through."
"How do you know all this?"
"I've been tracking the Crimson Court's movements for weeks. Ever since they started sniffing around for information about you." He pulled me into the shadow of a dumpster as a car passed. "They want what the Nightfall Court has. Power. Control. And they're willing to kidnap and kill to get it."
Through the bond, I felt Kael getting closer. He was following us, probably mobilizing a strike team. I didn't have much time before this rescue mission turned into a war zone.
"I'm going in," I said. "Stay here and watch the exits."
"Like hell." Azrael grabbed my arm. "You're not going in there alone."
"If you come with me, they'll know this is a demon operation. It'll start a war between your father and the vampire Courts, and Luna will be caught in the middle. But if it's just me, just a desperate witch trying to save her friend, there's a chance we can get out clean."
"There's also a chance you'll die," Azrael said flatly.
"Then you'd better be ready to pull me out if things go wrong." I squeezed his hand. "Trust me. Please."
He looked like he wanted to argue, but finally nodded. "You have ten minutes. After that, I'm coming in whether you like it or not."
I moved toward the warehouse, shadows gathering around me like a cloak. The bond thrummed with Kael's approach and his fear for me. I shoved it down, focusing on the mission. On Luna.
The wards hit me the moment I touched the building. They were designed to repel supernatural creatures, to burn and push back. But Shadow Witch magic was older than vampire wards, older than most things in this world. I pushed against the barrier, and it shattered like glass.
Inside, the warehouse was dimly lit and smelled of dust and old blood. I moved silently, using shadows to conceal myself as I navigated through the space. Voices echoed from deeper in the building. Vampires, arguing about something.
I found Luna in a back room, tied to a chair with her mouth gagged. Her eyes widened when she saw me, a mix of relief and terror. I pressed a finger to my lips and moved quickly to free her.
"Sera," she whispered once I'd removed the gag. "This is insane. They're going to kill us both."
"Not if we're fast." I cut through the ropes with a shadow blade I'd learned to form. "Can you walk?"
"I think so." She stood shakily. "They didn't hurt me. Just scared the hell out of me."
"That's about to get worse." I grabbed her hand. "When I say run, you run. Don't look back, don't stop. Azrael is outside. He'll get you to safety."
"Azrael? The demon lord?" Luna's voice pitched higher. "Sera, what—"
"Later. Right now we need to move."
We made it almost to the exit before the alarms started blaring.
"Intruder!" someone shouted. "The Shadow Witch is here!"
Vampires poured into the corridor, blocking our escape. I shoved Luna behind me and summoned my shadows, feeling them surge eagerly in response. The first vampire that lunged at us got caught in shadow tendrils that wrapped around his throat and squeezed. He went down choking.
"Run!" I screamed at Luna, and she bolted for the exit.
Three more vampires converged on me. I fought desperately, shadows whipping and cutting, but they were fast and coordinated. One got past my defenses and slammed me into a wall hard enough to make stars explode across my vision.
Through the bond, Kael's fury blazed white-hot. He was close now. So close.
The vampire's hand closed around my throat. "Queen Thalia sends her regards," she hissed. "You should have stayed where you belonged."
My vision started to darken. Then the vampire suddenly screamed and let go, stumbling backward. Her skin was smoking where she'd touched me, like I'd burned her. I looked down at my hands and saw them wreathed in silver fire. Not shadow. Something else. Something the bond had given me.
Kael's power, flowing through our connection.
I used it. Channeled it into my shadows and created something new. Silver-edged darkness that cut through vampire flesh like butter. The remaining attackers fell back, fear replacing their confidence.
"Stay away from her." Kael's voice rang through the warehouse as he appeared in the doorway, backed by a strike team of Nightfall Court soldiers. His eyes found mine, and the relief through the bond was overwhelming. "She's under my protection."
"Your protection?" The vampire who'd tried to strangle me spat blood. "She left the Court willingly. Thalia will have your head for this."
"Let her try." Kael moved to my side, and the bond settled like coming home. "Seraphine, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. Luna?"
"Safe. The demon got her out." He said it without the usual contempt, which told me how worried he'd been. "We need to leave. Now. Before the rest of the Crimson Court arrives."
He was right. I could hear more vampires coming, could feel the building filling with hostile presences. Kael grabbed my hand and pulled me toward his team.
"This isn't over," the injured vampire called after us. "The Crimson Court will have what it wants. One way or another."
We made it outside to find Azrael waiting with Luna. The demon and vampire locked eyes, and I felt the tension ratchet up to dangerous levels.
"She's safe," Azrael said. "As promised."
"You used her as bait," Kael growled. "To get Seraphine away from the Court."
"I did no such thing. I told you, my father arranged this." Azrael's eyes blazed. "But I see how this looks. So I'll make it simple. Seraphine, you have a choice. Come back to the Court with the vampire, back to being Thalia's weapon. Or come with me. I can teach you things Kael never could. Show you the full extent of your power."
"Don't listen to him," Kael said, his hand tightening on mine. "He's using you. Playing on your emotions."
"And you're not?" Azrael shot back. "The blood bond is the ultimate manipulation. You've literally tied her life to yours so she can never truly leave you."
They were both right and both wrong, and I was so tired of being pulled in two directions. Through the bond, I felt Kael's desperation. He wanted me to choose him, choose the Court, choose safety. But I also felt his understanding. He knew what I was going to say before I said it.
"I'm going back to the Court," I said finally. "But not because of the bond or because Thalia commands it. I'm going back because Luna is there, because there are people I care about there, and because running away solves nothing."
Azrael's face hardened. "You're making a mistake."
"Maybe." I pulled away from Kael and moved to face the demon lord who'd helped save my best friend. "But it's my mistake to make. Thank you for helping me tonight. For saving Luna. I won't forget that."
"Neither will I," he said quietly. Then he was gone, melting into shadows and leaving us alone with Kael's team.
Luna threw her arms around me, sobbing. "Don't ever do something that stupid again."
"No promises," I said, holding her tight.
Kael's hand settled on my shoulder. "We need to go. Thalia is going to be furious."
"Let her be furious." I straightened, still holding Luna. "I saved my friend. That's what matters."
But as we headed back to the Court, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just made everything infinitely more complicated.