Abrax’s eyes blazed like starlight and his jaw dropped, like he’d been slapped in the face. Slowly, he turned and began to stride toward the hole in the wall at the far side of the atrium.
When Abrax reached the gap in the wall, he turned to face them, the tall oneiroi at his side. His gaze slid to Ursula. “When I capture you and force you into submission, the memories of today will only intensify my pleasure.”
A shiver inched up her spine.
Shadows curled around Abrax and his oneiroi, completely enveloping them until they disappeared. Cera’s cries still echoed through the atrium.
Bael turned to her, his face stony. “I must go to Cera. Show me your arm, first.”
She lifted her arm, wincing at the vicious teeth-marks puncturing her skin. Bael let his powerful magic caress her skin, but this time, she took no pleasure in it. Her eyes slid to Massu’s lifeless corpse, and nausea welled in her gut.
She hardly noticed Bael leaving.
She stood alone in the atrium, listening to the sound of Cera’s cries. A deep, gnawing loneliness pressed on her chest.
Suddenly, it hit her. She was going to die here in the Shadow Realm, among a legion of demons who hated her.
Chapter 27
Ursula hurried into her quarters, pulling open her door. Once inside, she shut the it behind her listening for the familiar click of the lock. For the first time in her visit to the Shadow Realm, she actually appreciated the sound.
She ran for the bathroom, kneeling in front of the toilet, then heaved up her dinner. As she wiped a shaking hand across her mouth, she tried not to think about Abrax.
He’d corrupted the oneiroi. And she didn’t know what he wanted to do to her—only that everything about him horrified her. What did he mean—she’s not a normal demon, nor a normal human?
She peeled off her blood-soaked dress, letting it drop to the floor. He sensed something about her, something that stoked his perverse desires. What sort of an abomination was she?
She grabbed a cloth, running warm water over it, and washed herself off. In a daze, she snatched a fresh nightgown from upstairs, and slipped into it. Half of her wanted to go to Cera, but Bael was already with her. He’d slaughtered her brother, yes. But he still viewed himself as her protector.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, but tired as she was, she’d be able to sleep through it. She curled up onto the sofa and let her eyes drift shut.
She slept fitfully, dreaming of the reaper she’d slaughtered today. Remus chased her through a forest of bones, and Massu waited for her in a desolate wasteland. Each dream ended as they pulled her down and into the unending abyss of Nyxobas’s void.
“Ursula?” A female voice jolted her from her sleep.
Ursula rubbed her eyes, blinking at Cera, her eyes red-rimmed.
An image flashed in her mind—Bael’s knife slashing through Massu’s throat.
“Cera?” She sat up, throwing her arms around Cera. “I’m so sorry about Massu.”
“Abrax killed him,” said Cera softly.
“What do you mean?” she loosened her grasp.
“The lord... Abrax killed his soul when he fed him raw meat.”
Ursula nodded. “I hope to kill Abrax some day.”
“Another thing we have in common,” said Cera grimly.
The rich scent of food wafted past Ursula’s nostrils.
Ursula frowned. “Please tell me you didn’t cook. You should be mourning, not making me breakfast.”
“I didn’t cook. The lord instructed another of his servants to cook for us.”
Ursula arched an eyebrow. “He’s okay with us eating together? He said it was dangerous for us to be friends.”
Cera shrugged. “I think he figures we’re in danger no matter what. Might as well not be alone for it.” Cera beckoned her to the bar. “Come. Join me.”
Ursula stood, crossing to the bar. Since she’d puked up her dinner last night, her stomach was completely empty. Her mouth watered at the sight of orange juice, fresh fruit, toast, eggs, and a carafe of coffee. Cera had already set out two plates.
Ursula took a seat next to Cera and scooped eggs and fruit onto a plate. Ravenous, she dug in, working her way through the eggs and toast. She took a sip of coffee, then glanced at Cera.
The oneiroi pushed her food around on her plate.
“Not hungry?” asked Ursula.
“Not today.”
“It will take time, I imagine,” said Ursula.
“I hadn’t seen him in decades. I guess in some ways, I’d mourned him already. But I didn’t need to watch him die.”
Ursula nodded. “Bael said to use lavender for the nightmares.”
Cera grinned. “He is wise. And what does he have planned for you today?”
“I’m not entirely sure. He said he was going to train me to ride one of the bats, but then we had a big argument, and he said I was a monster, and I said he lived a void like Nyxobas because he was scared of emotions.”
Cera stared at her.
Ursula sipped her coffee. “So anyway, I’m not sure if he’s still going to help me.”
“Well, if he does plan to train you, the main thing is to hold on tight. It’s really not that difficult if you remember to respect the bat.”