Tyler rubbed his neck. “Man, Jess, this is bad. Much worse than I thought.”
Rourke snarled, stalking to the doorway. “Only a few supernaturals in the world could pull such a trick on me. This means Lili has been lying and seeking an opportunity to change the game for a long time.” His voice was low and furious. He took the door handle and depressed it.
It was locked tight.
Then I heard it. Thousands and thousands of voices. I met Ray’s eyes and they echoed the same thing.
The auditorium was already full of demons.
And we were indeed rats trapped in the cupboard.
22
“This is my fault,” I said, joining my furious mate at the doorway. When we agreed to allow her lead us away from the arena, even after we knew who she really was, we’d made a huge mistake, and now we were paying the price. “My wolf has been at me to tear Lili’s throat out since we first met, and I’ve ignored her, repeatedly.” My wolf huffed at me, spinning in a circle. I know, I know. But you wanted me to tear out Selene’s throat too.
“No, this is not all on you.” Rourke’s voice was like steel. “I’ve been alive for centuries. I am one of the strongest supes on the planet. If anyone should’ve felt an enchantment spell, it was me. Lili duped us all. And the reason she was so successful was because we wanted to believe her. We needed an ally here and we chose not to scrutinize the only help we had too closely.” He rattled the door and pushed into it with his shoulder. Nothing. It didn’t even crack. “We have to assume all of our interactions with Lili starting from the Prince’s quarters were false. One of the reasons we might not have detected the spell is it may be a very subtle one. She may have guided us in small ways only.”
I ran a hand through my hair and cursed. “Selene,” I asked, turning, “what does an enchantment spell do, specifically?”
“The demoness has essentially created an alternate reality and made us all believe it. We have seen only what she wanted us to see and nothing more.”
“That means she probably never called the Princess and the piece of paper that was key to making our decision was likely a blank sheet of paper.”
Selene nodded. “Yes, and I agree with,” she nodded at Rourke, “him. It was a powerful spell, but a small one. Only our direct interactions with her were affected.”
The voice decibel level had increased outside.
Tyler rammed his weight against one wall, and Ray took the other. It had no effect. We were sealed in. “Thinking back to everything that’s happened,” I said, “Lili has been guiding us on a very well-orchestrated wild-goose chase. But what’s her angle?” I turned around, grabbing my head. I was so angry at myself for putting what little trust I had in Lili. She was the daughter of Lilith, for chrissake! I pressed my fingertips to my temples. “She obviously wanted the civil war to happen, so she must have something to gain. When we suggested we come back here, she’d been almost giddy. She must have needed us here, or someplace very public. Dammit! I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid.”
Rourke leaned against the door and crossed his arms, fury was etched across his features. “This isn’t over. Whatever her end game is, she won’t win. We all lowered our guard and now we’re paying the price. But she’s not smarter than we are.”
“Selene,” I said, turning to the goddess. “Can we create a witch’s circle here?”
She shook her head. “Impossible. We would need all the right ingredients and the circle has to be dug into raw earth.”
I glanced beneath us. The ground was covered in huge stones. It would take longer than we had to get to any soil—if there was even any under there.
The crowd outside started to chant.
“I think we’re in the middle of some kind of ceremony,” Tyler said, his hands running along the walls, searching for a way out. “This doesn’t sound like another trial, Jess. The demons out there are calling for something specific. Maybe they’re going to try and steal your power or magic?”
The door burst open behind Rourke with no warning.
Before he could react, five demon guards, these in full battle regalia, with breast plates covering their all silver jumpsuits, blasted him with huge ugly-looking guns. He flew forward in a shower of sparks and crashed into the wall, falling to the ground out cold.
I knew he was alive, and that was all that mattered, but my rage was now full-blown.
Demons swarmed the doorway, forcing us all to take a step backward in the cramped space. I morphed into my Lycan form, a red film of fury cascading over my eyes. We take them all down, I told my wolf. She growled her agreement, snapping her jaws furiously.
Tyler and Ray sprang first, Tyler’s fist meeting the side of a demon guard’s face. The demon crumpled instantly. I lowered myself into a fighting stance just as I caught sight of Lili.
I rose back up to a standing position slowly.
“That’s right, take it in.” She laughed as her hair flowed out behind her. The guards in front of us parted so she could come forward. She was dressed in an incredibly detailed gold gown, decorated in demon glyphs that glittered as she moved. On top of her head sat a pure gold crown covered in gilded serpents. “You were so easy to manipulate.” She clapped her hands in glee. “But I already knew you’d be, based on your prior actions with the Prince, and your desperate need to save your dear brother. A soft-hearted female Lycan. What an embarrassment to your forebears. The last female Lycan was tough as nails. In fact, if you must know, she was the one who sent me here.” She spread her arms wide. “But enough chatter. Now it’s time for me to mete out my ultimate revenge, and by doing so I finally gain the power owed to me for these many years. It’s going to be a very good day.”
I made a move to spring and she lifted up her palm. Her hand radiated so much power it looked like she was holding a pure ball of energy. Then she aimed it at Tyler’s heart.
“One wrong move and I will kill your entire family,” she said. “Which I can do, because I’m powerful and dangerous. Just like I told you all along. If you cooperate, I might decide to let them live once I’m finished with you, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“Finished with what?” I asked, my vocal cords straining, my Lycan form making it tough to be clear. “Taking my blood? Killing me? Making me your slave?”
She smiled like a shrew. “Oh, by all means I’m going to kill you. That’s what the ceremony calls for. It demands piles and piles of your blood. See, I’m going to make a clone. Something only I can do. I neglected to mention that the first time, didn’t I? And once I reanimate your clone, all your delicious power and magic will be mine to control. Then I will be crowned the new Queen of Hell. A title I’ve waited much too long for.”