The blood rushed in Valeria’s ears. When she drew in a deep breath and shrugged off the unconscious angel, she realized that her heart pattered faster than the thrum in her chest. She snapped her gaze up and caught wisps of shadow intruding on the golden brilliance of the chamber.

There were… drums.

No one was able to stop her when she left. Ferdinand groaned in his net of darkness and shadow. The angel slumped where she’d left him, his wings a tangle of silver feathers. His face was so peaceful and beautiful she wanted to check on him and make sure he was all right. She’d pushed so much power through him that anyone else would have died. But she shrugged off the nagging compassion with the conviction that he deserved this. They all did.

Nothing remained of the Coterie. Her Light blade had shredded through their ancient bodies and dispersed their power into the air. This was her home now, and she would use the power of her enemies to protect Manor Saffron.

Only Nile watched her as he struggled closer to the archway that cast him in a shadow as brilliance cascaded in waves through the chamber.

“What have you done?” he whispered, his voice hoarse. He clutched his blistered hand to his chest and his golden eyes glowed with a sickly yellow hue. “Now only half of the Coterie must maintain the burden of keeping Leocivat safe.”

Valeria crouched, momentarily ignoring the pull of curiosity to see who, or what, was waiting for her outside. She grazed her fingers over his wounds and he hissed, but didn’t push her away. She called upon Tree Mother’s sap in her veins, the new stolen powers that roiled around in her soul, and commanded that he be healed.

His shoulders relaxed as his skin mended and the yellow hue disappeared from his gaze, his body no longer trying to heal itself. He flexed his fingers. “This doesn’t mean I forgive you.”

She straightened and locked her knees, her hand returning to her belly where an unmistakable presence grew. “I think you are the one who should be asking for forgiveness.”

He scrambled to his feet. “Valeria,” he whispered, tears in his eyes. He glanced at the brilliance of the cavern, but couldn’t stand it and looked back into her face. “You’ve just endangered all that remains of humanity. Whatever happened between us last night, maybe it was a mistake.” He moved to touch her arm, but stopped and curled his fingers into a fist as he clenched his jaw. “I can’t believe it was a mistake. I can’t believe that you could change my life, my dreams, and it was all a lie.”

Valeria didn’t have time for this. Even though her stomach fluttered with excitement every time Nile came close, every time she felt the hint of his heat on her skin, she couldn’t bring him down with her. She felt the power that waited for her on the surface. She recognized the malice that comprised the Obsidian Sea, and it resonated with the Darkness embedded into her shoulder and the graze of its power that had always been in her soul.

“You’ll be safe here,” she told him. She jerked away before he could brave a moment to touch her. If she allowed him into her heart, she’d never do what needed to be done. “Bring a portion of your people to Manor Saffron. The Coterie will continue to serve them. Their power has been added to this place and demons won’t be able to enter. She locked her gaze to the peak of the stairs that wound to the surface. “Come with me. You’ll see for yourself.”

She left, only knowing that Nile followed her after a soft shuffle echoed her footsteps.

* * *

Valeria wasn’t sure what to expect when she broke through the surface and entered into the bleak gloom of the Obsidian Sea. The legion of demons that speckled the horizon certainly was at the bottom of her list. Her heart dropped and black dots sprinkled her vision as she locked her knees to stay upright.

“Valeria?” Nile whispered, his voice a soft tremor that echoed her own panic. “What’s going on?”

She’d intended to stay strong and face whatever evils that would face her in this world. She wouldn’t accept that her family died for nothing. She’d survive, if anything just to make sure the world knew of their sacrifice. Her mother who broke her body on the Obsidian Sea to save her as a child falling from grace. Her father who faced a demon with a blunt blade, no matter the odds that he’d fail. And Tree Mother, the sentient creature who’d given her a chance at life and sacrificed everything to make sure her small soul wouldn’t be snuffed out.

Then there was Nile. His compassion was more priceless than any Divine Material or broken shard of Light in this world. His hope that this world could be saved touched her. She wanted to protect that hope and she found her fingers winding through his as she faced the Darkness that closed in around them.

He didn’t jerk away from her touch, even though the hand that gripped hers was soft with newly healed skin. She’d hurt him, no matter if she meant to or not. “I’m sorry,” she said, and she meant it. Not just for hurting him, but for everything. She gripped her free hand over her stomach, suddenly grateful for the life that linked them together. “It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered. “Not all Light is good.”

“Valeria,” he whispered, her name a caress across her senses.

She refused to look at him when she untangled her fingers from his. “I have to do this. Stay here. Your people will need you when the time comes.”

She stepped out of the protective field of her new home, her Manor Saffron, and put one foot in front of the other. Onyx Shards had grown since she’d seen them last. Her skin crawled as they leaned away from her as she walked. Their sharp, pointed ends peeled and twisted, as if afraid it would hurt her. She didn’t want to know why malice would react to her. She didn’t want to believe that it could be the same reason a legion of demons waited on her doorstep.

One demon broke from the line and approached. He seemed less intimidating, not as gargantuan and frightening. So many of the demons had scales or bat-like wings, but this one looked almost human. Two metallic horns protruded from his head and the glow of his red eyes betrayed an ancient, immortal power in his soul.

She stopped when they reached one another, as if this were an armistice. Yet she didn’t have a legion at her back like this demon. She didn’t need to. The power of Light and vengeance wound through her with unmistakable power.

The demon gave her a friendly smile, one that was surprisingly charming. “We finally meet,” he said. He opened his palms in greeting. “My name is Xorn. We’ve responded to your call.”

Valeria frowned. “Call? I didn’t call you. And even if I did, why would I wish a legion of demons on my doorstep?” A growl rumbled in the back of her throat. “Your kind killed my father.” Light flared at her fingertips. He glanced at it, but didn’t back away. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t kill you.”

He hands lowered as his smile diminished into a grin. “Not all demons are equal, little angel. Even if you’re not aware of it, you call to us. Some might rebel against your power, but others, such as myself, wish to accept you.” He stepped into a slow gait as he walked a semi-circle around her. Shadows clung to him, wrapping around his legs and battle leathers. His chest remained bare and glistened with fine scars that looked to have once been jagged scales. She tilted her head, wondering if he’d managed to rip them off. “Why do you look different than the others?” she asked.

He huffed a short laugh as he continued to walk. She didn’t turn around when he walked out of her peripheral vision. He was testing her, and she wouldn’t show fear. He reappeared on the other side as he stepped through the onyx shards, breaking them under his feet even though they made him bleed. “We’re alike, you and I. We’re both looking for something.” His red gaze fell to her stomach. “We’re looking to protect those who deserve a better life.”

She shifted under the scrutiny of his gaze. It was just coincidence he was looking at her stomach, right? “What could a demon have to protect?” she said, her voice somehow steady even though her heart pattered in her chest. She waved to the expanse of glittering shards that rippled across the landscape like a nest of needles. “You already own this world.”

His gaze unfocused as he considered the sea of black that rimmed with demons lingering like bad memories. “You’re too young to know what owns this world. But I assure you, it’s not us.” He sighed and pointed to a patch of demons furthest inland with a single creature that hovered above it. Valeria realized it was a female demon and the red gaze burned with fire directed straight at her. “If you’re to be accepted into our fold, you’ll have to claim your territory.” He jerked his chin at Manor Saffron. “No demon can penetrate that wall. You’ve claimed your land already, but you’ll have to defend it. I’ll help you do that. You need an army, and I need someone who was born in malice, who understands it in ways that I cannot.” His ruby eyes glimmered. “I can teach you how to control the Darkness within you. In exchange, I will offer my protection.” He spread his arms. “My armies.” He grinned. “All I ask is that you help demons become what they were meant to be.”

She chewed on her lip before responding. She’d never considered what demons wanted or what future they hoped for. They’d only been a plaque on the horizon, a terror that dotted the skies. “Tell me, Xorn, what are demons meant to be?”

His eyes glittered with excitement. “Join me, and you will see.”

He offered his palm and she considered it. She couldn’t deny there was Darkness in her. It wasn’t just beneath the tattooed roses on her shoulder where Nile had tried to contain the rot and decay. It was also something that had always been in her soul. A pit of shadow that she’d always known. She’d always buried it and doused it with the Light from Tree Mother’s sap, but what if this demon was right? What if her future wasn’t in the Light, but in the Dark?

She looked into his eyes as she took his hand. His soul roiled with emotions she’d never expected to see in a demon. Most of all, an echo of Nile in the way the demon looked at her with hope. “If I go with you, then Manor Saffron is to be protected.” She gripped his cool fingers. “Promise me that anyone who seeks sanctuary there will be safe.”

He grinned as he pulled her to his side. “I will teach you the ways of Darkness, youngling. I will protect your territory as if it were my own. In exchange, you will share your power with me. You’ll help demons become something greater than this lust for power and madness. You’ll save so many lives.” He stroked her knuckles. “Do you agree.”

She swallowed hard. She’d tried mastering the Light. All it had done was manipulated and used her. The angels only thought of themselves. But the demons, weren’t these just lost souls that needed some guidance? If Nile had taught her anything about compassion, it was that this wretched world could be saved, if only she would be willing to go into the darkest of places.

“Agreed.”