“He’s in Hell, with our kind.” Darkyn’s quiet voice made Rhyn tense. The demon lord materialized from the surrounding trees.
“What do you want with Toby?” Rhyn demanded.
“It has a name? Interesting. The angel is a guest. As long as you do what I want, he’ll remain unharmed.”
“You’re the second thingthat’s tried to use the angel to bargain with me. Take him. Eat him.”
“I’ll call your bluff,” Darkyn said. “You don’t bring something food and clothing if you don’t care if it dies. If you want it – Toby -to live, come to the castle this evening after dark falls. We have matters to discuss. Bring Kris. If you want the angel to die then stay right here.”
Rhyn clenched his fists. Darkyn said nothing else and walked away, disappearing into the morning shadows of the forest. Rhyn felt fevered. His power was leaking out of his body, killing the plants around him. He grappled to control what he could, aware he would soon not have that option.
He didn’t have three more days’ worth of control. The idea he’d likely explode before Death delivered Katie made him feel fear, an emotion he hated and hadn’t felt until responsible for the life of someone he cared about.
Testing his magic, he realized he could call forth a portal. He needed an ally, but it wasn’t Kris. He had no intention of bringing Kris to meet Darkyn, not when he didn’t know what Darkyn wanted. His thoughts went to Gabriel, the best friend he hoped he hadn’t lost completely. Gabe wouldn’t try to negotiate with Darkyn if things went bad.
Rhyn opened a portal and walked through the cool shadow place. The shadow world felt … strange this time. He looked around, unsettled by the sensation that someone else was there. The black portal to Hell throbbed then dimmed, as if someone and come through. But he didn’t see anyone else in the shadow world. Shaking his head, he continued to his destination. He emerged through a portal leading to Death’s corner of the underworld. It was a place no demon or Immortal was allowed to go, and he’d thought it impossible to get there, until he’d tried. He’d visited Gabriel once before.