Immortals After Dark 07 - Kiss of a Demon King

stopped," Rydstrom said. "She'll perish in minutes-"
    Omort leaned forward in the throne. "Open your mind to me, demon. Now!"
    Rydstrom did, willing the sorcerer to see the truth- that all he wanted was for Sabine to be safe. "I'm told you have an antidote that will heal her. That's all I seek."
    "You truly have no plan? There is no trick. You merely want your little female to be well.
    Because you're in love with her?" He gave a bitter laugh. "I could not have punished you more, since loving her has brought me nothing but misery."
    "If you love her, then help her-"
    "Wait . . . there's more in your mind. Sabine, open your eyes." After a moment, she blinked them open. "You've been dealt treachery from one sworn never to give it. The demon tricked you. You are not wed. He lied about the vow. Instead of swearing to protect you, he swore to hurt you."
    Sabine gazed up at Rydstrom, bloody tears gathering.
    "By the look on your face, sister, I think he kept his word."
    Rydstrom wasn't denying it.
    Ah, gods, no! She wanted to be his wife. . .. And she wasn't7. He'd lied?
    No, focus, Sabine!
    She would deal with this grief later. Right now she was in deep with a plot, and another wave of pain was
    coming. Once the shot wore off, she wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
    Sabine knew this wave would be her last....
    Omort continued, "Your treachery's fitting, demon, since Sabine was going to murder your babe. Her own child. Weren't you, Sabine? She and I planned to sacrifice it to the well to unlock its power. That's why she was working so tirelessly to seduce you."
    "I don't believe that," Rydstrom said. "And you'll never convince me of it."
    "Omort, we can do this later," Lanthe cried. "She needs the morsus now!"
    "And I'll give it to her when the demon's dead and you are gone! Now leave before I finish you."
    Lanthe's tears ceased. Her eyes went cold. "No."
    "What did you say to me?" His words were dripping with malice.
    "I said . .. use - no - sorcery."
    At Lanthe's command, Sabine silently begged, Please let this be the time. Everything rests on this . . .
    Sabine's amazement matched Omort's-because when he raised his hands to punish Lanthe, his palms were cold.

    Rydstrom tensed against her.
    "What is this?" Omort bellowed, that vein pulsing in his forehead. His eyes darkening to a metallic yellow, he stalked after her. "I will make you burn, Melanthe!"
    "Come no closer to me."
    Omort stopped abruptly, staring at Lanthe in bewilderment. "Guards!" he called for the mindless rev-enants. They marched from the perimeter as one, surrounding them with swords raised.
    Lanthe faced them, and with her voice ringing out, she said, "Fight only each other."
    When they began engaging each other, clashing swords all around them, Lanthe ran for the double doors of the court, barricading them with their locking bar, buying time.
    Sabine thought, That's my sister. . . .
    "No!" Omort yelled. "Demons!"
    "Don't call them!" Lanthe hissed, and Omort fell silent.
    But with that command, Sabine sensed Lanthe's power was depleted once more.
    Rydstrom appeared stunned, even more when Sabine whispered, "I have something for you, demon." She shakily tugged open the edge of one of the blankets that Nix had bundled her in, presenting him with the sword that lay along her body. She'd asked the Valkyrie, "Why are you doing this? For your army? Or for Rydstrom?" N'ix had answered, "Maybe I'm doing it for you."
    "Sabine, I don't.. . you are sick?"
    "I am, but Nix gave me a shot... so 1 could have the strength to give this to you. But it's starting to fade. You have to use this to kill Omort-"
    "Then who will give you the antidote?"
    "The Hag will help . . . but only after Omort dies. There's not . . . much time, Rydstrom.
    Lanthe's powers are weak. . . . Hettiah might come and erase her commands."
    "Then if I right Omort, I risk you. There's not enough
    time-"
    "You can do this. You must. Destroy him forever. It's your due...."
    47
    This was all a trick? Sabine had warned him again and again. I always have a plan, she'd said.
    Nothing is as it seems with me.
    Here was his chance to destroy Omort, and as he took the sword from her, all he could wonder was if she had feigned her feelings for him.
    No. He knew his woman, and with everything in him he felt that she returned his love.
    "Sabine-"
    "Kill first... talk later. Please."
    He gave a grave nod, then turned to Lanthe. "Come, take Sabine."

    She hurried over, clasping Sabine in her arms.
    "If