City of Thorns (The Demon Queen Trials #1)(64)

Ropes chafed at my wrists as I tried to pull against them.

Footfalls echoed off stone, and when I turned my head, I saw a light shining from a tunnel. As it grew brighter, I could just about make out the contours of a small, arched space, like stone vaults underground.

“Rowan.” The rasping voice came from the opposite corner, and I turned to see Orion in the shadows. Apparently, he wasn’t the one who’d tied me up, because he was wrapped in chains. Blood poured from his shoulders and chest, and a pile of ash lay around him.

“Orion!” I shouted. “What happened to you?”

His eyes were drifting closed, like he was having trouble staying conscious. “Some fucking idiot mortal gave Nama a gun.”

“What?”

“She shot me and chained me up. I tried burning my way through the chains, but…I just burned the chair. I can’t summon any more magic right now, not when I’m riddled with bullets. I’m having a hard time…”

His bright blue eyes closed, and panic started to crawl up my throat.

The sound of footsteps grew louder, and Nama crossed into the room holding a lantern in one hand and a gun in another. Her white hair fell in perfect waves over a scarlet gown. “Hello, friends.” She lifted the gun. “This is fun.”

I glanced at Orion, but his eyes had closed again. He couldn’t actually die unless someone cut out his heart, but it hurt to see him covered in blood.

With all the shit going on, I nearly forgot that I was supposed to be Mortana. Time to summon the imperious attitude.

I tossed my hair over my shoulder. “What are you doing, you fool? Untie me at once.”

Nama’s eyes widened, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Or what? What will you do if I don’t untie you?”

Was she calling my bluff?

She lifted the lantern. “Andras! Gamigan! Lydia!” she bellowed. “She’s awake. Bring the mortal with you.”

“What are you doing?” I snapped. “You’re insane.”

“Oh, my slutty little friend,” she cooed. “Madness runs in your blood, not mine. There was a reason we had to kill your grandfather. The Lilu are abominations.”

Two of the dukes crossed into the room—the platinum-haired greed demon who led the Mammon ward, and a sloth demon with heavy-lidded green eyes from Abadon. And behind them, Lydia sauntered in—right next to Jack Corwin.

Jack? Jack was the idiot mortal who’d given Nama the gun. With his Alpha Kappa sweatshirt and old baseball cap, he looked completely out of place here.

My blood turned to ice, my thoughts whirling out of control. My two worlds were colliding now in the most terrible way possible.

Of course Jack was the idiot mortal in question. Right now, he looked fairly terrified, his eyes shifting from one demon to another. And when I looked closely, I could see that new bruises marred his face. His lip had been split, and purple bloomed over his cheekbones and jaw.

Nama handed the lantern to Lydia.

“What’s going on?” I demanded through gritted teeth. I could no longer keep up the pretense of being calm and collected. Right now, my shadow-self was nowhere to be found.

With a smug smile, Nama folded her arms. As she did, the gun went off, and she screamed. Bits of rock and sand sprayed over the room.

Jack held up his hands. “Careful with that!”

Nama frowned at the gun. “These things are confusing.” She shook her head. “Anyway, I had a hunch that you spent a lot of time around mortals, Mortana. You just seemed kind of grotesque like they are. You know, like an animal. A filthy, rutting animal.”

I curled my lips in a snarl. “Have you lost your mind?”

She shrugged. “So I did a little digging. I spent today hunting around Osborne until I saw a picture of your face in a trophy closet. A track team.” She wrinkled her nose and turned to the dukes. “Humans compete against each other in running races, even though they’re slow as fuck. But do you really think it’s fair for a demon to be on a mortal track team?”

My stomach plummeted, and I watched as she crossed to Jack. She gripped him by the hair, pulling his head back, then pointed the gun at his chin. “Then things got a little more interesting. This little fucker tried to shoot me. Apparently, he fancies himself something of a demon hunter.”

Jack was shaking violently. Holy hell. Was I on the same side as Jack right now? I didn’t like that at all.

Nama slapped him across the face with her free hand. “I beat him until he told me about the picture of Mortana. Except he said her name wasn’t Mortana. He said her name was Rowan Morgenstern. And he is quite sure that you’re mortal.” She let go of him and whirled to face me. “Apparently, he can smell demons.”

I shook my head, genuinely confused. “What?”

Nama pointed the gun at his pendant—the silver one with the hammer. “The Corwins are witch finders and demon hunters.”

Jack nodded, a frantic look in his eyes. “I can smell demons. I could hunt them, if I felt like it.” He held up his hands, his face pale. “But I don’t! I never have. I just carry the gun for protection. I thought Nama was a threat. I knew your kind are all around, and I knew you might come after me because of what my family did. That was why I tried to shoot Nama. It was just self-defense. I swear—”

“Be quiet, you fuckwit mortal!” bellowed one of the dukes, a man with long black hair. “We did not come here for your trial. We came here to try the succubus. Nama claims that she’s not actually a succubus. You’re here as a witness. That is your role.”