A Crown of Shadows and Secrets

by Sloane Murphy

  “I think you might've hit a nerve, Jacky-boy!” Archer delights, practically bouncing on the spot.

  “Any last words, old woman?” Archer says shaking Everly and I kneel, powerless to help her.

  “Please don't hurt her,” I cry. I know we're going to lose people, every battle comes with losses, but Everly is so good, so pure. Archer laughs at my words as he pulls a blade from his pocket.

  “When you get Sushi... tell them… tell them I loved them. That I will always love them. That I had a good life, and was happy to give it up for you and yours. And know that I love you too dear girl, you and all of those boys who filled my home with love and laughter. Even if just for a short time. I will never be too far away from any of you,” Everly's voice rasps, she smiles at me and I break. Unable to control the sobs that wrack my body as Archer hands his knife to Jack, who steps forward, taking hold of Everly, and brings the knife to her throat.

  “Say goodbye, Remy.” He smiles, and I am unable to look away as he slides it across her throat.

  “You will pay for this!” I scream at them both, as Levi's pained roar rattles the cave. They both have the decency to look afraid for a moment, before shrugging it off. I'm going to rip their smug faces from their bodies. “I promise you, you will find no rest, in this life or the next, for what you have done.”

  The glass ripples again, and they waggle their fingers, waving goodbye before the glass turns to black. The sobs take over my body again as I look to Levi, tears staining his face.

  “She was my friend,” he says, his voice cracking. He walks over to me and sits, pulling me onto his lap as Deacon and his Demons release us from their power, and holds me while we mourn the loss of our friend.

  Chapter Thirty

  Remy

  Deacon gave us a few minutes, but we didn’t have much time before Azriel was due to arrive, so I let my tears flow freely as he binds me again while the others are bound and we’re all sat down in a circle, our backs to each other, almost unable to move.

  There’s no point in struggling, the Demons aligned with Deacon are almost as powerful as he is, and the binds tear at my skin each time I try to move. Since I don’t want Caleb rocking up just yet, I try to keep as still as I can.

  Azriel doesn’t keep us waiting long. I feel my anger and sorrow like a deep dark pit inside of me stirring. His smile as he enters the cave full of swagger makes me want to slap it off his face.

  What an asshole.

  Deacon stiffens as he arrives and bows his head slightly. It makes me sick to think of his bowing to this dick head. It takes a special sort of asshole to offer someone like Archer more power. Even more to help him kidnap my best friend, and then trap her here with him for all eternity. I clench my fists to try and sate some of my rage, but it doesn’t help in the slightest.

  Azriel crouches in front of me, puts a finger beneath my chin, and lifts my head so my gaze reaches his.

  “Get your filthy fucking hands off of her,” Levi growls, and I hear the others growl in response.

  “Oh, poor little Angel. Don’t like sharing your toys? Well, I guess you do.” He winks at Levi and Levi bares his teeth at him.

  “Let her fucking go,” Levi snaps.

  “Oh, I’m going to be doing a lot of things with her, Angel. Letting her go isn’t one of them. Me and your little Hunter are going to get real acquainted while I wait for Archer to tell me everything is ready his side for the portal to be opened. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get to watch. That all of you get to watch.” He smirks and I roll my eyes, though my guys detonate. Snarls and shouts fill the cave as Azriel laughs.

  With a flick of his wrist they all go silent, and I look at Deacon wide eyed. He shakes his head subtly, and my panic reduces slightly. He won’t let them get hurt.

  “Let’s go shall we?” Azriel grins and then darkness shrouds me. It feels like minutes, but it’s probably only seconds before light hits my eyes again, making them water. I take in my surroundings, as my bindings disappear. I’m in a dank little room, a stone wall at the back, while the other three walls are metal bars.

  My own little prison cell.

  I notice as each of my guys appears, unbound, in the cells around me. Creek is opposite me with Kain to the right of him, opposite to Roman, while Levi is to my left.

  I groan as I sink to the floor. I don’t remember this being part of the plan.

  “I swear, if he betrayed us…” Roman growls, his eyes lighting up as he paces in his cell, while Levi tries to bend the bars between our cells. I watch as he strains, before he realizes that they aren’t going to move. Whatever this place is, it’s built for people like us, and with his strength not being what it usually is, I’m not surprised it doesn’t move. Doesn’t stop him shouting in frustration though.

  “We might as well all chill out and rest until he appears,” I tell them, making it sound like I’m talking about Azriel to any ears listening, but they know I mean Deacon. “I’m sure it won’t be too long.”

  How fucking wrong was I?

  It’s been fucking hours since Azriel dropped us in here, and we’ve not seen hide nor hair of Deacon. I swear to god, if he’s betrayed us, I’ll rip his intestines out and make him eat them.

  This isn’t time we have. Fuck knows what’s happening with Fallon. The temptation to just call for Caleb is real. But Kain and Creek keep reminding me to stay calm, those two are the fucking picture of calm right now, whereas Roman and his wolf, trapped in a cage… yeah, he’s not doing so well, and Levi, well he’s a calm rage right now. I would not want to be whoever faces him when we get out of here.

  There is no-one else here, and the silence grows louder with every passing minute.

  Which is why the sound of squeaking metal seems so loud, as the door opens at the far end of the hall we’re in. Footsteps crunch on the rocky ground, and we all scramble to stand, to prepare for whatever it is that might be coming.

  Azriel appears, his smiling face taunting each of us until he reaches the door to my cell.

  “Come now my pretty. My little Witch wants to see her friend,” he says placing his hand on the bars, a sizzling noise sounds and when he pulls away, a click rings out and my door opens.

  “She’ll want to see the others too,” I tell him as he approaches me, standing my ground. I’m not about to cower to this asshole.

  “Oh I know,” he smirks before grabbing me, “but I wanted us to have some alone time first.”

  “Let her go,” Kain says firmly, while the others just watch us, their gaze firmly on where Azriel's hand wraps around my bicep.

  “I don’t think I’m going to do that, mate,” Azriel tells him, that smirk plastered on his stupid fucking face. Darkness wraps around us, and I hear their shouts before the silence takes over. When I can see again, I find myself in a room that looks a lot like Morgan’s throne room.

  What is with Demons and these palaces for houses!

  “Remy!” I hear Fallon’s cry as I pull myself from Azriel’s grasp. She barrels into me and I hug her tight, thankful the she appears okay, despite the sobs wracking her body.

  “I knew you’d come,” she says softly. “But it’s too late, and now he has you too.”

  “He doesn’t have shit,” I tell her with a cocky smile.

  “Oh is that right, sweetheart?” Azriel coos at me. “If you ask me, I have pretty much all the cards in the deck. I have your Witch, I have your lovers. Hell, I even have your brothers, they just don’t know it yet.”

  I roll my eyes at his cockiness. “You know what they say about those who sit themselves too high…” I pause, smiling. “They hit the ground hard and fast.”

  “Oh I like you.” He smiles. “Maybe I’ll break my bargain with Archer and make a new one with you. Would you like that little Hunter? I wonder what it is you’d give up to protect the ones you love. To protect your beloved Earth and all its ridiculous humans. I could kill Archer for you, call all the Demons back. It would be so simple. You wouldn’t
have to lose anyone else.” My heart almost stops at his offer, and I wonder if it’s worth it.

  I mean, of course it would be. To save everyone, no more death.

  “I could probably even give you the soul of the human Archer killed. It has not been long. It’s not likely her soul will have moved on yet,” he taunts, but he sounds so genuine it makes me stutter.

  “What human?” Fallon asks, her hand on her throat.

  “Everly,” I whisper, my eyes filling with tears again. I wipe them away quickly and she screams.

  “You let him kill her?” She shouts at Azriel, and he winces.

  “I didn’t let him do a thing, my little Witch. I had no idea about his plans. But if you want, I could gift you her soul,” he offers and she screams at him again in frustration.

  “Fallon, stop.” I pull her off of him, more because I’m worried she’ll hurt herself without her magic down here.

  “I will never forgive you for this!” She shouts at him, and I swear I see genuine hurt on his face.

  “You have my offer,” he says to me. “Think on it, I’ll give you an hour with your Witch before I’ll return and demand an answer. Do not disappoint me Hunter.”

  Azriel disappears from sight and my stomach drops.

  What if I could make the deal…? Then call on Caleb to help him release Fallon and me. Would it be possible?

  “What is going on in that mind of yours?” Fallon asks, her eyebrow raised. “I know you’re not just here, this easily, not fighting him, without something going on.”

  “I, we… we had a plan… but his offer…”

  “Don’t do it, Remy. It was worth it for me, but you’d be giving up so much more than I did. I don’t have epic love, or a whole world of people relying on me. They need you,” she pleads, her sadness making her voice crack.

  “But what if it was only temporary, wouldn’t it be worth it?”

  “Trust me, nothing is worth what this bond does to you. I’m pretty sure my soul was shredded the moment I agreed to it. I’m not the person I was before I came here, please don’t do this to yourself Remy.”

  I sigh, and sit on the floor in the sparse room. She follows suit, and we spend the small amount of time we have catching up with everything that’s happened to her. I don’t mention the plan, because I don’t know who else might be listening, but it’s nice to just sit here with her, even if I worry every second about what might be happening to my guys, and back home.

  In what feels like no time at all, Azriel reappears with Deacon at his side. His eyes flash to me and he smiles. “Have you decided to take me up on my offer?”

  “I’ve thought about it, and I have a counteroffer,” I say, nodding to Deacon as I stand. He disappears from sight and I know it’s all about to happen.

  “How about you do everything you offered, and I don’t kill you?” I smile at him, baring my teeth as I move to stand in front of Fallon. Her getting hurt is not on my to-do list. I reach down and pull the small dagger from my boot that I hid there this morning, ready for this exact moment.

  His eyes go wide, and in a second, dozens of his Demons stand at his back. I guess he was prepared to kill me after all.

  “If you think that’s enough to stop me, you underestimated me.” I grin as I slice the blade across my palm and let my blood drip onto the ground.

  “Oh little Hunter, your blood doesn’t scare me.”

  “No, but they might,” I say as Caleb, Bryce, Killian, and Malik appear in the room at the same time as my guys with Deacon, with Morgan appearing at my side.

  “Betrayer!” Azriel shouts to Deacon, and then all hell breaks loose.

  Demons flood the area around us, and I move back to try and keep Fallon from the fray as screams sound out, and more Demons enter the hall from the various doors. I don’t know how Azriel sent up a flare to the battalion Caleb said he’d have, but he did.

  “I need you to stay here,” I tell Fallon as I tuck her behind the throne I saw earlier at the far end of the room. “Do not try to be a hero!”

  She nods and I trust her to keep herself out of harm’s way, so I turn back to the mess of monsters behind us.

  I jump in without a thought, Caleb spots me and in seconds a weight is in my hand.

  Fuck I need me some powers.

  I grin at him as I lift the sword in my hand. I’ve got anger to burn through, and a dick ton of Demons to slay.

  I cut, and hack my way through the Demons that swarm towards me, a manic grin on my face, as their blood sprays and coats my body. I don’t think twice about it. I attack, and don’t stop until I’m panting.

  The throng of Demons is thinning, despite our low numbers, the Horsemen reap devastation in their path, and Morgan is a fucking badass. I officially want to be her when I grow up.

  I watch as she takes the head of a Demon without blinking, when I feel the claws tear though my back. Fuck that burns, that’ll teach me to be distracted.

  I whirl to find my attacker behind me, licking my blood from his talons.

  “It won’t be long little Hunter. My poison is in your veins now. You’ll be dead, and I’ll keep you for myself.” He practically bounces with giddiness. “My master will be so pleased!”

  I lift my arm, sluggish but still fast enough that he doesn’t see it through his joy, and take his head from his body. I turn, and that’s when I see Azriel and my heart bottoms out.

  I watch in slow motion, and it doesn’t matter how fast I move, it’s not fast enough, not with the poison coursing through my bloodstream. I try to scream but I have no voice as I watch Azriel's claws rip through Creek’s chest.

  I fall to my knees as the whole scene plays out in slow motion in front of me. I scream as his body falls to the floor, but Caleb is there, catching him while I can do nothing as poison runs through my veins.

  I can do nothing but watch as Levi appears behind Azriel like an avenging Angel with Bryce beside him. They grab an arm each as Morgan shoves her hand into his chest and rips his heart out.

  I hear Fallon’s scream, it almost sounds anguished but Deacon is there with her, and I watch as the bond transfers to him, and she passes out in his arms. At least she’s safe. Kain is holding back the fray with Killian and Malik as I watch the Demons start to stand down as Deacon stands back up, the power transfer complete.

  Numbness fills me as I look back to Caleb and Creek. Black dots cloud my vision as the poison takes hold.

  Please let him be okay.

  Caleb catches my eye across the room, and I know my plea’s won’t matter.

  Holy fuck.

  My heart shatters and I close my eyes and I hear Levi roar my name as I let the darkness take me.

  Want More??

  So… I know that was kinda brutal, and I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not, not really ha! BUT I have 2 ways to make it up to you!

  1. Go join my reader group here —> https://www.facebook.com/groups/sloanesmonsters/

  We have a competition going for an early copy of book 4!

  2. You can get an extra short from the Shadow Walkers Saga here —> https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/n7e5e2

  Much Love

  Sloane

  Xoxo

  About the Author

  Sloane Murphy is the author of the international bestselling series, The Immortal Chronicles, as well as a range of other paranormal and contemporary romance. Sloane lives in Peterborough, England, with her husband & fur baby and over the years, she has developed an unhealthy appreciation for cheesy YA Films, cupcakes and bad pop music. She adores fairy tales, ballet and all things supernatural, drinks far too much coffee, and watches an ungodly amount of Netflix. When she's not busy writing, she can be found exploring the world with her husband and chocolate Labrador.

  If you would like to send Sloane an email, you can reach her at sloane@authorsloanemurphy.com

  Want to sign up for her mailing list? You can sign up HERE

  Or come join her reader group on Facebook, Sloan
es Little Monsters

  Acknowledgments

  I have a lot of people to thank for this one, so strap in. First, to my husband, for leaving me to my brain babies for hours and days on end. For making me coffee and bringing me chocolate when those days when the words were streaming from me hard and I forgot to look after myself. Thank you for well, everything.

  Jenna, without you this book would still just be a WIP in a word file from Nov 2018. You helped me believe that these guys were ready for the world, and it turns out, they really were! So thank you for the sprinting sessions, the pep talks and everything you do!

  To Sarah Goodman, my beautiful and creative assistant, for all your helps with edits, late night randomness, and really just everything you do to help me, when you really, really don’t have to! Also, for drawing up all of the amazingness I dreamt up in this book.

  Amy Briggs, thank you for loving these guys as much as I do and helping me make this book be everything it could be!

  My OG beta team - you guys are awesome as ever. Rose, Danni, Ani, thank you for loving my book baby as much as I did, and giving me the swift kick up the ass that I need. Like always.

  To Steph, Blake & Claire. For believing in me. For letting me be your guinea pig. For all of the things!

  To Mibl Art & Dez at Pretty Ink Creations for the fabulous cover and art work for the book and promotions.

  To Wendy & Claire at Bare Naked Words, and all of their bloggers for helping me spread the word.

  Finally, to you, my readers, for sticking with me, because god knows it’s been a bumpy ride, but without you guys, I wouldn’t be here. So thank you for reading, for (I hope) loving these guys as much as I do. Here’s to the future, and way more words to come!