“I’m tired,” Bria said, not moving forward to stand with me.

“I got this, if she needs me.” Thank God at least Red was still on board to help out.

I didn’t have time to chastise anyone. That manic red stare bore down on me. My heart tried to punch a hole through my ribcage.

I punched his spirit box with everything I had, while simultaneously rattling it. Havoc roared, sending a blast of spirit right through the Berserker’s middle, shaking the soul I had in my magic’s iron grip. Chaos darted forward, batted a sparkly little item he’d found on the ground, somersaulted in the air for no reason, then darted away behind us again—distracting but not helpful.

The Berserker staggered, ramming a hole in the wall with his huge shoulder. He howled, flailing his hands and then beating at his chest. He took two more steps, his guttural wail one of agony. Before I could slice at him, he took a tumble, not having gone very far.

He kept wailing, now rolling around on the ground. He kicked the wall, another hole. He banged the ground with his fists.

Chaos ran back in, pounced on the Berserker’s back, and charged the woman with the Zeus magic. She screamed, threw out her hand, and, when that didn’t yield results, ran into the room next to her and slammed the door behind her.

The Berserker shrank, quickly turning human. Once done, he curled up into the fetal position and groaned.

I stared for a moment.

“Oh,” I said. The tension slowly draining out of me, I looked around in confusion. “Is that it?” I narrowed my eyes at the others. “Is this a trick?”

Everyone chuckled behind me. Thane let out a ragged breath.

“You just rang that guy’s bell. Let’s head home.” Thane turned, his hands still fisted. “Thanks, Lexi. I don’t have much left. I would’ve pounded the shit outta that guy. I would have—”

“Whoa, big guy, keep it together.” Bria patted his flexed arm. “How about a lovely, cold bath? Or, I know, why don’t you have a nice, big cry with Dylan? He could use a little company.”

We made it around the corner, back toward the exit, before we all stopped dead. Magnus’s pack strolled toward us, confident, arrogant, and clearly still going strong. They’d been too far away for me to sense. The leader, the small-statured woman with tight curls and a nice disposition hiding a mean personality, gave us a chilling smile.

Thane groaned, and I had the feeling he didn’t have enough left to resist punching some holes through these very white walls.

13

Kieran

“Demigod Kieran, a word.”

Kieran slowed, trying to keep his head from drooping in exhaustion. He was well and truly spent, but he’d gotten a better handle on things as the day progressed, and had even jumped into the fray a few times.

The last meeting of the day had been a closed-door talk among the high-status Demigods, invite only. It had floored him to get an invitation. Humbled him, too. These people had an awe-inspiring grip on their territories, plus years of experience dealing with and, when necessary, manipulating non-magical governments. It had been like a master class for him. He’d taken notes like a demon.

“Yes, Demigod Zander.” Kieran offered a bow, a show of respect that was genuine and not just for show. He admired the way the other Demigod had spoken so unguardedly in the meeting, and his concern for those he ruled.

Zander picked a moderate pace as they left the meeting room. “I wanted to congratulate you on your win.”

Lesser-status Demigods watched them with wide eyes. They probably wondered how in hell Kieran had gotten so many perks on his first day. Kieran wondered the same thing. Part of him even wondered if he was being set up.

“Which win is that?” Kieran asked.

Zander glanced at him. “You haven’t been told? Your team has been working through the halls. Last I heard, they were still there, taking very light damage. Very light. One of the first teams they took down was mine. It galls a little, I must say.”

Zander’s grin was teasing, but his tone wasn’t entirely light. It did gall, clearly, and he wasn’t bashful in admitting it.

Pride welled within Kieran. He hadn’t been actively monitoring Lexi or his people, his mind whirling from the constant meetings.

He wondered how Zander had gotten the scoop—he and his co-leader wife had been in all the same meetings as Kieran, and phone calls weren’t allowed in the halls.

“I hadn’t heard, no,” he said, keeping his tone level. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to pass that on.”

As they wove through the building, making their way toward the exit, more looked at Zander and then Kieran. Eyes widened, like before, and some people stopped to murmur to each other. Kieran’s skin started to tingle in warning.

“My team was taking a break and yours happened upon them,” Zander said, not looking at anyone they passed. “They were in a room with a closed door, you understand. Most people can’t see or feel through walls. Your little Soul Stealer could’ve taken them down from the hallway, I see that now. She chose instead to come at them face to face, with honor. She directed your crew in and hardly engaged at all. Just enough to nearly kill one of my guys, and then…somehow bring him back to life. The details are very hazy to me; I only heard this secondhand. The man in question has professed he will never fight her again. That he is in her debt.” Zander chuckled softly. “I can make him fight her, of course, but I found the exaltation…most odd.” He paused for a moment. “Possibly this is due to her flouting of our customs. Your little Soul Stealer helps the enemy rather than finishing them. We saw it before us in the courtyard. My team saw it firsthand. I thank you for that. I would’ve been grieved to lose him. Usually he is exemplary in battle. I’m not sure what happened.”