A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,50

disappearing.

“Yes, I’m starved.” Creek groans taking in the sight of the masses of food she just had brought to us.

“This looks amazing, thanks,” I tell her, grateful that she doesn't intend to steal my soul, because not saying thank you—yeah, it’s harder than you'd think. Especially with the ingraining of manners my mom imbedded in me.

“It’s nothing,” she says waving me off and taking a seat at the table. I join her and the guys follow suit, loading up their plates until they look like they're going to overflow. I laugh and Levi just grins at me.

“We're growing boys. Plus, you never know how long it’s going to be until we get to eat again.” I laugh at him and shake my head. He's not wrong, so I grab some food for myself too and Callie just sits patiently waiting for us all, seeming to enjoy the quiet company.

“So, you can send us to the next level?” I ask her when I finish eating and she nods.

“I can, if I didn't think the queen’s guards would string me up by my entrails I'd send you straight to her, but they would, and since I can only send you to the next level either way, I'll send you further on your way.” she shrugs. I didn't realize they were our only options, the next levels either way or to the queen. I guess we better make some friends on our way.

“Are the higher Demons the only ones who can open the doors?” I ask, trying to gleam some extra information to help us on our way.

“No, all Demons can open doors, but they can't access the queen directly like we can. Though, on the next level, I can't say it’s going to be as easy as it was here to get to the next level.”

“Easy?” Roman scoffs. “You mean after being trapped in a cave and Remy having those awesome delusions.”

“Trust me, that's easy,” she says, raising an eyebrow at him. “Even the cages that your Angel fought in is a breeze compared to what you could face on those levels. The further down you go, the worse it gets. I hope for your sake, that your friend isn't too far down, and that you find her before you have to dive too deep.”

“Well doesn't that just sound awesome,” Creek says, rolling his eyes.

“Ignore them,” I say glaring slightly. “Thank you for the information, it’s not exactly something we can ask too openly around here.”

“Don't think anything of it,” she says with a smile when the door to the room crashes open.

“Callie, quick. The Droken are fighting again.”

“Oh for fuck sake.” She sighs standing. “I'll be back shortly and I'll get you on your way.”

“Can we help?” I ask, because she's done so much for us already, it’s the least we can do.

“Sure, you and your boys know your way around a good fight, you could be useful. If you have blades with you, bring them. These guys have teeth.” She gives us a wicked grin and leads the way out of the room.

“Really, Remy? Can we help?” Levi groans, rolling his eyes. “Come on, I suppose we better go and help.”

“Oh shut up, she's helping us, it seemed fair,” I tell him, patting down to make sure my daggers are in place.

I follow after Callie and the guys are behind me, then she winks at me and snaps her fingers. I feel weightless for a second, when the next I'm back on solid ground and the roars reach my ears, followed by snarling, and the sounds of flesh on flesh—and not the sexy kind.

Fuck me, the Droken are an ugly bunch. Green scaled skin, red eyes with matching horns, and she wasn't wrong about the teeth. Their fangs, both sets, were so long, they protruded from their mouths, tearing at flesh like it was butter as they attacked one another.

A whistle rings out across the empty waste plain, the ground no more than dried, cracked earth, and not a tree or building in sight, and I notice Callie has her fingers in her mouth. “What the fuck is going on?” She shouts, and after a moment’s pause, most of the fighting resumes, though some of the Droken flee.

“You can kill them by piercing their hearts. Nice and simple,” she says before blinking from my sight and appearing back in the fray before us.

“Well, let’s get started,” I say, drawing the blades on my body. It feels like forever since I