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Edward grins, and my entire body goes cold.

My brother is evil incarnate, even more so now that he’s a disembodied spirit that has found a way to control the freaking King of Monster Isle.

Or has he?

“You should ask your boyfriend… as well as our old king,” Edward says with a sideways smile. “Between the two of them, they gave me everything I needed.” His brow arches as he eyes something in the distance. “Ah, look, even the Elite City King himself has come to pay us a visit, along with your little sponsors. Maybe they’ll all kill each other and do us a favor, hmm?”

Spinning, I find a beast I have only seen in my dreams barreling through the creatures below. He roars and whips his horned head, taking down a row of creatures with one strong swipe.

King Cain. The leader who runs the Elite City in all his dark glory.

He’s uncontested, but as he faces off with Arwan, I wonder if he’s met his match.

The Prince of Death unfurls shadows everywhere, challenging the monster who has run my city all my life.

I’ve never seen his true form on display like this. A swallow works down my throat as I watch them circle each other.

Godric and Ze’ev close in around us, walling me in on either side.

Edward chuckles. “Cain killed me, but he should have let that soul eater devour me at the wedding he ruined. Now I’m going to return the favor and let King Njord have what’s left of him.” He cups his hands and shouts. “You’re out of your element, Your Majesty! Not so strong here, are you?”

King Cain snarls at the taunt. Arwan draws out a silver chain from his wrist and slams it against the back of the king’s leg, bringing him down to one knee.

Pain skids up my left side as I take in a shocked breath. I’m still linked to the dark royal, which doesn’t bode well if things go south.

You can’t keep this up, I think at Arwan, but I know he can’t hear me.

Even with an arrow in my leg, I stagger forward, but Ze’ev shoots out a hand and grabs my shoulder, pinching me hard.

“Stop this!” I shout, but no one seems to have enough wits about them to listen to me as Arwan and King Cain face off.

What is wrong with all of them?

The only constant is the ominous hum of the tower behind me, as well as the chuckling amusement of Monster Isle’s dark ruler.

A deep part of me doesn’t think that King Njord is a puppet at all.

He’s letting Edward think he’s in control just because he wants to see what will happen when he lets the humans and monsters under his domain play.

It’s all a game.

Red orbs flicker in the distance, confirming my theory.

This is on a live feed.

Maybe it’s a show.

Maybe it’s blackmail.

Whatever King Njord’s reason, I can’t let it play out.

Turning, I grip my brother’s shoulder to keep myself upright as I talk to King Njord directly.

“I’ll go with you!” I plead. “I’ll be another daughter for you. I’ll take care of my sister. I’ll give you whatever you want. Just stop this! Let them go!”

My words roll over the isle as if I’ve released thunder of my own. The hum from the tower ramps up, making my ears itch as the exterior crackles and pebbles tumble down its sides.

Whatever I just said, it affected Arwan.