Shadow Reign (Shadow Puppeteer Book 2) by Christina E. Rundle

in black with a veil that covered her face. Her stench immediately clouded the despair the captives brought in. The warm stench of rotting meat burned my nose and the back of my throat. My head started thudding and the discomfort made me acutely aware of my injuries.
    “This has gone on too long. Start the ritual,” Kelaino said.
    The woman’s breath raised the veil ever so slightly and the room grew drastically cold despite the number of bodies pressed into the room. What came from behind that thin piece of material was high in pitch, like a kettle of the stove whistling. It didn’t sound human.
    Kelaino turned, drawing my attention to the mirrors. A purple fog swirled behind the glass. I’d recognize it anywhere, a death door. I hugged myself, but it didn’t stop my skin from crawling. A warmer energy drew my attention to Rex. He gave a very small, curt nod and I had no idea what that was supposed to mean. I brushed my fingers against the hilt of my blade and his lip curled up in a growl.
    I wasn’t one of his wolves. I didn’t understand the message he was giving me. Luckily, everyone was too consumed by the mirror to notice the small exchange.
    The veiled woman stuck her hand in the cup she held and tossed dust up into the air. I felt it, the minute the dust touched the ground. Their shadows were small and shapeless, hungry for life like the bigger shadows were. This was dangerous, though I didn’t know enough about the spirits to know why.
    The sith rattled their instruments in the hallway again. All this stirred other things within the room. The candles flickered and some went out. Kelaino was pleased.
    Kelaino picked up a golden goblet that sat in front of the obsidian mirrors and Rose stepped up first, kneeling in front of her. Kelaino dipped two fingers into the mug, and turned to Rose, dotting her forehead and cheeks. It left inky black marks on her face. Rose took the goblet and tilted it to her mouth. It could be a trick of the light, but the liquid looked like it slid into her mouth with its own spine.
    Rex watched me. His eyes were browner than their usual gold, which meant he was in a bad mood. He had no right judging me, when I did this to protect him.
    Rose screamed and jerked with the liquid inside her. Her eyes rolled back and it was inky saliva that drooled down her chin. It lasted a few seconds too long. I didn’t want to be in that same situation.
    “Rise, Rose, you are now blessed with the energy to cross over,” Kelaino said.
    Rose stood, her eyes dilated, but looking unchanged. There was something unearthly in the way she moved, like she was boneless and gliding. Kelaino turned to me and I dug my heels into the ground, refusing to back up. My thoughts were as rapid as my heartbeats, fluttering so hard looking for an escape or at least a quick solution.
    Kelaino’s eyes said it all; do this for your wolf. She thought I could be manipulated and in some ways, she was right. I wasn’t going to do anything to put Rex in immediate danger, but eventually she’d let her guard down. I’d have to kill Rose and Utan first, then come back for her.
    I took the mug, refusing to let her feed me the liquid. To my surprise, she let me have it. The stem was warm from her hands.
    “Don’t do it, Belen. I’m already dead. The minute you leave, she’ll kill me,” Rex yelled until his collar was yanked so hard it left him gagging.
    He thought he could order me around too. I didn’t glance over, even when I heard them scuffle. Something swam in the cup, showing its spine before it went back into the liquid.
    “Don’t do it!” Rex yelled. His words were bubbly with blood.
    I didn’t want him to go through so much to try and stop me. It was my decision. I brought the goblet to my lips, feeling how chilled the cup was. The liquid that slid over my tongue had the consistency of mud. Something among that liquid wiggled straight down my throat, its spine digging into my skin as it went.
    The minute it hit