Chapter 7: The Breaking Point

Christine was trying to use the demon child’s heart blood to cure herself!

I didn’t hesitate. I chanted a ward, whipped up a wind blade. "Break!"

A thousand blades shot out, cracking the barrier like a spiderweb. The bowl trembled and fell.

With the relic gone, the demonic energy scattered instantly.

3

Order disciples swarmed in fast. Before I could get the boy out, Michael appeared, his face cold as stone.

On the other side, Christine clutched her wounds, putting on a show of fear. When she saw Michael, she darted behind him. "Michael! Save me!"

Swords flashed, aimed at me and the demon child in my arms.

The truth seemed obvious, but I still tried.

"Michael, do you believe me?"

His cold gaze swept across my face. "How can you ask me to believe you?"

"She’s guarded the demon king’s descendant for a hundred years—she’s tainted by demon blood herself!"

"That’s right! Autumn Reeves is protecting demons. She should be punished for colluding with them!"

"Kill her!"

4

Despite the chaos, Michael didn’t kill me. He tossed me in the dungeon instead.

The demon child died in my arms before I was locked away.

Days and nights blurred together. Only Olivia came to see me, once.

"Autumn, don’t give up. I believe you. Michael must too, or he wouldn’t have shielded you from the others."

I nodded. "I know, but I swear I didn’t lie. Christine Williams really did use the demon child’s heart blood to heal herself. How can the order allow that kind of evil?"

"Of course not!" Olivia said, but then hesitated. "But, Autumn, the elders checked Christine at the infirmary. Her defect hasn’t improved at all, so it doesn’t match what you said..."

I frowned, confusion twisting in my gut.