Kruegar stared at the rip in the air in the center of the chamber. Veltress was to one side of him, and Audrey to the other. Anyone that didn’t know the situation might think Kruegar a lucky man if they just happened to see him.

Audrey occupied Wylla’s body, and Wylla had been a gorgeous elf. Tall for an elf at around five foot seven, she was pale skinned, with a cute button nose, light gray-brown eyes, and metallic bronze hair—the metallic hair the easiest to recognize sign of her elf heritage. She was perfectly proportioned, and currently dressed in a skin-tight dress of red silk that hung from her shoulders to the floor, a wineglass in her hand as she watched. She caught him staring at her and gave him a smug grin, raising her wineglass to him.

She knew she was the current favorite of Veltress, and at the moment, that was how power was defined.

Veltress herself appeared to also be an elf in terms of body structure, but she had red bat wings, a red tail with a spade-shaped tip, and horns coming from her head. She bore the appearance, almost entirely, of a classic tempter demon. The only exception was between her horns—a ball of blood swirled in the air, occasionally pulsing as if alive.

And she had chosen naked as her outfit of choice, as she always did.

Although Veltress being naked was getting old, as she wanted nothing to do with Kruegar. Nor did Audrey. And goblin and orc girls left a lot to be desired.

The rip in space suddenly expanded, drawing Kruegar’s thoughts, and he gripped his black steel claymore tightly.

A brief silhouette was visible—about twelve feet tall, with giant bat wings, and then the figure walked through the gate.

The demon—denizen of the blood abyss, really, but it might as well have been a demon—appeared to be a gigantic, male version of Veltress. It had huge red bat wings and a long red tail and a pair of horns—but otherwise might have been a Calven Klein underwear model in its body, with lean muscles and unreasonably sexy symmetry. It had the same ball of blood floating in front of its horns as Veltress did, but its tail ended in a snake’s head, and not a red point.

The rip in space closed behind it, and the crystals at the base of the ritual all dimmed or shattered or both, except for Asnandi’s key.

The demon looked around the room. “Well, the quarters are a notable downgrade, Veltress… and where are the adoring horde’s?”

Veltress stepped forward and gave a graceful bow. “Welcome, Felrin, my brother. We have about ten thousand goblins here, and this is Kruegar—your grandson. Via Grakith’s line. He has another couple thousand orcs working for him, and near as many slaves.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Kruegar said, giving a half bow.

Felrin ignored him, instead motioning to Audrey. “And this one?”

“Audrey—she is the spirit that took possession of Wylla Willowynd, and retains her skills.”

Kruegar bristled at the dismissal even as Felrin gave Audrey a leer, his eyes almost feverish. “I see. She has been working on finishing a portal, then? That the power of the Blood Abyss may move freely into this realm?”

“Yes… although Asnandi’s Key is damaged. We’ve been having… limited success.”

Audrey blushed under the continued blatant staring by Felrin and turned away. After a moment, Felrin turned to stare at Veltress.

“Has anyone else made it through?” the giant demon asked.

Veltress steepled her fingers together and glanced away before answering. “Only one other—Ezreni Blacktouch.”

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“Why only one? And why her?” Felrin asked, scowling.

Veltress is stronger than I am… how strong is this Felrin if Veltress is afraid to so much as give him bad news?

“We need a great deal of magical resources to bring anyone here—and we can’t aim it correctly. We tried to bring Grakith back, of course. That would be a near instant victory, given his strength and name, and the fact he can wander this world without penalty. The orc tribes would have all united and we could have seized the tree, and opened a portal to the Blood Abyss directly. But it’s not… working right.”

“Then why do we need this one?” Felrin asked, motioning toward Audrey, his mouth turning up in a cruel grin as he licked his lips. “If she can’t even get a portal right, why shouldn’t I make another line of half-demon children? Grakith turned out quite well, after all.”

Audrey’s went pale, her eyes wide, staring at the naked, twelve-foot tall demon.

Veltress held her hand up but took a step back. “We couldn’t make it work at all till she became involved. As long as she doesn’t fail that seems… counterproductive.”

Felrin frowned. “Very well. So long as she is useful, I guess.”

Kruegar returned her smug smile, as sarcastically over-the-top as he could manage it. Now you know how it feels.

“Give me a breakdown, then,” Felrin said. “How do the forces of Irkuhkt fare?”

Veltress grimaced again. “Poorly. Your daughter, Janellass, is dead. Slain by Asnandi’s champion, the new king of Averia, Leo. Irkhukt’s priest, King Damien, is dead. Other powerful, if unwitting, agents have been lost. They have a solid position and are growing extremely quickly. In talent, Leo might be a near match for Grakith—every supposed setback turns to strength.”

“And you did nothing, sister?” Felrin asked, his voice dangerous.

“I can’t leave this place for long, brother. You know that.”

Felrin pondered for a moment, then nodded. “How strong is King Leo?”

“Not that strong… around Level Fifteen to Nineteen we think. Also, he and most of his allies are going to be leaving soon, through a portal.”

“Most of his allies?” Felrin asked.

Veltress nodded. “Not his woman and party healer, Liliana Willowynd. She is staying, since she’s pregnant. As well as other lesser ministers of his realm.”

“Does Leo know of you?”

“No,” Veltress replied. “Our spy reports that he clearly thinks Kruegar is his only enemy left on this world.”

“Is Ezreni still able to wander this world without consequence?”

Veltress nodded.

Felrin smiled another cruel smile. “Perfect. Then we will summon every demon we can, to this place. Meanwhile, send Ezreni to slay this Lily, and slay most of his ministers while he is gone. We’ll carve the heart from his realm. Make it appear as if Ezreni was working for Kruegar.”

“Why me?” Kruegar asked, angrily.

Felrin sneered at Kruegar. “You, and your orcs, have failed Irkuhkt twice. Why would I invest in them again? Let the blow fall miles into the swamp in the wrong place. Meanwhile, we’ll gut your realm for resources to summon allies with. When Leo retaliates for the death of his woman and child, the blow will fall in the wrong place, costing him resources and costing us nothing—and his attack will unite the rest of the orc tribes in opposition to him.”

He’s gutting my power base!

Kruegar held his sword out. “You can’t take my realm from me. I don’t authorize that.”

Felrin laughed and stomped over to him. Kruegar slashed with his sword, but Felrin backhanded the sword from his fist. It flew away so hard that the stone cave wall cracked when it hit. A tiny, thin line of blood across Felrin’s knuckles was the only sign he had taken any damage, and it healed as Kruegar watched.

“You’re my grandson, Kruegar, and Veltress seems to think you’re worthwhile. I’ll not deny you have a certain power I admire. But you’re no Grakith come again. Oppose me and you’ll die.”

Kruegar rubbed at his hand, and nodded.

But inside he seethed. He’s going to ruin everything I worked for just to hurt Leo!

Kruegar wished he had never picked the fight with Leo, now—although he suspected that his vision for an empire and Leo’s were so different they would have fought one day regardless. But…

Maybe if they take Leo out, afterwards I can arrange some accidents. In the meantime… “It’s resources you want, right?” Kruegar asked.

Felrin nodded, one eye ridge quirked.

“Let me get it from the other orc tribes, then. The illusion of my realm being our powerbase will be even more convincing if I’m expanding, right? And it’ll be something for Leo to choke on when he comes and seeks vengeance for his dead woman.”

Felrin thought for a moment, then nodded.

But Veltress held a hand up. “Just to make sure you don’t get ideas about independence again, Kruegar, I’ll be keeping your friend Jeremy here… even if you aren’t smart enough to know what’ll happen if you betray us again—which is that Ezreni will come for you once she’s done with Lily.”