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I, on the other hand, wanted to vomit. I’d had my share of anger toward the Dominae over the years, but no one deserved that kind of violation.
“Sabina, are you prepared to take me to Irkalla?” Cain asked, his hand stroking up and down the ivory of Persephone’s arm. Even in the dim light, I could see the way her skin crawled at his touch.
I looked up and put every ounce of hatred I had for him in my glare. “You are an abomination.” I spit at his feet. “I curse the mortal deity who protects you.”
“Your stalling tactics have grown tiresome,” Cain said wearily. “I see we’re going to have to do this the hard way.”
One instant his posture was loose and casual; the next he struck like a snake. A flash of silver slashed through the air, followed by a spray of red. Persephone’s mouth worked open and closed like a carp’s. The whites of her eyes overwhelmed her face. Air whistled through the gash on her throat. And the blood. So much blood. Her trembling hands rose to staunch the flow.
Her knees gave out and she sank to the packed earthen floor. Left as she was, her vampire cells should have begun to knit themselves back together.
But Cain had other plans. He retrieved a syringe from his pocket. Held it up to the torchlight. Golden liquid inside flashed in the meager light. He stuck out his tongue and caught the spray. “Mmm,” he said, smacking his lips. “Sweet.”
Before I could recover from my shock and intervene, he stabbed the needle into Persephone’s throat. Punching the plunger, he injected the vampire with a dose of the forbidden fruit.
“No!” I yelled. I ran to Persephone. Knelt down next to her with my ear close to her lips so she wouldn’t have to struggle.
Blood gurgled from the Domina’s blue lips. I grabbed her icy hand, trying to lend comfort. Persephone’s advanced age drew out the process of death as her ancient blood struggled in vain to repair the damage.
The catacombs were silent, as if even the ghosts in this place held their breaths to witness such an important death.
“Sabina,” she wheezed. The light in her eyes was dimming. “Find—” Wheeze, choke. “Find my Nicolette.”
I frowned down at her. “Who is—”
A loud, sudden gasp and Persephone reared up from the ground. She tensed and emitted a death rattle. Then Persephone Delacroix, Domina of the Lilim, collapsed onto the packed earth. As she fell, her soul escaped and the resulting friction caused her body to ignite.
I fell and scrambled back to escape the heat. “Oh my gods,” I whispered in horror.
All of the Dominae were dead. Which meant if I survived Cain’s plans, I’d be next in line. It was almost enough to make me wish he’d succeed. The very idea of continuing Lavinia Kane’s bloody legacy made me want to hurl.
But not more than being within arm’s length of Cain did.
“Well now,” Cain said. “Shall we begin?”
I rounded on him and shouted, “You f**king idiot. I don’t even know how to access Irkalla through the Liminal!”
Cain pursed his lips. “You better hope for your lover’s sake you’re a fast learner. Because if you fail, I will find him and kill him while you watch.”
I clenched my jaw to hide the terror his threat invoked. “How in the hell am I supposed to get you to Irkalla with this godsdamned blade in my back?” I jerked a thumb over my shoulder.
“Sabina, your bravado is breathtaking. It’s really too bad you’re determined for us to be enemies. We would make fierce and beautiful children together.”
I reared back, but the beings behind me shoved my body forward. I fell toward Cain, who caught me and wrapped his arms around me. His touch made my stomach turn. “Don’t touch me!” I yelled, straining away from him.
He clucked his tongue. “Relax. How will you get me to Irkalla if you’re so tense?”
This f**king guy was a lunatic. How the hell was I supposed to relax?
“Besides, you will have to touch me to take me with you to the Liminal.”
I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. “The blade?” I prompted. When he shot me a suspicious look, I tried not to punch him in the face. “If you want me to do magic, you’re gonna have to get rid of the brass.”
He kept his eyes on mine but nodded to the vampire behind me. A strong hand gripped my shoulder for leverage. I sucked a breath in through my nose and braced myself for the inevitable pain. The vampire was not swift or gentle. He twisted the blade roughly to reopen the wound. My skin ripped and wetness dripped down my back. Cold sweat coated my trembling skin. Finally, he slowly pulled the blade free, inch by agonizing inch.
I swallowed the pain and flicked my gaze to Cain’s wrist. “Your brass too.”
Holding my gaze, he removed the cuff and let it drop to the ground. Then he slowly unbuttoned his shirt. I opened my mouth to ask him why he was undressing, but then I saw the brass breastplate his shirt had hidden. For someone who used magical beings as his personal weapons, he was sure worried about becoming a target himself.
He dropped the plate to the dirt. Raised his arms and stretched, flexing his pecs and biceps. “There now.” Cain smiled as if he expected me to swoon over his muscled torso. I barely managed to suppress my gag reflex.
Once his goons collected the brass items and had scooted back a safe distance, Cain held out his arms. “Shall we?”
He clearly wanted me to plaster myself against him. Instead, I used the tips of my fingers to touch his wrist.
I closed my eyes and prayed. Hekate, Torch Bearer, light my way. Great Mother, Lilith, protect me and give me strength for what is to come. Also? Brace yourself. An enemy is at your gate.
I breathed out slowly and rooted my feet in the dirt. All the power I’d absorbed in the catacombs sprang to life and coiled around my solar plexus. It crawled through my arms like thorny vines. My fingertips sizzled and my head pulsed with energy.
An explosion ripped through the tunnels.
One second I was preparing to transport us to the Liminal—where I planned to lose Cain and run like hell—and the next my body slammed into the hard stone altar. In my shock, I lost control of all the power I’d gathered. It rushed from me like a hot stinging wind and flew through the catacombs.
I blinked, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened, but the dust cloud and searing heat prevented clear vision. Shouts and the sounds of fighting pounded my ears. I tried to get my feet under me, but a strong hand grabbed my ankle. Cain.
