Lucifer stood, ignoring me, and stepped down to talk to some dead noble. I had half a mind to rip him away and demand answers.How would Lucille save us?Did this have something to do with the deal he made?
Speaking of the hellion—where was she?
Her anxiety brushed up against my mind. She was probably nervous about the number of people who wanted to see the warrior who bested Moira.
My own anxiety was getting the better of me. Tonight, I planned to tell her everything. MJ was right—why not try for something good in my life? Once the truth was out, if she still decided to love the pet, then fine. But at least I would’ve tried. At least I’d have given her the freedom to choose with all the facts in play.
A sudden shot of guilt speared through her anxiety, along with concern from Rune.
What was up with the two ladies in my life?
After a moment, Rune sent me an urgent emotion, calling for me to link to our connection. Sighing, I followed the thread between our souls and connected with her senses. She stared at a wooden door, whimpering and scratching. Then she barreled into it.
Rune,I chastised.
She ignored me, sending waves of suspicion and worry.
Show me where you are.
She twisted her head back to show me the hellion’s room.
Who would’ve locked her in?
Rune sent more urgency down the bond and slammed into the door again.
Okay, I’m coming. Don’t break her door down.
I disconnected, but when I arrived at said door and saw it in splinters, I kicked myself. Rune was no longer there. I was about to reconnect when something exploded down the hall.
Wreathing my hands in shadows, I strode toward the source, only to find Alexei walking through my blasted-apart door.
“What the fuck?”
He winced, then quickly sobered. “Lucille and Oliver locked me inside your room after lying to me about talking to you.”
Odd. “They haven’t spoken to me since the challenge.”
“They were both still wearing their gear,” he added.
“I found Rune locked inside Lucille’s room.” I stepped on my broken door and entered the sitting area, scanning my weapons wall.
Tsal-mawet was gone. She’d stolen the dagger from my runed wall, along with many others.
I didn’t take into consideration that shecouldtake my weapons. But we were technically two parts of a whole.
“What are you looking for?” Alexei asked, peering around.
“The dagger that created Hell. She stole it.”
Alexei’s eyes widened. “Barring the fact you didn’t tell me you foundthatparticular dagger, why would she take it?”
“She asked for it after the challenge.”
“What does she want with it?”
There was only one thing the hellion wanted—to save her loved ones. And there was only one way to do that. I didn’t know how the knife came into play, but somehow, it did.
“She’s going to attempt to leave.” My shadows tightened on my hands and pressed against my eyes.
