“You’re not in a position to make demands,” I reminded her as I dragged her through the entryway. Az followed, bringing up the rear just in case she managed to free herself and bolt from me.
Or perhaps he just wanted to watch.
Az always did enjoy a good bout of voyeurism, not just with bedroom play but with torture, too.
The staircase technically bordered the edge of the paradigm, allowing magic to fluctuate between the stone walls. It changed the landscape and evenness of the steps, making them short and long and endless before giving them a twist into another set.
Camillia’s calculating gaze didn’t miss a thing, taking in the subtle changes as she navigated the stairs in her high heels.
“Sometimes it’s a short trip of only a few steps to the bottom, and sometimes it can run for a mile,” I mused. “Makes escape risky.”
She said nothing, her focus on not losing her footing. I still held her chain. If she started to fall, I’d yank her back up.
But she’d probably bruise a little in the process.
Something told me it wouldn’t impact her for long. She possessed a fighter’s spirit, marking her as an ideal Hell Fae mate.Does she even realize how much intrigue she’s going to garner by being a rebel?
She again reminded me of my past, of another woman who’d enjoyedrebellingagainst the powers that be.
She’d been killed for that rebellion.
That marked a distinct difference in their situations. Camillia wouldn’t be killed; she’d likely berewardedfor her rebellion instead.
Torchlight flickered on the walls as we continued our descent, spiraling into the deep abyss, the paradigm’s mood taking us the long route today.
I knew we hit the bottom when waves of heat stifled the air. An inky hallway materialized, causing Camillia to grip my arm like a lifeline as she stared head-on into the darkness. A part of me considered going in blind just to toy with her, but that would come later.
Using my wand, I whispered a spell and cast a blast of fire down the corridor to light the torches.
Camillia gasped, although I couldn’t tell if she was impressed by my magic or if she’d realized where we were.
Because the light illuminated the cast-iron bars of rows of empty cages.
“Warden.” She whispered the title as if it made sense now. Her bright eyes took me in as if for the first time.
I had expected to see fear.
Instead, I saw pity.
I don’t care what this girl thinks.
She meant nothing to me.
To prove it, I cast an enchantment over myself and Az to protect us from the blistering heat and left Camillia to experience exactly what it meant to be in the belly of Hell.
Az met my eyes, knowing exactly what I’d done. He found it amusing. He also appeared a bit grateful since he was wearing a full black-on-black suit for tonight’s ceremony. Just like me.
We continued onward, walking in silence, the only sound the crackling of the torches and our footsteps.
Camillia finally spoke again, her voice bouncing down the corridor. “How do you two stand the heat down here?” she asked, her pace slowing as sweat gathered across her exposed skin.
I yanked her forward.
“My magic protects us,” I said curtly. “Not you.”
“Very chivalrous,” she drawled. “Just as you were with the cupcake.”
I clenched my jaw.What is with this girl and her bloody nonsense about a cupcake?“Do you have an obsession with desserts?”
