“Yes, you have, baby. This one might be a little stronger, but it’s not stronger than you.”
“You’re damn right it’s not,” I seethe. I think back to the club, the way it felt like I was trudging through water. I remember using my hands to move myself through it, physically.
“That’s it,” Calix purrs when my right foot slides a millimeter. “Keep going,” he encourages.
A grin tugs at my lips. “Easy peasy, motherfucker.” I keep shedding off the heavy feeling surrounding my ankles and feet, until it feels like if I just step out of my shoes, I’ll be completely free. And that’s exactly what I do.
My toe touches the tile floor on the other side of a circle I can feel right at the entrance. I crouch down and run my hand a few inches above the ground to familiarize myself with its energy.
I jump up and bounce on my toes a little. I’m not going to lie, breaking his ward has my blood singing in my veins. “I’m going to get Aeson.”
“Wait!” Gunnar shouts, then takes a deep, calming breath when I do, in fact, freeze. “Getting yourself out and getting her out are two totally different things, Damiana.”
“I’ll have to do it.” Grim appears next to me. “I don’t want you in here alone anyway.”
“How will you get her out?” I furrow my brow.
“I’ll have to cross her.”
“What?” I take a step backwards.
“You said we couldn’t come to the other side, that we wouldn’t come back.” My voice is hushed, speaking words I don’t want to say.
“We don’t have any other choice, Damiana. We don’t have a witch to help us. I doubt one would be powerful enough anyway, unless it was the caster, and I don’t think he would remove the ward,” Gunnar answers for Grim.
“What will happen to her?”
“She’ll be bound, body and soul, until I untether her.” Grim lowers his chin, staring right into my eyes.
“You act like that’s a bad thing.” I glance at Calix and Gunnar on the other side of the door.
“Omnia, there are times when death is a release. If she were to be captured and tortured, she would never die, no matter what they did to her. Do you understand?” I lick my lips. “I will give her the choice. I can cross her and bring her back, or…” Grim leaves the rest unsaid.
“Oh, she’s coming back.” I cross my arms over my chest defiantly. “If I have to reach into the other side and pull her out by her hair, she’s coming back.”
“Aeson is older than you know, Dami, let her make the decision,” Calix tells me softly.
“Aeson!” I shout up the stairs. “We’re coming.” I stare into Grim’s eyes. He’s the only hope I have of keeping my best friend, and I just got her back. Please let her want to come back.
I take slow, measured steps behind Grim, since he insisted on leading. I don’t mind. I’m too lost in my own head to really pay attention anyway. If I’d been paying more attention before, I wouldn’t have stumbled into a ward or let Aeson fall into another trap.
Grim pushes open the door to the room I can hear Aeson cursing from. I cover my mouth to hold in my gasp, she’s not just trapped with her feet on the ground. She must have landed in a crouch when she jumped down from the window. Even her hand is plastered to the floor.
“Hey, bitch.” I straighten my back and try for an unaffected smile. She’ll see right through it but appreciate the effort.
Aeson blows out a heavy breath, the air pushing her hair back from her forehead. “You’re either my lucky charm, or the universe is trying to tell me something, Dami.” Her voice is uncharacteristically serious.
“We all have bad weeks, Aeson. This one is definitely my fault; I’m the one who asked you to come along.”
Grim skirts around me and forces Aeson to look at him. I’ve noticed the way she avoids him, but I just figured she, like the others who visit me, are a little frightened of him.
“Brownie.” I swat Grim’s arm and give him a mean-mug. “Aeson the Brownie,” he says slowly, while watching me. I nod. He turns his attention back to her.
Aeson licks her lips. “I got no business with you, Reaper.”
“Unfortunately, you do. I can offer you a choice.” Grim spreads his hands and a small rift forms, one of his portals.
Aeson swallows. “What choice is that?”
