“Then we’ll close it behind them by breaking the salt circle,” Isabelle said. “That should sever the connection to hell.”
Dorian sighed. “That’s a few too manyshouldsandifsfor my liking.”
"Shoulds and ifs are all we’ve got at the moment,” Jaci said. Then, offering what she hoped was an encouraging smile, “But a good witch always knows how to improvise.”
“Youarea good witch, moonflower,” Gabriel said, and she smiled, buoyed by the vote of confidence. By his love. By his very presence.
“Listen, little miss hot-pants.” Cole stepped up, hands on her shoulders. “You get into trouble out there—the kind where you just know you’re in over your head—you fight like hell, hear me?”
“You know I will.”
“None of this high-road, second-chances bullshit. Not everyone can be saved, and not everyone deserves to be redeemed.” Cole stuck a cigarette in his mouth, but for once, he didn’t light it. “Sometimes you just gotta put on your shit-stompin’ boots and take out the damn trash. You get what I’m sayin’?”
“No one gets what you’re saying, mate,” Gabriel said. “You’re high.”
“It’s a metaphor, Little Red. Keep up.”
Gabriel laughed. “Doing my best, wolf.”
Isabelle cleared her throat, her eyes dark and somber. “All right, everyone. It’s time.”
Careful not to disturb the salt circle, Gabriel and Jaci stepped inside the pentagram, then turned to face each other.
Gabriel reached for her hands. Brushed his thumbs over her knuckles.
“Partners,” he whispered, his green eyes fierce in the flickering candlelight.
“Always,” she said.
The crypts fell silent, and Isabelle began her incantation, slowly walking around the circle, her voice so soft Jaci couldn’t even make out the words.
The flames grew taller, brighter. The air around them began to shimmer and swirl, and then, with a sound like the tearing of fabric, a crack appeared before them, pulsing with bright, silver-white light.
Jaci stretched out a hand, her fingertips barely brushing the edge. The portal’s magic crackled and brightened, calling out to her own magic. Her fury. Her hellfire.
Her darkness.
It surged to life inside her, and she felt her eyes shift to black, the magic sizzling across her skin, her body adjusting to contain it.
Gabriel took her hand again. Brought his mouth to her ear. “I love you, witch-demon,” he whispered. “Now and forever. Light or dark. You belong to me. Understand?”
Jaci nodded.
Gabriel nodded back.
And together, without so much as a backward glance, they stepped into the light.
Chapter Eighteen
Jaci had never smelled such sweet, inviting air. Had never heard such beautiful birdsong. Had never so badly wanted to kick off her shoes and run barefoot through the soft green grass.
Her heart swelled just to look at it.
And as she and Gabriel stepped out of the portal and into a serene forest, that swollen heart dropped right into her stomach.
She knew, without a doubt, which realm of hell they’d traveled to.
Which realm Viansa had chosen to imprison the souls, her every move orchestrated to ensure Jaci’s maximum torment.
