Her blood spilled on my land.
Her life was mine, bound to the land of Heartstone Castle above and the tunnels below. I’d been obsessed with her story for so long, I didn’t know how to separate my fixation from the woman Ipulled to the Underrealm.
She had glared at me with dismissive irritation as if being brought into the cursed land was nothing more than an inconvenience she’d maneuver herself out of.
She was beautiful.
More Goddess than any other had a right to be called with her powerful wings tipped in silver, her long straight nose and dark hooded eyes. Her lips were red, full and soft. I closed my eyes, picturing her there, settling her into my memory and more than just the Beast inside me marked her as mine.
But she never truly could be.
I had to get her out of here.
Regardless of how much I wanted her to stay.
CHAPTER 8
Reshina
The Underrealm openedfrom a dark tunnel into a massive hall of stone. Chipped into the walls were creatures of long spindly legs and arms, clawed hands and soulless eyes. They were carved en masse, reaching toward the pinnacle statue at the center of the cavern.
Piffle continued leading the way, oblivious to the sublime of the hall, his little boots echoing with a steady drip of water from somewhere nearby.
The center statue must have been over thirty feet, carved from the same dark stone that I’d fallen through. Torches lined the walls, and I walked across black marble, streaks of white spread throughout.
“Piffle,” I said softly, “who is that?”
The little fae turned to me, then back to the statue dominating the hall. “Tis the Master’s father, Mistress Reshina.”
The heels of my shoes clacked along the stone. “And these creatures?” I stepped closer to the wall, tracing my fingers over the carvings.
“The Mistress has never seen an Underfae before?”
My brows rose. Indeed, I had not. “The Underfae Goddess does not look like her faekind?”
He shrugged. “Do all Goddesses typically?”
“Yes,” I replied, frowning. Though Ishtak was a haggard old woman, she did not look like these creatures at least.
“Would…would you like a rest, Mistress? Perhaps a good meal before you settle in for the night? I am a fine cook. Or some tea?” He tugged at my sleeve. “What of some nice hot tea and a good rest?”
“Piffle,” I started, taking back my sleeve, “are you trying to distract me from our task at hand?”
“N-no!” He clutched his hands at his chest worriedly. “Yes,” he confessed, letting out a breath of air. “It’s just that the Master said to take care of you. And reminded me that you are not to venture down the western corridor.”
“Piffle,” I began again, “would you please point north for me?”
He grinned wide, pointing directly at the monumental statue of the late King of Heartstone.
“Thank you. You may wait here if you wish.” I took several steps in the direction of the western tunnel, darker than any other that branched off the great hall.
His tugging on my dress came quicker than I would have liked, and in a flash of irritation, I grabbed ahold of my skirts, yanking them out of his hands.
“Please!” he begged. “You mustn't!”
“Ishtak will not harm me,” I said dismissively, picking up my pace. “She cannot. And I will not harm her either.”
The little thing could run faster than I’d expected, and as I neared the looming dark, a golden door appeared over the entrance.
