Page 148 of The Bonds of Indigo

“Earth. Just like mine.”

She then closes her eyes, and I take the moment to look up at Kayn. His gaze is fixed on me, worry still carved into every line of his handsome face.

“What happened?” he asks through the bond.

“A Grimhorn dragged me through. It’s the same thing it tried to do through the mirror. And the moment it was about to… end me, it was obliterated. Kayn, she didn’t even touch it.”

His jaw tightens. “Her scent isn’t like anything I’ve ever come across.”

I don’t tell him about the dimension part. Something in my gut tells me I shouldn’t, not yet at least. I’ll tuck it away for later.

“We can worry about what she is later,” I say. “Let’s just get where we need to go.”

“It seems you are quite far from your intended destination,” Azahara says suddenly. “I will have to look into how you were sent here, because it doesn’t appear to have been done on purpose.”

She materializes in front of the door Kayn came through and opens it again. Beyond it is what looks like a waiting room—bright white, clean, and smelling faintly of toothpaste. Honestly, it reminds me of a dentist’s office.

“Walk through here,” she says, “and the door on the opposite side will lead you to your destination.”

“And why should we trust your direction?” Kayn asks. He isn’t rude, but he’s direct. While I feel oddly at ease around her, I understand his suspicion.

She only shrugs. “You may do as you please, but I guarantee walking this hall will get you nowhere. Each door leads to a different region of the Underworld. Death has altered this passageway so you may return to your side. It is your choice to go, or to stay.”

I look up at Kayn. He’s watching me, waiting for me to make the choice.

“I trust her,” I say softly. “I can’t explain it, so… don’t ask.”

After a moment of silence between us, he nods. “I mean no disrespect. I’m just⁠—”

“Protective. I get it. I’ve got a few of you back home.”

Godsdamn, her smile is captivating. It lifts her plump cheeks, making the freckles glow in the bright light.

Kayn’s shoulders drop slightly. “Yeah… but thank you. I owe you for helping her.”

Azahara shakes her head and waves a hand. “No need to thank me. My creator didn’t grant me this power to waste it.”

I don’t miss the wary look he gives her before turning toward the open door and stepping through, his hand reaching back to take mine.

I’m halfway through the threshold when she grabs my shoulder. Kayn’s fingers slip from mine, and when my eyes flick toward him, he’s frozen mid-step—paused in place as if time itself stopped on the other side of the door.

I turn to Azahara as she says, “May I ask you something before you go?”

I’m certain she isn’t forcing me to stay; my feet remain by choice. But based on what I’ve seen, she could make me. I don’t know her physical limits, but I have no desire to find out if she’d obliterate me like the Grimhorn.

So I nod.

“What are you? You are no God, but you connect to the link with ease.”

“Oh.” I let out a small laugh and smile. “I’m a Witch. I’m bonded to my God, Vendra, who governs magic in our world. I’m one of the last full-blooded Yldarwrights, which is why I can speak with her.”

She nods slowly and takes a deep breath. “I see.”

“May I ask… what you are?”

“That’s a complicated answer.” She releases my shoulder and steps back. “But my intuition says I can trust you, Amarah. If I ask you to keep my secret to yourself, would you? At least until it’s time.”

“Time for what?”