Page 166 of The Bonds of Indigo

“We don’t need to eat,” I say, steering her aside when one of my father’s sentinels barrels up the steps.

“What the fuck is that?” she whisper-shouts.

The golem-like construct halts mid-step and turns its head toward us. Forged of molten glass and brimstone, it snorts a gravelly growl. I wave a dismissive hand, shooing it off.

“A Sentinel. A guard, basically. Don’t worry, they’re harmless.”

For being nearly eight feet tall and made of solid mass, they’re surprisingly useless. Slow as Beyond and good for little more than serving as stepping stones for people who can’t fly.

Once again, I lead us down the curved staircase, guiding us toward a set of double doors that open into a long hallway.

“You never answered my question.”

When I glance down at her, she’s taking everything in. Her eyes flick from one piece of artwork to another, then to the rich red carpet, before the crown-molding that frames the ceiling. The wonder in her expression is… honestly adorable.

“Which one?”

“Why your father wants me to come.”

It isn’t my father who wants that—and bloody Beyond, that thought alone makes my dicks hard. Gods be damned.

“No clue. Could be innocent—maybe he’s shocked I’d bring anyone to the Beyond, let alone into my bed.”

It’s not that I ever intended to be celibate, but it always felt like cheating on Kayn. Even if I ended things by leaving, it still felt wrong. I was ready to let myself wither into hibernation, but because my father needs me, and I love my mother, my Vigoro won’t let it happen.

She grips the fabric of my shirt. “Innocent and Belial should never be in the same sentence.”

I shrug. “True. Poor choice of words, dollface. My apologies.”

When we reach the door, I place my hand on the knob. Just as I’m about to turn it, I pause. I can sense both my parents inside, and they know I’m standing here.

I draw in a breath, lean back slightly, and turn to her with a small smile. Summoning my shadows, I let a few tendrils glide across her face. I don’t speak, and she seems to understand I’m doing it deliberately.

Gently, I sweep her hair behind her shoulders, letting it fall down her back. Then, with careful precision, the shadows slip into one of her ears.

She’s about to gasp when I cover her mouth with one hand, the other settling at her upper back.

“Shh.” I murmur it so quietly it could pass as a draft brushing the door.

Her eyes widen as my shadow settles into the apex of her mind.

“Can you hear me?”

She nods her head slowly.

“Very good. I should’ve done this upstairs, but I was… distracted.”

Her cheeks darken, and that simple reaction makes me suck in a deep, steady breath through my nose.

“You can talk to me through this, like you did when you were having a panic attack earlier.”

It takes her a second to hit the right vibration for my mind to catch it, but when it does, I smile.

“Like this?”

“Just like that. Now—if you doubt anything, speak to me this way, okay?”

“Okay.”