Page 58 of In Between Death and the Devil

Still, Daphne had a point. I’d been afraid of this exact thing, having to choose between protecting the realm or myself. Because working with the Devil meant opening up our connection, letting him inside. And when faced with the choice, I’d put the realm ahead of myself.

“Fine. Where is he?”

Relief flitted across her face. “On the other side of the castle. I’ll show you.”

I followed her through a winding maze of corridors and staircases in silence, trying to keep track of where we were going. As we drew closer, my heart started to race. I remembered the way he’d convinced me to bond with him. He’d had an answer for every one of my objections. Even if I now believed most of what he’d told me then, the stakes were higher this time. I’d bonded with him. I needed more than just answers.

“He’s torn up about what happened.” I started at Daphne’s words.

“How convenient since he needs my help.”

“I assure you, they’re not related.”

I didn’t dignify that with an answer.

She stopped and turned, blocking my way. “Just hear him out. Please.” Her expression was earnest.

I steeled my spine. “I’m here for answers.”

That seemed to satisfy her. She led me around a corner and into an enclosed, courtyard-like space.

The walls were solid rock with shallow arches carved into them. On the wall opposite the entrance was a large crack, similar to the ones I’d seen on the bridge, with many smaller fissures branching off from it. It covered almost the whole wall.

The Devil stood with his back to us, hands out in front of him, shadows flowing into the crevice. The edges pulsed as the split slowly filled in.

Titus stood in the corner, watching him with a worried expression on his face.

I felt the flare of annoyance and resignation through our bond before I heard the Devil sigh.

“I told you not to meddle, Daph.”

“If you acted like an adult, I wouldn’t have to.” She crossed her arms, exacerbation in every line of her body and face.

Titus looked dead serious, the first time I’d seen him without at least a smirk.

I sensed this was an argument the three of them had been having for days.

“Maeve deserved space and a choice of whether to engage or not.” The Devil spoke to the wall, still focused on the crack in front of him.

I bit my lip, feeling the wound in the In Between.

“She made a choice,” Daphne said. “I ran into her at the entrance.”

The Devil looked over his shoulder. The surprise and vulnerability I saw on his face and felt in our bond threatened my resolve to stay strong.

Part of me ached to go to him, to soothe him, even though I didn’t know if he had been responsible for Colt’s presence in my life, and therefore my family’s death. This was exactly what I’d been worried about. Our connection made shutting his emotions out, so they didn’t influence me, difficult.

Steeling myself, I nodded. “We need to talk.”

“We do.” He sighed again.

“Remember what I said,” Daphne said to me.

I raised one eyebrow. “You didn’t have to lie about him needing my help. I was already on my way here.”

“I didn’t lie. You just assumed I was talking about the crack.” She turned to go.

“Take my babysitter with you,” the Devil said with a growl.