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“Now.” His bottomless black eyes flashed with something malicious and impatient.
Mona flinched and brought her chin to her chest, trembling in fear. “Of course, my Prince.”
“Thank you for understanding.” The dangerous look had vanished and in its place was a serene smile. It was as if it had never happened.
Mona closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was like a hot gush of air ran over us. One moment, I was locked inside my prison cell, and the next I was opening my own eyes. Everything felt as it should.
I flexed my fingers in front of my eyes, marveling at the way the muscles stretched at my bidding. I’d never take that for granted again. Not after the last two days.
A slight stirring in the back of my mind reminded me of my recent warden. Mona shrunk in the background, sulking like an angry teen. She lashed out when she felt my prodding interest, but couldn’t cause any pain. I ignored her for the time being.
I had more important things to worry about—like a Prince of Hell standing only feet away from me. I was the only thing standing between him and his armies. There was no telling what kind of torture he was going to put me through.
“Lizzy Redding, I have to thank you for agreeing to meet with me today.” Seth grabbed his suit coat in both hands and leaned back against a tree. His lips formed a friendly smile, although I could see right through him.
“I didn’t agree to meet with you,” I said in a low voice.
“Oh, but you arrived just as I had planned.” He chuckled and tore a small branch off a nearby tree, biting it between his dazzling white teeth. “Do you really think I sent those ferals in to retrieve Psyche’s Box? They were a distraction, a ruse. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist opening the box once you believed I wanted it.”
My mouth went dry. He’d taken a big gamble, but we’d played right into his hands. Even Gabe had been fooled. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice.
“Silly little girl.” He chewed on the end of the
stick, studying me. “You walked right into my trap.”
“You won’t get anything out of me,” I sputtered, helplessly. “I’d die before I’d open up the Hell Gate for you. Your armies can stay in Hell. You can kill me if you want, but you’ll never win.”
Despite the cool sweat forming on the palms of my hands, I felt a rush of bravado. This man might tower over me and hold the very keys to my freedom in his hands, but he truly had no power over me. I’d never give up my family. Not for him, not for anyone. He couldn’t make me.
My chin trembled as I stared up into his flashing black eyes. He smiled, as if amused, and twirled the box in his hands.
“Oh, no, my dear, I don’t want to kill you.” He smoothed his hair with the palm of his hand and chuckled to himself. “I want to offer you your freedom.”
I frowned at him. “Freedom?”
“Yes, your freedom.” He moved closer, so quickly that I didn’t have time to retreat. Reaching up with his slender pointer finger, he tapped my temple. “Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to be the only person living inside that head of yours?”
His fingers trailed the side of my face, caressing my cheek. I stared at him, open-mouthed. Could he really have the power to do that? Separate Mona and me? From the excited stirring in the back of my mind, I could tell she wanted it just as much as me. Her own body. No one lurking in the shadows.
“Funny little thing, isn’t it?” He held up Psyche’s Urn. My mind was too scrambled from his offer to do anything more than stare blankly at him. “This box. So plain. So unassuming. The Greeks believed it was a gift from the gods, but they were wrong. It’s just one of the many gifts my brothers and I have given to mankind over the centuries. A tool to bring forth what is hidden deep inside.”
A bird whistled in a tree nearby. Seth gazed up into the treetops, his face serene.
“You see, mankind has needed help from us all this time. They’re a fragile species. One bent on destruction and chaos. They’d shoot down their own brother in cold blood. Wasn’t it your grandmother who tried to sacrifice you to a ruthless god?”
The glare I gave him was all the answer he needed.
“You see? Having a soul doesn’t make a human infallible. They are as broken as the rest of us. They need someone to guide them. To mold them. And I would like your help to save mankind.”
“And what do you get out of this deal?” I crossed my arms and leaned away from his touch. “You don’t seem like the kind of guy who’d offer anything for free.”
“Simply, your friendship.” A grin tugged at the left side of his mouth. For a moment, he resembled a teenage boy, boyish excitement making his face turn pink. “And your pledge to come the moment I have need of your service.”
“My service?”
It was exactly as I’d feared. He was going to force me to open the Hell Gates and unleash Hell. I wouldn’t do it.
Shaking my head, I lifted my gaze up to his face. “I won’t let you unleash Hell on Earth.”
