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She followed him as he began down the tunnel. “Why are we walking? Can we not use our shadow form to enter the location of the talisman?”
“Do you think I haven’t tried that? The Priestess who put the chalice in the cave warded it to our kind. Even if I could make it to the talisman, I cannot pick it up. The scroll depicts a spell that must be relinquished in order to retrieve the bowl from its resting place. A shadow with blood ties to the Priestess must chant that spell.”
She focussed on her father. “If I have priestess blood, so does Julius.”
“Yes, but he isn’t female. The spell must be performed by a priestess. A shadow priestess. A combination we believed impossible.”
Killian put his hand out to stop her from moving any further. “We must wait while the gas dissipates.”
She glanced around. “What gas? I can’t see or smell anything.”
Killian pointed down the dark tunnel. “We have already triggered the trap. It dissipates quickly, but if you don’t wait for the air too thin, your insides will burn.”
“The cave is booby-trapped?”
“Several, but I have disengaged the ones I could.”
When Killian decided it was safe, they continued down the tunnel until he halted their progress again. “I need to take your blood for this next part.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. “Why?”
“They rimmed the tunnel with blessed steel. Once I’m passed it, I will be fine, but my blood will boil unless infused with yours.”
“What about the poison?” she asked.
“It is already in my blood. It can’t do any more damage than it has, besides we will rid my body of the infection soon.”
Dannika detected no lie, but Killian was a master at sprinkling enough truth to disguise his deception. Still, she had smelled the aftereffects of the gas. While mild, it had irritated her lungs. Killian had warned not to shift to the shadows. The poison was far deadlier to her demon. “Fine. Make it quick.”
Killian’s fangs punctured her neck, sending a lightning bolt of fire through her chest. He took several thick gulps, then released her, pushing her away from him.
She put her hand over the punctures. They healed under her touch. “Let’s go.”
They continue down the tunnel, weaving their way through the mountain. Blisters formed on Killian’s face as they walked through the tunnels laced with blessed steel.
“Shit. I don’t feel anything,” Dannika said.
Killian’s red eyes focused on hers. “You’re not a reaper. Yet.”
The wounds continued to mar his skin, while his demon fought to repair the damage. When one blister healed, another formed to take its place. When his skin smoothed, immaculate in its perfection, she knew they were past the blessed section of the tunnel.
Killian stopped in front of a cavern with a well in its center. Steam wafted in the air from a tiny well. “You must go first.”
“Why?”
“Only a female descendant of the original priestess can break this ward.”
She paused before the entrance. “How many times have you come here?”
Killian gazed inside the cavern. “Hundreds of times.”
“You said you needed me. This is what you wanted me for. You always planned to bring me here.”
“Yes. I would’ve taken your blood, used you, and killed you. Your transition was a surprise, even to me.”
Dannika cursed under her breath. She was always three steps behind her father. “You knew Julius was trying to kill you.”
“Yes. He has my blood. It’s in his nature. You don’t begrudge a snake for being a snake, do you?”
