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I nod, even as tears brim my eyes. It’s truly going to be the best thing for her. I know that. But it’s also going to hurt like hell to say goodbye.
Luri’s tail slips across the hay, landing in my lap. If only I could talk to her… If the bond was still in place I could, but familiars choose who they want to hitch their wagon to, not the witches. They have to be compatible, of course, and like mates, a witch and her familiar will find each other in future lifetimes. But ultimately, it’s the animal’s choice on whether they want to be bonded and as such, only they can link our souls together.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, stroking her fur. “I don’t want to do it either, but we don’t have another choice. If you stay, they will never stop hunting you. I’d rather you be mad at me and alive than…” I trail off. Suddenly, the last year makes a lick of sense. Why Kai’s kept me locked away in that castle… If the people of Hell knew I was capable of all this, they’d hunt me just as they did her. He’d rather let me be pissed at him than let me go free because at least this way I’m alive.
I let out a deep exhale, closing my eyes. Fuck… I get it now. It doesn’t make what he did right, but I understand the motive for why he went to such extremes. He knew he’d go off the rails if something happened to me, just as I did the second something happened to her.
* * *
Kai
I’m ready to wake up from this bad dream already, only I know that point will never come. Watching Alice massacre the orcs, and by some grace of God spare the rest of the other hunting party, had my heart in knots.
If she murdered them, then I know how the council of village masters will react. And if what I’ve been told is true, my brother was thrown into the prison world hundreds of years ago for doing something similar. The council would’ve chosen to do the same thing to Alice and I’m honestly not sure what my father would’ve done then.
He might side with them, to stay on the good side of the people and our army, as he’s done before. The only thing that would deter him from the course is that the vision my mother had included Alice fighting along with us when we battle Michael. But at some point, that excuse wouldn’t be enough. The checks and balances he’s put into place, to ensure that Hell never becomes a dictatorship, would eventually win.
I’m still in shock and awe over the fact she could’ve hurt me. Armed with my mother’s sword… It’s clear she held back when we sparred because the woman I ran into in the hall was on a whole different level. That woman is not someone you want to meet in the dark. But Finn was right. There’s something severely wrong and ultimately, my father needs to know. Maybe he knows of a way to fix it and help her regain control as her power continues to grow. I’m just not sure if now is the time to tell him, not when I have to deliver the news of what happened here tonight.
“You two sit tight,” I say, calling down to Finn and Alice in the box. “I’m going to find a stone so we can get out of here.”
Quickly, I shift through the men that are unconscious on the floor until I find a key. It’s golden and curved into a weird C-like shape. On one end is an emerald gem that’s been spelled to align the tunnels so we can get out.
Finn exits the box first, closing the lid, and picking it up as if it weighs nothing. “She wants to stay, but she enchanted the box so we could carry them out. Now let’s go before I throw up again.”
I scrub my hand down my jaw, nodding my head. “Okay… Okay,” I repeat as if I need to hear it again to convince myself. “Let’s go home.”
Navigating out of the belly of Purgatory is relatively easy. Especially since the box only weighs five pounds and I have Finn to lead the way. He’s well-versed in all things dungeon. Surprisingly, a lot of things happen here after dark—parties, conclaves, orgies… you name it. It’s happened, and Finn has attended.
He lifts the golden crescent, and the emerald catches the light pointing the way. “This is the last one. Then we should be topside and you can zap us out.” A crease forms between his brows as he shoves the key back into his pocket. He’s still yet to remove the two mustaches attached to his face, but since I’ve removed mine, I see what everyone else does.
An estranged man with a crooked nose that looks as if it’s been broken a few too many times. A neat, red-tinged beard that’s quite out of place compared to the dark waves on his head. It’s a wonder we managed to fool anyone with our disguises. Turning the last corner, we’re met with the stairwell out and make haste at getting to the top floor and past the magical barrier preventing us from portalling out.
“When we get back, I’ll have to get a suture kit from—” Finn’s words cut off as he reaches the landing on the ground floor, and he quickly steps aside and zips his lips.
My steps falter, wondering what could make him react that way. As I reach the top, I find a familiar face loitering around the hall, and his blood-red eyes are locked on me.
May the gods have mercy on us all…
17
Kai
“Let me explain—” my father lifts a hand, silencing me with sheer power alone.
His body tilts to the side, peering behind me as if he expected someone else to follow. After a moment, when he realizes it’s just us, his red eyes flare. His movements are frantic as he strides forward, closing the distance between us.
“Where is she?” he asks, searching over my features.
“Not here.” I swallow hard, wanting to arch away from him. Honestly, I’m used to him and his rage issues, but when he gets like this, it’s hard not to shrivel up. Still, I keep my back straight, standing taller as if my height advantage will offer me strength.
“Is she alive, Kai?” Impatience seeps through every word. It’s not often that the Devil shows his truth, but the man’s been on edge, and more so since Alice arrived. For the life of me, I don’t understand why.
“Who’s asking?”
There’s one thing I know in my heart… Alice might hate me right now, but I won’t be the reason she faces his wrath. If I have to, I’ll keep her in that box before I let him agree with the village masters and doom her to the realm of monsters. And if he’s here, then he knows what she did. Hell, for all I know, the council might’ve already convened and decided her fate. Instead of being present to plead her case if they changed their minds, I was blowing pixie dust at people and shoving them down rabbit holes.
We didn’t kill anyone besides the crooked nose fucker, but any of the other men could’ve woken up and run back to Hell Hold to sell us out. Though, I don’t think they needed to. The men in the dungeon were prepared for someone to come looking for Luri.
