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“One last thing before I go. You’re not to reveal this task or anything about my visit today to anyone. Not by word or deed. Wouldn’t want anyone interfering with you keeping your word. You have until midnight tonight.” He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Otherwise, I’ll be paying little Daphne a visit.”
Chapter XXXV
Phaidrosvanishedassuddenlyas he’d appeared, the scent of cloves disappearing with him.
I shook against the wall.No good will come of this.
I wanted to seek out Cole and immediately tell him about the stupid deal I’d made. I’d never thought I’d be back in Hell for the demon to collect, and I’d had no other way to save Daphne.
My feet refused to move.
The curse must’ve sensed my goal and it would stop me from doing anything that might let the others know what was going on.
Bile rose in my throat.
How had this day gone so wrong? It had started off perfectly, and now, I had to sneak into the dwellings of a powerful witch who trusted me and do something that would probably summon a swarm of undead dragons or worse. The teeth had seemed harmless. Looking in an enchanted mirror?
That had trouble spray-painted all over it.
Part of me hoped it was a sick, twisted joke Phaidros had come up with to shove my moon-matched mate in my face. Cruel, petty, but not dangerous.
Yeah. Those supernatural manacles had “prank” written all over them.
I didn’t dare delay. If Phaidros went after Daphne, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to protect her, . And it wasn’t like I could ask for reinforcements since, per his instructions, I was to not let anyone know anything about what had happened.
Find the mirror. Scry for a minute. Then get out. Hopefully, with the favor fulfilled, I could rush to Cole and Hecate and figure out how to fix things.
Hecate stayed in the east wing, a floor below our own on the opposite side of Cole’s chambers. Though I hadn’t stepped foot in her rooms, they were easy to find. The air by them was full of flowers and herbs, just like her castle garden.
Yet two familiar scents were also present. Hope leaped through my chest. The scents led to a closed door. An office?
Cole’s irritated voice was at once familiar, as well as the soft, lilting tones of the witch.
If I could just open the door…
But my feet refused to go any further. I was frozen outside the door, trying to overpower the conditions Phaidros had shackled me with. I couldn’t even howl in frustration.
I should just go and get this over with as soon as possible. Keep Daphne safe.Yet just as I convinced myself to do that, I caught the thread of conversation and stilled.
“The price cannot be avoided forever, Hades. She took alife.” Hecate’s voice was soft, but not as unconcerned as she normally constructed it.
Did she mean me? A life?Maddox’s life?But why did that matter?
“You shielded the realm. They won’t find her.” Cole’s voice was confident.
“Undead things are waking up. Youknowthis. You know the consequences.”
Cole growled, the animal that lurked under his skin creeping into his voice. “I know theconsequencesbetter than anyone.”
Hecate was ever unflappable. “There must be balance, King.”
“Balance?” Cole scoffed, a bitter note in the word. “Whatbalancehas there been for the past century?”
Hecate’s voice softened. “I know you suffered. But the realm suffered too. We cannot exist without our queen any longer.”
“I won’t force her. She deserves peace, witch. You know this.”
“I know this realm will not survive without her, and our time is growing shorter and shorter. Blazes, Hades, do you not realize what would’ve happened if she hadn’t stopped the dragon? I’m shielding her as best I can, but it’s not perfect. If anything tampers with the seal…”
