Eternity of Darkness (Divisa Huntress Book 3) Read online

  But I caught the flicker of frustration. The second of hesitation. The internal war of dominance and the strife shifted from one to the other within moments. I’d been too overwhelmed by the situation to dissect Ashor's turmoil, particularly when he managed to overcome each obstacle so quickly. Although, it made me wonder… was he truly okay? Was he shielding the difficulty he battled within himself?

  It would be just like him to keep any weakness not just from me but from everyone, because if word got out that Ashor’s powers might be the slightest off-balance, that would be when his enemies struck.

  And now that he was king, he had more adversaries than when he was just the Prince of Darkness.

  We were in a part of the castle that looked rarely used, and I didn’t understand why. Other than being a little dusty, I found the space to be inspiring and fascinating. Perhaps that was why Ashor had chosen this room.

  The outer walls were rounded, framed in glass, except for the center one. Where there should have been a window was none, opening the room up to the outside elements. I might have thought it a doorway if it weren’t for the gushing of water that flowed freely over the sill of the window, pooling into a small pond full of water lilies and wild plants. Moss, ivy, and tangled branches wrapped around the opening, creeping into the room, overgrown and forgotten. How could such a magical place exist in Hell? This court, like its former queen, was full of trickery. It was lavished with beauty and wonder, but if you got too close and touched without truly seeing, the hidden thorns pricked the skin, drawing beads of blood.

  So many places for the little demons of this court to flutter and hide. I didn’t often see them, since they spent most of their time in the woods bordering the kingdom, but the small devils were sneaky and often were where they shouldn’t be. Overlooked because of their tiny size, they could be mistaken as harmless, but I had seen firsthand how lethal the faerie-like demons were. I’d rather take on a lower demon than a few of them dashing, darting, scratching, and nipping at me with razor teeth.

  “Lesson number one: stop worrying about me,” Ashor advised from where he sat across from me.

  Tickles of water hummed like a soft song, cool and calming as I rolled my eyes at him. “That’s like asking you not to protect me.”

  Engraved on the stone floor, not far from his feet, was a sigil, the same mark that Ashor received when he became king. “Touché,” he replied, a wily grin on his lips. How did the Prince of Darkness look so damn comfortable perched atop a stone stool? It didn’t seem to matter if it was an elaborate throne or a tree stump; Ashor had a presence about him that oozed sovereignty. He was born to be a ruler. “Since I need you to come with me to the meeting with the kings, we should get to work.”

  I settled in, tucking my hair behind my ears. “Whatever you say, boss.”

  Amusement danced through our bond, but his expression remained neutral. “As much as I know you would love to invade my mental shields, it’s wisest for you to first learn how to erect a barrier around your mind, which will be reinforced by my powers. No one will get through.” His confidence was addicting. He made me believe in myself, but mostly in him.

  “You better not be setting me up for disappointment,” I warned, half joking.

  “With the amount of stubbornness you carry inside, failure isn’t possible.”

  “Just teach me something before I lose interest.” The banter between us could go on for hours if one of us didn’t steer us back on course, and I could tell by the starlight in his eyes that he had plenty to say about my last statement.

  “As if you could ever lose interest in me.”

  And there it was. He might not have spoken it out loud, but I heard his voice in my head as if he had been standing right beside me, whispering huskily in my ear. If he kept this up, we’d spend the hour doing something physically instead of mentally.

  “Focus,” I scolded.

  Despite his lips curving at the corners, he remained on task. “It would be easier to access your power if you shifted. But,” he added, seeing my mouth open, ready to protest, “you can still access it without fully giving control to your demon. The best way I can describe the process is like building a fortress around your mind. The darkness can be an indestructible material when crafted with intent. And, in time, won’t take up your concentration.”

  “We don't have time,” I reminded him, not that he needed me to. We both understood how quickly the hands on the clock could tick.

  “Which is precisely why I will reinforce your shield. If you slip, mine will be there to catch you.”

  “Show-off,” I muttered.

  His lips resisted the urge to smirk. “Try closing your eyes. It might help you visualize,” he suggested.

  A good idea, considering I couldn’t stop staring at him. I did as he instructed, letting my eyelids flutter closed. Locating the darkness within me wasn’t my problem. Getting it to do what I wanted, now that was another matter entirely. My demon and I had to work together, something the two of us had done so seamlessly in the past, but since acquiring a bit of power, it seemed as if she had a taste for dominance—the little bitch.

  Maybe I should just hand over the reins. Maybe she’d get it done easier and faster. What was stopping me from shifting? I was staying in a demon castle, for God’s sake, surrounded by nothing but demons. It wasn’t like anyone would be surprised to see me shift.

  Taking a deep breath, I steadied my derailed thoughts, refocusing on the darkness buzzing inside. The part I always struggled with was commanding the dark energy while also unleashing just enough of my demon to inflame the power. I did both now together. The kernel of Ashor’s power moved inside, following the network of veins until I reached my mind.

  “Finally,” my demon purred. “Let’s play.”

  Her voice grew louder in my head the longer I released her leash. I shushed her, not wanting to break my concentration with her banter. Of course, she didn’t give two shits about my concentration.

  “You need me. That’s how this works. Without me, the walls you build will crumble and fall.”

  Ugh. Why did I have to have such a brassy demon? Why couldn’t she have been mellow and chill instead of demanding and eager?

  “If you’re going to talk such a big game, do something, then.”

  “Step aside and let me take the lead.”

  “You wish,” I snapped back.

  Like Ashor advised, I took the darkness that felt like nothing more than a black bead and reshaped it, expanding and molding that shadow power into constructing a dome. Once the shape was formed, I used my power to inspect the shield, searching and prodding for any gaps or weak spots.

  “That won’t hold,” my demon taunted, and a sort of deranged giggle bubbled inside my head. Sometimes I wondered if my demon was actually the evil part of my psyche.

  Satisfied that this wasn’t bad for my first try, I opened my eyes, finding Ashor watching me. He had remained silent while I receded inside myself. There was a glimmer of fascination, and I got the feeling that he could sit here in utter stillness, gazing at me for eternity.

  He cleared his throat, finally noticing that my eyes were open. “You’re going to want to keep tabs on the shield. The goal is to eventually have your subconscious monitor the barrier, but for now, keep your focus on it remaining whole despite your surroundings or any distractions.”

  Why did he make it seem more difficult than it sounded?

  I should have known Ashor wouldn’t play fair.

  “No matter what happens, keep the ward secured,” he cautioned.

  Nodding, I kept my eyes on him as he stood up slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. A wicked glint sparkled in his eyes, and I knew then I was in trouble.

  Biting my lip, I shifted my attention to a spot on the floor, a focal point, but a part of me always remained keenly aware of Ashor. Our bond made it so every movement he made, no matter how slight, resonated within me.

  I silently cursed.

  Ashor’s
sensual chuckle vibrated through our bond. “I haven't even touched you yet, luv,” he whispered in my head. The deep, husky timbre of his voice was enough to make my knees weak.

  Touch me?

  He wouldn’t dare. How was this possibly fair?

  He crouched down beside me, wisps of cool shadows brushing over my skin that made me want to shiver. I refused, sending the whole of my concentration to my ward. He went for my ear first, a dirty trick, lightly grazing over my lobe with his teeth.

  The shield shuddered.

  I was screwed.

  Closing my hands together into a fist, I fought against the desire that ribboned deep in my gut, slowly swirling downward. My fingers craved to touch him. He had been right. All these sudden emotions within me made it nearly impossible to remember that I had a ward to keep fortified.

  “Can you keep up the barrier if I do this?” he purred, then lifted one of my closed hands and brought the inside of my wrist to his lips. The slightly rough texture of his tongue flicked over my demon marks, the ones that decreed me part of this court—his court now.

  I gulped, half afraid of what he might do next.

  The tip of his demon canines dragged over my vein, tracing up my forearm. This could quickly turn into a seductive game. My lips twisted, and I commanded my eyes to narrow just a bit in hopes of looking impartial to his arousing antics. “You’re really feeling your role as King of Envy, aren’t you?”

  His laugh almost shredded the thread of my concentration. “What about this?” Leaning in, he took possession of my lips in a soft kiss while keeping a hold of my wrist. “You taste so good, like sugar candy. I could suck on…”

  I felt him tap, like a finger rapping lightly on a door, and that was all it took for my frail shield to crumble. “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, shoving a frustrated hand through my hair.

  “You did well,” he said, his winter’s night breath tickling my tingling lips.

  “Again,” I replied.

  We practiced over and over at my insistence. He used different tactics to distract me—his darkness, water from the pond, a thorn, but not the seductive route again, knowing we would both succumb. An hour turned into two, and I would have kept trying if Ashor hadn’t put a stop to our session. “That’s enough for today, luv.”

  I opened my mouth to argue but snapped it close at the set of his jaw. Conceding, I asked instead, “When can I try to break your shield?”

  “You can’t,” he stated, stretching to his feet. To most that would have sounded arrogant, and in a way it did, but to Ashor it was just true.

  I angled my neck back to look up at him. “That sounds like a challenge.”

  He rubbed at his jaw. “Some things are just facts. No one has ever been able to penetrate my shields unless I allow it.”

  “Not even your mother?”

  He shook his head. “How do you think I kept you from her all these years?” he replied, features darkening.

  Until he selfishly brought me to Hell. “You deserved better.”

  A muscle along his jaw feathered. “Don’t get soft on me now, luv. You can’t change the past. We can only secure our future.”

  Picking at the laces on my boots, I tried to stifle the sympathy for the little boy he had been, knowing he wouldn’t want it. “I don’t get how you turned out like you did being raised in the Court of Darkness with her as a mother.”

  He frowned, and I regretted bringing up unpleasant memories. “She wasn’t exactly the hands-on type.”

  I grimaced. “Yeah, I get that. I guess we both have mommy issues.” Kira had been absent most of my life, and not having her around had left scars.

  “Speaking of Kira, she’s waiting for you. I asked for her help,” he said, holding out his hand for me to take.

  I placed my fingers into his open palm and raised a brow. “Help with what?”

  He tugged me smoothly to my feet, the muscles in his arms flexing. “We have something else we need to do today.”

  “Ashor,” I rumbled, already sensing this would be a surprise I wouldn’t like.

  We stepped out of the tower room, the flowing water fading behind the closed door. He escorted me to the bottom of the stairs leading to our chambers. “Go get cleaned up. Apollo will bring you to the throne room when you’re ready. Oh, and don’t be too mean to Kira. It was my idea for her to help.”

  He was up to something, and I didn’t like it.

  8

  “What is this about?” I asked when I stepped foot inside the sitting room, finding my mother lounging in a velvety chaise.

  She traced a long deep blue nail across the table, carving who knew what into the wood. Hopefully not something as naive as her initials. “You’re here,” she replied flatly as if she were suppressing a yawn.

  Pouring myself a glass of water, I took a long drink before asking, “Have you been waiting long?”

  The grinding of wood under her nail screeched through the room. “Only an hour or four.”

  Setting the glass back onto the table beside the pitcher, I eyed the demon who gave birth to me, only to hide me in the mortal world against her queen’s orders. “Why?”

  She dug the tip of her nail deeper into the table. “What else is there to do? Besides, it is what my king ordered.”

  Someone was definitely in a mood. Was she unhappy here? Had she not wanted to return to Gardeness? Or had she spent too much time in the mortal world? “And what exactly are his orders?” I asked.

  A bitter smile curved her red-painted lips. “I am to make you presentable tonight for court, ma chérie.”

  I blinked. “A makeover. He wants you to give me a fucking makeover.” Why did I need a makeover? What for? What was he up to now?

  “Bingo,” she chimed. “I have to admit, I had been intrigued at the idea, but the interest faded as the hours passed.”

  Sometimes it felt like this demon was more my sister than my mother. She definitely didn’t act like one most of the time. But she had a few rare moments. I sighed. Normally the idea of a makeover would send me squealing with excitement, especially if a shopping trip was involved, but because I suspected Ashor had ulterior motives, it took the enjoyment out of it.

  Since this seemed to be official court business, rebelling probably wasn’t the best response, not when his king status was still so precarious. “Where do we start?”

  Kira gave me a once-over, assessing me like a canvas. “This would be so much easier if you could change your looks. Are you sure you don’t have any shifting abilities?”

  As a succubus, my mother could change her appearance at her whim whenever the mood struck. “I like my face. Can’t you just help me pick out a dress and do my makeup? Normal shit.”

  “I guess. If that is what you prefer,” she said, like the idea bored her to tears.

  Moving through the large suite, I walked around the table toward the joined bathhouse. “You don’t have to help. I’m sure I can manage on my own.”

  She drummed her nails over the table. “I’ve got nothing else to do. No souls to corrupt or steal.”

  Curiosity gripped me. “Do you miss it?”

  She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming like rubies. “Yes, very much.”

  Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I appreciated her honesty, even if it made my stomach flip. I always found myself caught between two worlds, not sure how I should feel about either. “I’m taking a bath,” I mumbled.

  “It has already been drawn for you,” she advised with a flick of her wrist in the air. “I’ll have your clothes set out for you when you’ve finished.”

  I paused in the doorway. “Is this formal?”

  She grinned. “Afraid so, dearie,” she replied with a wink.

  Formal in the Court of Envy meant overly sexy, so I could expect to be wearing next to nothing. Joy.

  The bath was bubbly and steaming hot when I slipped in. Wild bluebells at midnight scented the water, turning my skin to silk. When I emerged a short while later, Ki
ra stood near the bed, sorting through an array of clothes. Fabrics of every color and material were scattered from one corner of the room to the other, most discarded carelessly on the floor.

  My hair still damp, I padded barefoot into the room, a towel wrapped around me, and blinked at the mess. “What is all this?”

  “I had the staff bring up a few choices. I wanted to see what color suited your skin best.”

  “Does it matter?” I already knew what colors worked with my skin tones. I stared at the selection of dresses and lifted my hand to run my fingers along the intricate beadwork on one of the gowns.

  “Hmm,” Kira mused. “That one might work. The king made it very clear which court you were to represent tonight. The crown on your head is a bit contradictory but we’ll work with what we have. I don’t suppose he’ll remove it for the night?”

  “Doubtful,” I muttered, still eyeing the dress. Most of the time, I completely forgot about the shadowy crown which sat weightlessly on my head. It was crafted from Ashor’s magic, the crown not tangible but more of a protection, a warning to other demons. My fingers could pass through it when I played with my hair. It was another way to mark me as his, under the Prince of Darkness’s protection, which before might have granted me certain privileges, but now I was deemed a traitor to the Court of Darkness.

  “In that case, I think this one will do.” She held up ribbons of a green so dark that it could be mistaken for black, depending on the lighting. Crystals of the same color were sewn into the material, making the dress glitter like dew-covered grass in the early morning right before the sun came up.

  Visually, from what little I could see of the dress, it was one of the most beautiful pieces I’d ever laid eyes on. The girly part of me squealed, dying to try it on. It seemed like years since I’d dressed up, felt glamorous. Perhaps this could be fun.

  “Let’s try it on, see how it fits,” Kira offered.

  I unknotted the towel and, with my mother’s help, slipped into the lustrous dress. The thin material sat coolly against my body, fitting like a second skin to my form. I turned to look in the mirror nestled at the corner of the room beside the hearth.