Eternity of Darkness (Divisa Huntress Book 3) Page 18

  Not Apollo. He and I had an understanding, unless he went back on his word, which was possible considering, in the end, he was a demon.

  Clonk, clonk, clonk. I didn’t know who was more surprised by the riderless horse as it huddled through the mist.

  “Kora,” I murmured, unable to believe what I was seeing. How had she found me? How had she known I was in trouble? Had Ashor sent her to me?

  The dappled gray Hellmount let out a shriek of fury, flames licking over her feet as they hit the earth. She trailed behind, struggling to catch up, determination illuminating in her red eyes.

  “A friend of yours?”

  “Don’t hurt her,” I pleaded before I couldn’t stop myself, admitting that Kora meant something to me, that she was important. I silently cursed, knowing that stupid, single-second mistake would probably cost Kora her life.

  “You really do think the worst of me,” he said as his horse veered off to the left. The idea didn’t sound like it upset him. In fact, he seemed excited by it.

  Kora followed, and my fear for her life grew. “Why shouldn’t I? You’re a demon.” I snuck a glance over my shoulder. Go home. Leave, before he hurts you.

  Kora actually had the audacity to shake her head and snort.

  Dread pitted in my gut.

  “And yet you are mated to my brother,” he pointed out. “You can see my confusion.”

  Mist and wind whipped through my hair and over my face. “You are nothing like Ashor.” The statement was filled with such conviction, such emotion, such venom.

  I caught Soren’s grin from the corner of my eye. “What are you willing to give up to save this creature's life, a beast derived from the place you hate so fiercely?” he asked, his voice a deceitful murmur.

  Kora approached from the side. I didn’t know if she had gained ground or if Soren had slowed the speed of his Hellmount. To make matters worse, Soren’s power stirred. I sensed the kindle of darkness sparking.

  Panic lit inside me.

  I didn’t know what to do. Rule number one when dealing with a demon was never strike a bargain, but could I really sacrifice Kora? She trusted me. Accepted me. She came to my rescue. My own power was sapped, used up from tending to my mental shield for days. What little bit that was replenished I had to conserve for the fight that lay ahead. To go up against someone as powerful as Kali, I couldn't rely on just my measly powers alone. It would take cunning and an act of God. I had to outwit the craftiest demon of them all.

  Shit.

  Remorse thick in my voice, I asked, “What do you want?”

  He snaked his free arm around me, pulling me tighter against him. “So many things. But most of all, I want to see him hurt. I want my brother to feel true agony, the kind that will kill a man.”

  And he could accomplish all of that with me. I was Soren’s golden ticket to revenge on a brother he hated because Ashor was everything Soren wished to be. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

  Kora gave another shriek, her eyes wild as she galloped alongside us, beseeching me to jump, to throw myself off Soren’s horse. I swore those glowing crimson eyes begged me to trust her. She wouldn’t let me fall.

  Soren transferred the reins to the hand coiled almost painfully around my waist, grabbing my chin with his free hand. My attempt to jerk out of his grasp failed. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” he crooned, blowing a cloud of darkness into my face.

  Asshole. It was my last thought before my body went limp and my head black.

  I’d been in this weird kind of groggy stupor before. Soren had the same ability as Ashor to force me into a deep sleep. It took longer to fully wake after being sucked into the nothing.

  As the minutes passed and I began to become more aware, the first thing I noticed was I was no longer on a horse. The repetitive bouncing was gone, only solid, unmoving ground underneath me. Hell’s Mist didn’t cool my cheeks. I thought for a moment perhaps it would be better to remain unaware of where I was or what Soren had planned next.

  Did his mother know he had me? Would she demand he deliver me to her unharmed? Or would she not care to see my face again, leave me to her deranged son to do with as he pleased?

  The last thing I wanted was for my decision to be for nothing. I had sacrificed myself. It could not be in vain. Regardless that I wanted to sink back into blissful oblivion, I forced myself to move toward consciousness, leaving behind that state of unawareness.

  I had to keep going. I had to try and see this through. This wasn’t over. I hadn’t failed yet.

  My heavy eyes batted open slowly. Once. Twice. Three times before pieces of the room came into focus. It was dark despite the glowing lamp in the corner. A hint of plum and spices teased my nose, reminding me of fall, like a cider boiling on the stove. It instilled warmth when there should have been none.

  For a single harmonious heartbeat, I thought I was alone, but then I twisted my head to the other side and saw him lurking in the corner of the bedroom. He watched me with intent, curious eyes edged in malice, as if he tried to hide that villainous part of himself but couldn’t quite mask it all.

  What did he find so curious about me? Was it because I was his brother’s mate that intrigued him?

  Soren continued to stare at me, waiting for me to do or say something. I had plenty on my mind, but until the disorientation cleared completely, I needed a little more time and a moment to fully evaluate my surroundings.

  The bedroom was small, Soren blocking the only exit, of course. I could see no windows, no curtains where a path of escape could be cloaked. Bookshelves lined all the walls from floor to ceiling. It looked like a cozy prison.

  And me his prisoner.

  Which became more apparent when I tried to lift my hand only to find it pinned to the bed. My heart quickened in my chest as I tested my other hand and my feet. He had bound me to the bed.

  A chuckle vibrated from the doorway, and I whirled my head toward Soren. His eyes gleamed bright with excited madness. “You can scream if you want. No one will hear you.”

  I blanched, revulsion gagging the back of my throat. “Where are we?” This didn’t look like the Fortress, but maybe it was. I had hardly been inside all the rooms. My time had been spent mostly inside the dungeon.

  “Somewhere off the grid,” he informed me, his hands shoved into his pockets.

  What did that mean? He could have taken me anywhere. Hell, we might not even be in the underworld anymore. “Care to elaborate?”

  He tsked, shaking his head.

  Fine. He wouldn’t tell me where we were, but I still had a slew of other questions. “Why did you knock me out?”

  He stalked toward me, the bed sinking on one side where Soren sat at the corner. He leaned down, tapping the side of my temple with a finger. “This is not just a gateway to your location but to everything we speak. Until I can cut off that connection, you are better off sleeping. Not to mention so much more amicable. The things you mumble when you’re out… delectable. I could barely restrain myself.”

  I didn’t want to think about what Soren had done to my body when I’d been unconscious. “Are you going to knock me out again?”

  He shrugged. “I haven’t decided. Probably, if I’m being honest.”

  Panic burrowed into my heart. Deep breaths. Calm down, I told myself. “Why start being honest now?”

  A merciless smile. “Because sometimes the truth hurts more.”

  Silence beat in my head for a moment. “And you like to inflict pain.”

  He held his hands up, a surrendering gesture. “Guilty.”

  “You don’t feel guilt,” I rasped, digging my fingers into the bedsheets underneath me. A familiar fire flickered in my veins.

  His eyes twinkled, and it might have been the closest thing to happiness I’d seen from him. Chilling. “No I don’t, and it is glorious not having to suffer those human emotions.”

  Right then, I decided the less time I spent in his presence the better, especially when
tied to a bed at his mercy. “How long are you planning to keep me here?” I needed to get to the Court of Darkness. A side trip with Soren was not on my save-the-world program. My wrists tested the bonds again holding me securely to the iron bedposts.

  As if he couldn’t help himself, he picked up a strand of my hair, twirling the blonde lock around his thin finger. “We need to lie low here for a day or two. Just long enough to assure my brother that we are not hiding you within the Court of Darkness.”

  “The queen knows I’m here?” Somehow that knowledge was like a lifeline for me to hang onto. I had to believe that Kali would keep me alive. Otherwise, she lost her bargaining chip. She would demand Ashor align with her for my release. I couldn’t let that happen, because Ashor would give up the safety of the world for me.

  How did I know that?

  Because I was deathly afraid that I would do the same for him. The depths I would go to in order to protect my mate frightened the shit out of me. I mean, look where the fuck I was now.

  But alive didn’t mean unharmed. Before this war ended, Ashor and I would both suffer for the other.

  “She knows I have you,” he confirmed, those cunning eyes narrowing as if he knew my mind was turning.

  But not where. And if I wasn’t in the Court of Darkness, that posed the question of just where the hell was I? “Then what?” I grated.

  The hair wrapped around his finger tightened to the point of drawing tears to my eyes. He was testing my ability to sustain pain, wondering how far he could push me. “That will be up to my mother.”

  I winced against the pain, scrunching my nose as I suppressed the urge to yelp. I refused to give him the satisfaction he craved. “What happened to Kora?” The strain was evident in my voice, but talking helped keep my mind off the sharpness as he continued to tug. I was afraid he would leave me with a bald patch, not that it would last long. Another demon perk my brother had accidentally found out when he set the right side of his head on fire. The hair grew back the next day, to his surprise.

  Soren tilted his head to the side, his eyes roaming over my face. “Is that the name of the Hellmount you so dearly care about? Has my brother taught you nothing? Never show your weaknesses. It will get you killed.”

  If he had hurt her… Tears clouded my eyes, but I stuck my chin out defiantly. “You might as well kill me already,” I hissed. “Because I will take every opportunity to destroy your soul.”

  He clucked his tongue. “Death is far too easy. It is living in Hell that is a true punishment, far worse than death itself.” He finally released the hair twined around his finger.

  I exhaled, but my outrage hadn’t lessened. “So you’re just going to torture me? For what? To draw out Ashor? To torment him?”

  “It does sound tempting, doesn’t it? Knowing he can feel your pain.”

  “Only if you have a few screws loose.” Or all of them, I silently added. “Besides, if he can feel it, then he can find me.”

  “That is the downfall of him being your mate. His scent is mixed with your essence. You ooze his darkness, and yet…” His face moved close to mine, and then I felt the rough, wet texture of his tongue as he dragged it over my cheek. “You haven’t fully completed the bond. Why is that, little demon?” His chilled breath froze my damp skin.

  He was the very last demon with whom I would discuss my relationship to Ashor. “None of your fucking business,” I spat.

  “At least tell me why you haven’t reached out to him?”

  “How do you…?” The answer came to me before I finished the accusation. I bristled, glaring up at Soren. “Get the fuck out of my head.”

  He gave a mindless shrug, shifting his form on the bed so one bent leg rested close to my side. “I just poked around a little bit. No permanent damage. You did leave the door wide open, and since I ran into your mental shield earlier… Bravo, I must add. It seems my brother has taught you a thing or two. It is only natural for me to wonder why you haven’t put it back up.”

  Because I’m saving my damn power for someone more important. That’s what I wanted to say, but I would be giving away vital details. My silence was telling.

  “You’re up to something, little demon. Just what is it you think you’re doing?”

  I remained tight-lipped, not saying anything, my mind blank until…

  “Lexi.”

  Hearing Ashor’s voice in my head hit me like a lance to the heart. The intensity of just my name broke me inside. I wanted to cry out his name. To beg for forgiveness. To tell him what I’d been refusing to let my heart feel. A soft whimper escaped me. As much as I wanted to confess my love, this wasn’t the time. Not with Soren watching me carefully. Not with me tied to a bed. I wanted to see Ashor’s face, see the emotion in his eyes when I finally gave myself to him fully.

  I was just sorry that it took me this long.

  “Lexi—” His voice broke, and I couldn’t distinguish if it was from rage or agony that caused the hitch.

  “Ashor, I—”

  Soren pressed the tip of his nail against my lips, dragging it over them until I tasted my own blood. “Keep your secrets for now. The fun part will be weeding them out of you later,” he murmured. “Say good night to my dear brother for me.”

  I twisted my head back and forth, a surge of panic rising at the current of darkness swimming up to my brain. “No.” The plea was weak. I didn’t want to go back to that place of nothingness.

  “Shh,” he soothed creepily, leaning closer to me. His hand shot out, grabbing a hold of my chin.

  My arms and legs had gone heavy, and I opened my mouth, trying to form words, but eventually those muscles stopped working too.

  Soren’s lips brushed against mine, our breaths mingling. “Fight if you like.”

  There was nothing I would have liked more, but his sleeping poison had already wormed its way through my veins, leaving me no choice but to succumb to the void.

  His evil was grizzly.

  14

  Something unusual happened this time when I was sucked into the darkness. My mind didn’t go completely inactive.

  I dreamed.

  Or maybe dream wasn’t the right explanation. A memory—a flashback to the day before we left for the Court of Inferno.

  * * *

  My eyes stayed on Ashor’s back as he walked out of the room, leaving me to eat my breakfast alone. Well, not alone if you counted the two members of the Wild Hunt stationed outside the door. I couldn’t see them, but I sensed their presence, that little tingle at the base of my neck advising me demons were near. It had been a useful trait when hunting them in my world, but here, it was plain annoying. There were demons at every corner.

  I hadn’t liked how Ashor and I parted ways this morning. His need to keep me safe was interfering with my need to be useful. I wasn’t a person who could be idle, sitting on the sidelines while everyone else fought. No, I had to be in the middle of the fight. I had to feel purpose, as if my life had meaning.

  Ashor protected me, even when he shouldn’t, and I understood, but I also had people who were important to me. That included him.

  Who was looking out for Ashor?

  The Wild Hunt?

  Perhaps. But even they had limitations.

  No longer able to do nothing in this fight, I took matters into my own hands, knowing the repercussions would be colossal. Someone once told me that it was better to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission. Whether I agreed wholeheartedly or not, this was a chance I had to take.

  For Ashor.

  For my family.

  For the world.

  For me.

  Putting one of my reckless ideas Ashor would fucking hate into motion, I popped my head outside the door to see which of the Hunt guarded the royal chambers. Apollo and Erlik. I looked between them, judging which one would be the best candidate. It only took a moment for me to decide.

  Clearing my throat, I stepped into the hall. “Apollo? Can you help me with something?”

&nbs
p; His brows bunched together, eyes narrowing at me. “This better be important.”

  I rolled my eyes, grabbed his shirt, and yanked him into the room. “Is Ashor’s life not important?”

  “What is this about?” he asked, snapping his teeth.

  I flicked my gaze to the door. Erlik was still out there. I hadn’t thought about how I would talk to Apollo privately without being overheard, or without Ashor eavesdropping, but I quickly found a solution to that when my eyes landed on a notebook and pen sitting on the fireplace mantel. I grabbed them both and scribbled, Can you keep a secret? Then I turned the notebook around, showing it to Apollo.

  His frown twisted to the side as he faced me with apprehensive gold eyes. “I already don’t like where this is going.”

  Turning the notebook back toward me, I wrote, There’s something I need to do.

  He lifted a brow, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the edge of the hearth, a dash of curiosity on his expression. “And you want my help?”

  I nodded, quickly scrawling, When the time comes, let me go.

  Staring at the paper, his jaw hardened. “What does that mean?”

  Drawing in a deep breath, I wrote, I’m going to let her take me. There was no need for me to name-drop. He knew exactly who I was referring to.

  “No.” Firm. No hesitation. Just an unyielding no.

  His refusal was no surprise. I had anticipated as much, for what I asked meant betraying not just his king but his friend. I wasn’t giving up. I flipped the page. We need a backup plan.

  His face became a sudden mask of boredom. “And you think that is you.”

  “Believe it or not, I’m not useless,” I replied, growing impatient with having to write out everything I wanted to say in short sentences.

  He ran a hand through his brownish-red hair. “Why would you do that?” Leaning over me, he read as I wrote.