Eternity of Darkness (Divisa Huntress Book 3) Read online

  Crack.

  The bones holding the dragon’s neck upright crumbled under Ashor’s fingers, the beast’s head collapsing to the ground as it took its last breath.

  4

  I jerked out of Ashor’s head. Two warm hands cradled either side of my cheeks. “Lexi,” Kira whispered, peering into my eyes. She was so close that I could see the rims of her demon eyes.

  Giving myself a moment to gather my bearings, I closed my eyes against the dull ache that throbbed behind them. “Shit.” I exhaled loudly. “That sucked.”

  She ran a hand down my hair, a rare show of motherly concern. “Demon side effects are a bitch.”

  A weak laugh escaped my lips.

  Kira took a step back, and a sturdy hand touched my arm. “I need to get you out of the hallway before the king tosses my ass in the dungeon,” Apollo said. “And then you can explain what the hell that was.”

  I understood his interest in me suddenly going still and checking out for… who knew how long. Time wasn’t really something I kept track of when I got sucked into Ashor’s head, but I owned Apollo nothing. Yet, after what I’d seen, I went with him willingly down the corridor for Ashor’s sake.

  The door to the king’s suite had been closed behind us for all of a single minute when it burst open. Ashor looked every inch an avenging fallen angel. “Where is she?” he demanded, his foot barely over the threshold.

  “I’m here,” I said, peeking around Apollo’s large form, the headache still nagging behind my eyes.

  He gave Apollo and my mother a silent command to make themselves scarce, which they followed without a word, though I knew Apollo wouldn’t be far. Before he shut the door behind him, I caught a glimpse of Draven as well.

  On a phantom breeze, Ashor stood in front of me, clasping me to him. Taken by surprise, my arms were slow to come up and wrap around him, but when they did, he only held on to me even tighter.

  He hadn’t seemed shaken at all when I’d been in his head. What changed? Or was it the threat his mother posed to me that wrecked him inside?

  “What’s going on, Ashor?” I murmured into the side of his neck, where my face pressed against his skin. His pulse raced just a little at my question.

  A deep sigh left him as his hands dropped to settle around my waist, keeping me near but pulling back far enough to look down into my face. “You saw the Uldrai, didn’t you?”

  There was no point in lying. I nodded. “Is that what that thing was? An Uldrai?”

  He arched his brow. “Now who’s in whose head without consent?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Payback.” I grinned, toying with the hairs at the nape of his neck.

  A scowl line formed over his forehead, violet eyes darkening slightly. “Apollo was to bring you straight here at the first sign of trouble.”

  “He tried. And he did get me here safely,” I pointed out. We were in the king’s quarters, just as he’d commanded.

  Ashor shook his head, erasing one or two of the tension lines. “Why is it that I can't seem to leave your side for an hour without trouble finding you?”

  “Me?” I gasped. “You’re the one slaying dragons in the throne room. Maybe it’s a sign that you shouldn’t leave me.”

  A wicked twist of his lips. “You’re safe,” he murmured as if he needed to say the words to remind himself.

  I gave him a reassuring smile. “Now tell me about the Uldrai.”

  “It’s dead,” he replied flatly, all amusement vanishing. I almost regretted asking. Ashor unwound his arms from around me and strode to the window.

  Following him, I stared out into the fogginess that blanketed the kingdom. “I saw. Will your mother assume you got her message?”

  “When the Uldrai doesn’t return she will,” he explained with a straight face, gazing over the expansive kingdom below us.

  It had been a suicide errand. Both the Queen of Darkness and the Uldrai had known Ashor would kill the beast.

  “The creature won’t be missed,” he added softly. “My mother has a herd of them that live in the outer borders of the Fortress.”

  I touched a hand to his arm, but he didn’t look at me. Not yet. “The Uldrai penetrated your mind. I heard it speak inside your head. How did it get past your defenses?” I asked, purely curious. To me, Ashor was this picture of an impervious force. Nothing broke his shields. His mind was essentially fucking bulletproof, but everyone around him was fair game and took very little effort on his part to infiltrate.

  Ashor finally pulled his gaze from the window and laid his hand over mine. “The Uldrai are notorious for shredding through even the most compelling powers.”

  “But you aren’t any demon. Your power isn’t like Draven’s or Apollo’s. I could understand the Uldrai getting through their defenses, but yours…” It just didn’t sit well with me. No one better than me knew the well of darkness that lived inside Ashor. It went deeper than even he probably knew, and I wasn’t sure if he had reached the bottom of that power.

  When I truly thought about the vastness of his abilities, it frightened me. Not that I was afraid he would hurt me. Never that. But that the power he kept so contained and often hidden from the world would swallow him whole.

  Was it possible to lose yourself so completely to such a wealth of power that you let the darkness control you instead of you controlling it? I feared what would happen when he finally released it all, then added in the newly acquired magic from Verena. If that power settled with his darkness inside him, would that make Ashor unstoppable? The most powerful demon in Hell?

  I shuddered at the thought.

  “You are the only one who can break my defenses,” he said.

  The connection that existed when I went inside my mate’s head wasn’t exactly breaking down his walls. I became a part of them, a part of him. Searching Ashor’s eyes, I noticed something I had missed, an impish glint. “You let the Uldrai inside your head. Or more like you let it think it shredded your defenses.”

  He gave me a subtle nod.

  Something tight in my chest eased at the knowledge that the beast hadn’t been able to shove himself inside Ashor’s thoughts, not without his permission. “But why?”

  He leaned a shoulder against the window, crossing one ankle over the other. “Although I already knew why the Uldrai was here, I wanted to hear what my mother was up to.”

  I released a long sigh. “I’m your weak spot. She will hurt me to get you to bend to her will.”

  Shadows flickered in his eyes. “She will come for you. That’s a certainty. It is just a matter of when.”

  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel fear. It hit me like a dagger to the lungs, causing my breath to stutter in my chest.

  Ashor leaned down, pressing a kiss to the base of my throat.

  Resting a hand over his human heart, I murmured, “I trust you. Not just to protect me, but I believe only you can defeat her.”

  “You and I, luv,” he corrected, dropping a cool kiss to the tip of my nose. “Without you, there would be no reason for me to fight.”

  Warmth spread through me at his words.

  His shoulders were strong, but it seemed as if he carried the weight of every world, including the ones I didn’t know about. And in a way he was. If we didn’t win this war, life as we knew it would end.

  “I will make some questionable choices. Things you won’t like. I don’t want you to think differently of me,” he murmured, his eyes holding mine.

  I ran my hand through his hair, softening my expression. “I understand the part you need to plan. And I accept you—all of you, demon and man.”

  “You say that now. It is easy to believe nothing will change between us.”

  “But you think it will.”

  He exhaled. “Our decisions shape our lives.”

  I met his shadowy gaze, not liking the kernel of uncertainty he didn’t want me to see. “I look forward to proving you wrong,” I said, poking him in the chest.

  “As always, luv.” Spa
rkles of humor twinkled in his eyes, dispelling the shadows, precisely what I wanted. He’d seen too much darkness. Ashor needed some light in his life. I wanted to be the person to give him that, but it seemed unlikely it would happen anytime soon.

  I traced my fingers over the demon marks that covered his shoulder, trailing down his arm and over his chest. It was hours after the Uldrai decided to drop by unannounced, and Ashor remained on edge. He had tucked me into bed beside him in some semblance of pretending to sleep. As long as his mind raced, mine ran alongside his.

  We had already distracted ourselves with each other, my mate on a mission to memorize every curve and dip of my body, but the satisfaction of sex had only been a temporary reprieve—albeit one we had both needed desperately.

  Sedated, my mind wandered back to the conversation with my mom right before I went into Ashor’s head. She was right. Ashor was definitely keeping something from me. I just couldn’t figure out what.

  His fingers worked the muscles in my shoulders and back, alternating between running his nails up my spine and massaging any tight spots. “Are you still upset about the crown?” he asked, his breath teasing the hair on the top of my head.

  Snuggled against his side, I thought about it for a moment before I replied. “No. Regardless of whether you became king or not, we’d still have to find a way to stop your mother.”

  “Hmm, but you have something nagging at you.”

  Lifting my chin, I propped it on his chest, gazing into his eyes. “If you must know, I’m trying to figure out what it is you’re hiding from me.”

  “Why would you think I’m hiding anything at all?” he asked, voice rough and low.

  I could think of a thousand reasons and raised a mocking brow. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because all you do is keep secrets. You're mulling around an idea in there, and I can only guess it’s something I won’t like. Besides, my mother thinks you’re keeping secrets as well.”

  His finger grazed down the bridge of my nose. “Perhaps I should reinstate your mother’s banishment.”

  “Did someone forget to feed you your happy pill today, princeling,” I returned sarcastically.

  He snorted. “I’m the Prince of Darkness. Happiness isn’t in my wheelhouse.”

  “Bullshit. I’ve felt your happiness.” Like when he was inside me, or when we were just together like this with no one else around.

  His chest rumbled silently under my hand. “It would be wise if you kept that to yourself, luv. I have a reputation to uphold.”

  If the direct approach didn’t work, then maybe it was time for an indirect approach. Or I could always wait it out. Eventually, one way or the other, that secret would be exposed. I just hoped it didn’t get him killed.

  Returning my head to his chest, I swept my eyes over the dim room lit only by the dying fire in the hearth, though I could still make out the changes that had been magically completed while I’d been out. “Thank you for the room, by the way. You were busy today.”

  Ashor settled an arm behind his head. “I had help. Does it feel less like a dead queen’s private chambers?”

  “It’s a bit like Brimstone,” I admitted. And like Ashor. So yeah, it was perfect, and for the first time since landing in the Court of Envy, I felt comfortable. Who knew all I needed were some new curtains, sheets, and decor to make all the difference?

  The white, ornate furniture had all been removed and replaced with richer woods. Deep forest colors painted the walls so they were no longer a blank canvas. Fresh linens covered the large bed that was almost as cozy as sleeping on top of Ashor.

  “I thought you might enjoy the familiarity,” he said, feeling pretty smug with himself.

  “I do.” Short of tearing down the castle and rebuilding, this was the next best thing, and I was grateful not to have to sleep in a chair again. However, there had been something intimate about being curled up on Ashor’s lap, cocooned in his protection.

  “Good. Then try and get some sleep, luv,” he crooned in that silk-as-night voice. “Tomorrow, we leave Gardeness, and you know the trip is not easy.”

  My head jerked up. “Tomorrow? We’re going to the mortal world in the morning?” A combination of excitement and dread spiraled inside me.

  His fingers brushed at a piece of hair that had fallen over my eyes. “Yes, but we won’t be there long. As I promised, I just need to speak with the mortal queen, and then we must leave. Do you understand?”

  A fraction of the light inside me dulled. But he was right. It was for the best to be in and out. The less attention we drew to the mortal world, the better. The last thing I needed was to pull Kali’s attention away from me and to Angel. I would willingly sacrifice myself before I let the Queen of Darkness come anywhere near my pregnant best friend.

  Time moved differently between worlds. I wondered if Angel’s belly was already as big as a watermelon.

  Ashor’s concern was justified. He feared I wouldn’t want to leave, but he also underestimated my determination. My iron will to keep my family safe was far stronger.

  I swallowed against the constriction balled in my throat. “I’ll be okay. You don’t need to worry yourself over me. I know what needs to be done, but I need to make this very clear since I can’t entirely get a read on your intentions. My family isn’t part of this.”

  Ashor cocked a curious brow, the corner of his mouth twitching. He seemed to particularly enjoy it when I gave him shit or defied him. “You could always stay here with Apollo and Draven.” Something behind his words told me he was doing a bit more than suggesting. He would very much like to lock me up inside the castle and build an indestructible wall around me. I understood that it was driven by fear and this self-imposed need to look after me, but I’d lived my whole life without a bodyguard.

  Okay, that wasn’t entirely accurate. Chase and Travis had always protected me, but we had protected each other.

  “I won’t be tucked away like a fragile collectible doll. I plan to fight alongside you.” Embers of fire flickered in my belly. “There are people I need to protect as well. If you're going, then so am I. Besides, weren’t you just saying earlier that bad shit happens when we aren’t together?”

  Checkmate.

  I waited for his objection but heard only the patter of rain outside the bedroom window. Eventually, he let out a whoosh of cool air. “I despise when you’re so reasonable.”

  He did not. And I smiled to show him how false I knew that claim to be.

  “Perhaps nothing will come of our visit except for you to briefly see your family, but I still must try. It’s vital that the mortal queen is aware that the war could end up on her doorstep, mortal and underworld. She should be brought up to speed. She should be prepared.”

  An unshakable queasiness rolled in my gut. I chewed on the inside of my cheek as another thought occurred. “How can you go to the mortal world if it isn’t the solstice or the equinox?”

  “I’m a king now. Those restrictions no longer apply. And as a king, I’m free to come and go from the underworld.”

  What other freedoms did he have as king? I still had so many unanswered questions in my head that it was difficult to keep on topic. I was particularly interested in his new powers. “And the powers you acquired from Verena? Have they settled?”

  “Hmm. Not quite,” he admitted. “Wielding my darkness is instinctual, just as my need to protect you.” He expertly diverted the topic away from himself. “If you stay here while we fight the Court of Darkness, you need to learn to control your shift and whatever darkness you have inside. It’s the only way I can cope without having you at my side.”

  “When do we start?” I replied eagerly. Training and fighting, those were my jam. I enjoyed the rush, perhaps a little too much when it came to hunting and killing demons. It had become my salvation when it felt like I had nothing else. The hunger to learn more still resided within me. Anything that would make me a better, stronger fighter had to be a good thing.

  Ashor’s cool
chuckle brushed over my cheeks. “Apollo can train you.”

  “You can’t do it?” The disappointment rang in my voice.

  “I’ll help control the darkness. Apollo can take the physical aspects. Believe it or not, he used to be one of my mother’s generals. He has the skills necessary to keep you alive. And before you say you don’t need him to train you, I ask that you do this for me. It goes against every bone in my body to let you anywhere near a fight. It will take a chunk of my control to allow you so close to danger. Archaic? Yes. But the bond between us is ancient, so the rules are primordial.”

  I tapped my fingers over his bare chest. “Fine. Apollo can train me, but he better not whine and complain when I kick his ass daily.”

  A half smile teased his lips. “I can’t wait to see it, luv. It has been quite some time since anyone put Apollo on the ground.”

  I grinned. “Challenge accepted.”

  He shifted his arm to a more comfortable position around me, and his eyes drifted close. “Lucifer, help him.”

  I knew I should sleep, close my eyes, and shut my mind down, giving it a break from the chaos of the last few days. But should and could were two different things. I began to wonder if I’d ever sleep peacefully again.

  Lying beside Ashor, I listened to his heart, counting the beats in my head like I was counting sheep. It did relax my mind, but not enough to drift off. His breathing remained steady and even, so I stayed still, afraid to disturb him. If anyone needed rest, it was the Prince of Darkness.

  After at least an hour, perhaps longer, I stopped counting altogether. I could hardly believe that I would be going home tomorrow. Lately, it seemed as if I’d never see my family again. It would be bittersweet. I prayed I was strong enough to leave. A part of me wanted to stay, to leave this world behind as if it didn’t exist and pretend the impending war was just a nightmare.

  But no matter how much I wanted to bury my head in the sand, I refused to let Ashor face his mother alone. I had to do more than just control my shift. Mastering all my skills became my focus, and that included not just being able to shield my mind but to sneak into others, especially undetected. And who better to practice on than my mate? Our connection would make it a bit easier until I felt comfortable enough to try breaking into someone else’s mind. I was sure I could get one of the Hunt to volunteer as a test subject. My mom even.