“You indeed have a court date with the High Court of Mephistopheles. It is written in our Book.”
“What’s the date?” I tilted my head, measuring it.
Its irises flashed serpentine, and a lock of its perfectly shellacked hair fell by its ear.
“Its anger boils,” Ben said. “You puzzle it.”
“When the date arrives, it won’t force me to the Underworld, will it?” I said. “I’m too strong, or the infractions are too petty. So now you’re stuck trying to take me hostage or hope that your new teammates take me out for you.”
“It can’t take you hostage,” Rourke murmured. “You have to verbally agree to its terms.”
“Demon, I’m not agreeing to anything,” I said. “So you’re wasting your time here, causing all this uproar for no reason.”
Rather than speak, the Prince of Hell took a bold step forward. We were only twenty feet away from each other, both of us glaring.
Growls and teeth gnashing rent the air.
I glanced sideways at the Queen. Her arms were folded. She was done fighting or aiding me and I knew the only way she would engage the Prince directly was if her vampires were in direct danger.
“Take a single step closer and I’ll blow you up,” Tally said, cocking her gun and locking her sights.
Its gaze flicked to the right. “You have proven inferior to me, witch,” it said. “Why waste your time?”
“Because I saved the best for last,” she countered. “And because you don’t get to take my friend just because you feel like it.”
That was the best news I’d heard all day.
“If the gun doesn’t stop you, we have other means.” Marcy’s voice cut through the group like a caustic bullet. I hadn’t known she followed me in. “I happen to know how to incapacitate a Demon Lord, because your sorcerer friends are careless and have big, flapping mouths when they think crafty witches are unconscious. When you were forced to make your deal with them, you gave away some very valuable information.”
“There is no way to incapacitate me. They were lying.”
“Seriously? You just have to—”
Power shot out of the Prince, hitting Marcy fully in the chest. She soared backward and crumpled to the ground like her strings had been cut.
James roared and I started to run.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I screamed, barreling toward it. “You can’t hurt innocent people like that.”
The Prince looked insanely happy I was coming at him, his mouth quirking up at the sides. It looked all wrong and a moment of doubt crept into my psyche, but I couldn’t stop now. I was almost to it.
“She attacked me verbally,” it said in a singsong voice. “Revealing a sworn secret is an act of aggression.”
I lunged, but something collided with me at the last moment, knocking me off balance. I tumbled, spinning, landing back on my feet in time to see Tyler change directions and sprint for the Prince of Hell.
He was beautiful in his wolf form, fangs bared, howl ferocious.
He leapt and the Prince caught him around the middle easily, like netting a fish, but not before Tyler’s teeth caught its neck.
Dark black liquid dribbled out of a gash, marring its perfect, shiny, unnatural skin.
The exertion from catching a werewolf didn’t even seem to compute. It didn’t even look flustered as it held Tyler’s massive form.
“No!” I shouted, agony ringing in my voice. “Put him down!”
The Prince’s head snapped to me.
Something new crossed its features. “Ah, you love this one, do you?” it said. “How perfectly wonderful.”
“I said put him down,” I snarled, stalking forward, hands fisted. If it wanted a fight, it would have one.
“I plan to do just that,” it said. “But your version of down and mine are likely not one and the same.”
Tyler squirmed, whining.
Then suddenly he went limp.
I knew what the Prince of Hell was going to do and I switched control to my wolf and sprang. My father and Rourke both lunged forward at the same time, all of us howling our rage.
“Too late,” it cackled. “If you want this one back, you must claim him in the Underworld.”
They both popped out of existence.
29
I cradled my head in my hands. Rourke sat beside me. We had all gathered in the main living room of the Coterie. The Queen hadn’t wanted us here, but my father had forcefully convinced her to acquiesce.
At the heart of it, she still wanted my blood, so she abided having us in her space for the time being.
“Jessica,” my father said. “You couldn’t have known. None of us knew.”
“He’s right.” Tally paced in front of the ornate fireplace still dressed in her battle gear. Her witches fidgeted against one wall, vamps and wolves spread out along the others. The entire room was amped up on adrenaline from the fight, and even though the room was huge, and each Sect had its own space, tension still ran high. “It’s a little known fact that if you draw blood on a demon, it’s free to defend itself any way it wishes,” she told the room. “Marring their skin is considered a high crime against them. I don’t know if I’d call that stuff blood, but it still counts.”
“I don’t care if we didn’t know ahead of time. The question is how are we going to get him back?” I lifted my head. “I’m not leaving my brother there for a moment longer than necessary. They want me. He’s the bait, so I go. Just tell me how to get there.” My Pack knew nothing about demon circles or the Underworld. If the witches didn’t choose to help, I was screwed.
“Getting you to the Underworld is no small task,” Tally said. “It’s a huge ordeal that will take time and planning. We can’t send you unarmed, but only organic compounds can travel across the boundaries. There will be training involved.”
I couldn’t think straight. Grief pounded behind my temples.
As soon as Tyler had blipped out of existence on this plane, his connection to me had vanished. I hadn’t realized having him bound to me had become like second nature, like the best security blanket in the world. Without being aware, I’d known he was alive and functioning at every moment. It was a bond we should’ve forged a long time ago and I desperately missed it.
“I will go with you,” Naomi said, her voice thoughtful. “You need not battle the Underworld alone.”
“Me too,” Danny added. “I’m not going to let my best mate die down there without a fight. I’m in for whatever it takes to bring him back.”
“Count me in too,” Marcy said from across the room. “You just saved my life. I owe you. But more than that, I can help because I’m a witch.” After the Prince of Hell had struck her down, I had poured my power into her and eradicated the last of the blackness. But Tally had already been on it, spelling the mist out with her magic.
It was debatable who had saved whom.
“If she goes, I go,” James said. “There is no reason we can’t all accompany you, Jessica.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Tally said, marching forward with her hand in the air, turning to address the entire group. “It’s all well and good everyone here is dying to jump on board. And by dying, I mean that literally. But none of you are going. Not one of you is powerful enough to survive the journey by circle, much less what you’ll find when you get there. They have pet beasts, demons in every size and color, and all of them can kill you with a small flick of their wrists. The Underworld has the home-court advantage and we have to play this smart if we actually want to bring the wolf back.”
Rourke stood, growling, his eyes blazing, arms folded.
Tally sized him up. “Well, except you. You’d survive the transition, but you still can’t go.”
“My daughter isn’t going alone,” my father interrupted, standing in front of his seat, before Rourke could tell Tally what he thought of her fantastic plan. “I will fight with everything I have to get my son back.”
“Sorry, b
ut you can’t go either,” Tally said, dismissing him. “It’s a noble undertaking, but not advisable.”
“What?” My father’s voice jumped and power whipped around the room. Several of the wolves growled. “Are you saying I wouldn’t survive the transition?”
“No, Callum, you’d survive just fine. You’re a Pack Alpha,” Tally said in a patient tone. “Arguably the most powerful one in the world. But you know as well as I do that because of that, your signature is well documented. If you land in the Underworld, dinner bells will ring. The demons would have something delicious planned just for you. If we do this, and give Jessica the best shot at saving your son, she has to go in the back way. One with no alarms.”
My father nodded his head in agreement. “I hadn’t thought of that. But you can’t tell me my daughter isn’t documented as well,” he said. “And if that’s the case, she’ll be tossed into the same trap I would.”
“I believe it may be different in her case, which is a lucky break,” Tally answered. “The demons want her, and obviously have information about her signature, but from what I’ve seen firsthand, her powers are somewhat malleable. That gives her an edge the rest of us don’t have. With our help, she can learn to muddle her signature enough. And, no, she’s not documented in the Book … yet.” Tally glanced at me. “But I suspect she will be shortly. Power like that is not ignored by the Coalition for long.”
“How do you know she’s not in the Book?” my father asked. “It can take centuries to find out what’s in the Book of Records.”
“My daughter is an oracle,” Tally said patiently. “Every time there’s a new entry, she draws me a picture. There’s only been one in the last year. And it wasn’t female.”
Tally’s voice dared my father to disbelieve.
Instead, he nodded, satisfied.
I had no idea what the Book of Records was, but it was clear it noted powerful supes. “It doesn’t matter if I trigger their alarms. I’m going regardless,” I said. “And the demons already know I will go after Tyler, so surprising them may never be possible.”
“Jessica,” my father said, turning toward me. “You’re not going alone. It’s too dangerous. Tally’s right—my signature will be a disadvantage … one I’m not willing to risk. The element of surprise is all you’ll have. But I’ll be damned if I let you go without backup. And if my signature is documented, so is your mate’s.” He addressed Rourke. “There’s no way you’ve gone unnoticed all these years. Even if you were not the Alpha of your kind, you are the last and have been for some time.”
“I am Alpha,” Rourke ground out. “And I’ve never had reason to look in the Book, so I do not know what is written there. But I agree with you, there’s no way Jessica’s going without adequate protection, so it doesn’t matter. We will find another way in.”
“If you insist on going,” my father replied, “you put her in the same peril I would. If she has to go in through the back door—if there is such a thing—she has to take someone powerful enough who won’t be noticed.”
“She can only take two others,” Tally said. “The circle holds three. When they come back, we’ll have to summon them in twos, but it adds risk. Calling someone back from the Underworld takes time and energy, but my recommendation is she still take two others. That gives them the best chance of survival.”
Before Rourke and my father volleyed again, I stated evenly, “I don’t understand why there’s so much importance placed on the Book. I told you, I’m going even if they know about me and have a welcome squad waiting.”
The Queen rose from the high-backed chair she’d been sitting in. She was edgy and reserved. All eyes in the room landed on her as she moved forward. “I find it amusing you are so very uneducated about our world. And that our well-being must lie cupped in the hands of your vast ignorance.” She swept past me in a new gown, this one black with silver accents. “When a supernatural is the strongest of its kind, there is a record of it. You can access the Book of Records by appealing to the Coalition directly. I did it on occasion long ago. The Prince of Hell also has access. We, in this room”—she nodded grudgingly to Tally, my father, and Rourke—“are the strongest of our kind. Our power is noted in detail. The demons live for information. They likely have thick files on all of us and will have our signatures monitored at all times. Our presence will alert them to our arrival like shooting off a flare gun in a library. Sending one of us would be asking the demons to end our lives.”
“Well, there’s no way I’m in the goddamn Book, since I was just made. And the demons can’t have anything on me yet,” Ray interrupted, pushing himself off the wall where he’d been standing. “So I’ll go.”
I shot him a look of surprise.
Tally sized him up with a skeptical eye.
“Ray,” I said. “I appreciate your willingness to fight demons on my behalf, but there’s no way you’re strong enough—”
“He’s in,” Tally said, her voice resigned. “It’s perfect, really. He’s a reaper and a vampire. A supernatural who technically should never have been created. He will muddle their monitors naturally, and the fact that he’s a reaper can only help you. His signature also feels strong enough—in fact, it feels a lot like yours.” Her eyes were shrewd. “But we won’t know until we test him fully.” She addressed Ray. “Vampire, can you suck the absence of a soul from a demon?”
His eyebrows shot up. “How the hell should I know?” he answered. “I just figured out I was a reaper two hours ago.”
Tally tapped her foot patiently. “Not all reapers are created the same. Some are tailored especially for certain jobs. It depends on your genetic line. What did the Demon Lord look like to you?”
“Its skin was made of smooth shiny scales and it had an ugly face, like some kind of serpent man,” Ray said.
My eyebrows shot to my forehead. The demon’s glamour hadn’t worked on Ray. I’d seen a few snippets of its reptilian side, too, so I knew he was telling the truth.
“Good.” Tally nodded. “You saw its true nature. That’s promising. Very few are able to do such a thing.”
I shook my head. “If Ray is willing to come on his own free will, that’s fine.” My eyes found Rourke. “But I’m not willing to risk anyone else I love accompanying me. Tyler being taken overwhelms me on all levels and I refuse to let someone else I care about be lost to the demons.”
“Jessica,” Rourke said, turning toward me. “You have to be reasonable. Letting you go alone, with only a new vampire to aid you, is insanity.”
“We won’t be alone,” I assured him. “And Tally will prepare us the best she can. If we have a chance to take the best tactical attack, we need to use it—I agree with that.” My voice was strong. “Please don’t ask me to abandon my brother.”
“Of course I’m not asking you to do that,” he reasoned. “But there have to be other ways around this we can discuss.”
His fear and uncertainty rang inside me. Letting me go to the Underworld without him would be the hardest thing he’d have to do in our short time together.
But I had something that would help.
“How about I make you a promise I won’t go unless I can fortify the odds in our favor?” I told him.
“How are you possibly going to do that?” Rourke asked. “A brand-new vamp who has no idea how to work his powers and who else? Who is strong enough to aid you?”
I paused, taking my time with the announcement.
It had to have the desired effect.
“Eudoxia.”
There was an audible gasp from everyone in the room.
Rourke’s face flashed surprise, my father blew out a long breath, and the Queen’s voice tinkled with laughter. “You are delusional, as usual,” she almost purred. “I just finished explaining why it would never work, Little Wolf Girl. But let me try again because it’s clear your brain has been jarred from all the heavy lifting: If I go to the Underworld, the demons will swarm us the minute we arrive.” Her face elongated and her
fangs snapped down. “But, even if they didn’t”—her eyes went dead black—“there is no way I would go to hell for you.”
“I saved your life out there,” I said, pacing forward, “again. That makes it twice in one day.”
She hissed, her face still cruel.
“This is it, Eudoxia. It’s your chance. Once we come back, all debts are wiped clean. You are the only one strong enough to give us the best odds of getting Tyler back, and your power combined with mine is lethal. It managed to wipe out even the Prince of Hell’s magic. Together we can defeat anything down there.”
Her power jumped out before her, pressing against me. It licked at my face and pushed at my chest. But I was ready, my power wrapped up inside me like a coat of armor.
Molding my power had become second nature and it felt good to master it.
“You’re as foolish as you look,” she snapped. “Even if I owed you another favor, which I do not, I would never agree to accompany you to the Underworld.” Her face slid even farther, her control slipping. “My debt to you has been paid. The ward went up and, as an extra token, one for you taking the demon magic—which would not have killed me—I gave you my power freely. It was not my fault the opposition was too strong.”
My father walked toward me. “Jessica, I don’t know what you’re getting at, but taking the Queen won’t work because of everything we’ve outlined so far. If she’s the one you pick, you can take your mate or me just as easily.” His voice was wary. “We need to think of someone else.”
“He’s right,” Tally agreed. “I’m not sure why you picked her, but the Vamp Queen will sound the alarms. She’ll be like a lighthouse flashing a signal in the darkness.”
“No, she won’t,” I said confidently.
Tally inclined her head at me in question, clearly thinking I was presumptuous, but smart enough to hear me out.
“Are you calling me a liar?” The Queen’s fury radiated outward. “I should’ve ended you when I had the chance! You are nothing but a nuisance.” Her hands fisted at her sides. “Just like the Prince of Hell stated in front of us all. You are a blister on the heel of every supernatural ever created.”
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