My eyes focus on the one tiny pop of color. On each tree, wrapped in single strands around their trunks, are thorn-covered vines with blood-red flowers. Awareness dawns as I take them in. They’re the same flowers as in Demon Falls, the realm where my uncle protects the gates to the demonic realm.
I stand, and out of the darkness, Gage walks toward me, caution lining his gait.
It’s as if he’s afraid he’ll frighten me with his mere presence.
An odd possessiveness washes over me at the sight of him.
“Where are we?”
“The Inferno Wilderness.” His tone is full of bitterness.
I stare at him. “What is this gut-wrenching sadness in me?”
“Me.” He gauges my reaction.
My eyes widen a bit. “You mean . . . it worked?” I exhale, feeling shaky and completely off and strange, not like myself. “We realm jumped? Together in stone state?”
“Yes.” Looking away, he swallows his anger, resentment, and guilt.
All of which I feel, experience, as if we’re one. But that would be impossible. Even in stone state. A heavy sadness hits me, almost crushing me until it’s too much to bear.
“We should get going,” he says quietly.
“Going?” I pant, having trouble focusing.
“We have a shit ton of demons to get through and vaults to search.”
I try not to be affected by his coldness or the frustrated way he’s clenching his jaw, but I can’t help but be distracted. No matter how worthy I deem him, Gage will always torture himself with guilt and pain. For the rest of his existence, he’ll imprison himself in a self-imposed hell. I exhale slowly and try to focus my thoughts on the task and why we’re here, knowing he doesn’t want to talk about the realm jump or the stone state.
“Where to first?” I hate that I sound weak and hurt.
“Valfor. The three-headed lion should be around here somewhere.”
“The duke usually is at court, not in the wilderness,” I point out.
“This is where he is tonight.” He starts walking toward the trees.
My blood sings with frustration as I follow him into the dark woods.
“How do you know that?”
“I can sense him,” he replies.
I roll my eyes at his back. “You can sense demons now?”
Gage stops so quickly that my reaction isn’t fast enough and I crash into his back.
He turns and grabs my upper arms, pushing me away. “No. You can.”
I’m taken aback, my lips parting. I’d forgotten stone state goes both ways. He can feel everything I do, just like I feel everything he does. And we can share one another’s gifts.
“Oh,” I barely manage.
“Oh,” he repeats in a cold tone, walking away.
I lift my hands in front of me, placing my palms one above the other with a small space between them as I twist them slowly and whisper, “Luminis.”
The glowing ball of amber light floats between my palms, shining as I follow him.
As soon as we enter the woods, all I can hear is silence. There are no birds or animals. No wind. Or water. Nothing. All around me is blackness. The thought should chill me, but it doesn’t. Given my dark bloodline, I’m glad I can’t hear the shrill cries of the tortured souls in the demonic realm. I never can when I’m here, thanks to my mother’s lineage.
Annoyingly, we keep walking. I knew Gage would have a strategy for when we’d enter the realm, but I didn’t actually think about what that strategy would look like. I definitely didn’t think it was us simply walking up to the demon and asking to see his treasure vault.
All around us, plumes of smoke rise from the ground and seep off some of the dead trees, the only sign of movement aside from Gage and me. We take a few more steps and all of a sudden, demon archers step out from behind the trees, cocking their bows, their arrows on fire, and aim them at us. On instinct, Gage’s wings snap out, shielding me.
When they do, the feathers are darker, almost charcoal instead of steel-colored.
“State your name,” one of the demons demands.
Without thinking, I let my spell fall, extinguishing the ball of light that was guiding me, and unexpectedly teleport myself in front of Gage. Surprised that I was able to use his gift, I look back and meet his hard gaze with a smile before facing the archers again.
“Llughnassad,” I state. “Sorceress of prosperity and daughter of Mammon.”
“And him?” The demon slides his bow to point his fire arrow over my shoulder.
“Lower your weapons.” A lion’s voice roars and echoes around us.
In unison, the archers lower their bows and heads. Out of the inky emptiness of the woods, like an animal prowling toward its prey, Valfor appears, stalking us as he walks.
I try not flinch in unease at his three heads—all mirror images of one another, positioned on long necks which trail down to the body of a lion. Each demon lord within this realm was created by Lucifer with the intent of mirroring the divine kingdom. However, most of his creations were cursed and became monsters shortly after creation.
It’s awful, the things you will see here. The sadness, the pain and suffering, the needless violence. But the worst, the absolute worst, is the faces of the souls as they lose everything upon entering and simply give up hope. It truly is hell. My heart jumps in my throat as my eyes scour the woods around us for threats, wondering how the hell I’m going to explain the divine protector behind me to the duke of the Inferno Wilderness.
“Valfor,” Gage greets, sounding laid-back as he casually steps around me. He relaxes his wings and approaches the demon before he takes a respectful knee and bows his head.
“Gage.” Valfor sounds amused. “It’s been a long time, old friend.”
Friend? What in the . . .
“My sincere apologies.” Gage stands. “I’ve been . . . preoccupied.”
Speechless, I gape at their comfortableness with one another.
It’s unnerving.
Valfor’s six eyes land on me, roaming over me. “You’ve realm jumped to the Inferno Wilderness, using Mammon’s daughter? Impressive usage of the connection.”
Gage shifts uncomfortably. “I had no choice. I’m divine now. I needed her to jump.”
“Says the gargoyle who prides himself on defending free will.” Valfor sighs. “The hearts of men are fickle and cruel.” He sounds disappointed in Gage’s decision to bring me here, as his gazes search the forest. “Come. The realm has eyes and ears that don’t take kindly to trespassers. Especially divine protectors and white magic sorceresses.”
Looking back, Gage’s eyes catch my narrowed ones before he motions with his head for us to follow the duke. Without speaking, we walk through the dark forest for what feels like forever before we come to a large cave carved into a huge rock formation. More demon guards stand in front of it with fire arrows pointed at us. Each bows their head as we pass by them. Inside, more fire lines the cave, providing light and warmth.
As I look up, I notice there are different levels of rock perches carved into the sides of the cavern, where other lion demons are laying and sitting, watching us with curious eyes as we walk through the den. I can’t help but feel hunted by their predatory eyes as we walk down several tunnels and into another open space. This one has a large fire in the middle of it, roaring with life. Soft handwoven rugs and pillows decorate the floor. Several female lion demons are laying around like a pride. Their tails twitch as they look at us, then away, with bored disinterest. At the sight, I push away the off feeling in my gut.
“My lair,” Valfor states, tilting his head toward some pillows near the fire.
“We’re honored and grateful for your hospitality.” Gage takes a seat.
I stare at Gage for several seconds, confused by his comfort level, before I join him, taking a seat on a pillow next to his and across from Valfor—the roaring fire between us.
“This is the only shielded spot in the wilderness, where
no one can hear or see us.”
Gage nods in understanding. “We appreciate your protection.”
“My protection is always yours,” the duke counters. “King of the lions.”
The fire crackles and I slide my questioning gaze to Gage, who flinches at the title.
“I am no king,” Gage mutters.
“Your pride and scars state otherwise,” Valfor counters.
Gage shakes his head and rests his dangling arms on his bent knees.
“Tell me, why have you crossed into the Inferno Wilderness?” Valfor asks.
“We’re searching for the second peace treaty,” Gage states. “We have reason to believe the divine leveraged the gargoyle race in it, in order to keep peace with your kingdom.”
“And if they have?” Valfor inquires matter-of-factly.
“Then the entire gargoyle race would cease to exist. Me included.”
A silent exchange passes between the two of them. Suddenly, my skin begins to tingle and heat. The air in the cavern shimmers and turns dark; even the fire dims. Tiny white lights appear out of thin air. They twinkle and float, moving in fast circles around us.
Valfor closes his eyes and purrs to himself, as if meditating. Fascinated, I stare at him. After a short time, the lights disappear, the fire ignites again, and the blackness fades. The air stops shimmering as the duke opens his eyes, sliding them over first me, then Gage.
“It seems the treaty has already been found. By a fox. And a dark witch.”
I exhale in relief. “Itzy and Branna have it,” I whisper.
Nodding, Gage pulls out a cigarette, lights it, and inhales. His shoulders sag, relaxed, before he breathes out, “Thank you, old friend. Your gift of knowledge has saved us from having to request an audience with a shitload of demons and searching their vaults.”
“Did you honestly think the Goetia demons would have granted a protector and a white magic sorceress an audience? Let alone allowed your divine hands to touch and search their demonic treasure vaults?” Valfor challenges. “Think of the scandal you would have caused down here. Running around with your divinity, and Mammon’s daughter.”
Gage flicks the ashes of his cigarette into the fire and grunts, sounding annoyed.
The duke’s amused eyes settle on me. “You have a question for me?”
“Many,” I exhale.
“I will entertain one,” he replies.
“How do you two know one another so intimately?”
“I could ask you the same question,” he counters.
“I asked you first.”
On all three of Valfor’s faces, his expression softens as his six eyes slide over to Gage, studying the sullen gargoyle before they fall back onto me, considering my question.
“It is clear that you have turned your back on your dark bloodline,” he says.
“I have.”
The demon scrutinizes me, his eyes full of secrets and mystery.
“Why?” he asks.
“I disagree with my father and uncle’s beliefs and their business practices.”
“How so?”
“I believe most souls are innocent and deserve mercy.”
“What about Gage? If he had a soul, would it be a soul that could be delivered?”
“Yes.”
“There are thousands of deserving souls that can be delivered, across all realms in existence,” he whispers. “Gage is not one of them. Don’t waste your mercy on his spirit.”
Narrowing my eyes, I square my shoulders. “You know nothing of his spirit.”
“And you do?” he challenges.
“Yes.”
The duke’s gazes shift to Gage. “She hasn’t been enlightened?”
“For good reason,” he replies quietly.
“You are playing a dangerous game here, protector.”
My eyes slide between them. “Gage and I don’t play games.”
“Everything in our world is a game, Llughnassad,” Valfor retorts. “As Mammon’s daughter, and Asmodeus’s niece, you should know this.” His voice rumbles around us.
“I am Mammon’s daughter, and Asmodeus’ niece, by blood . . . only.”
“You are theirs in more ways than one,” he chastises.
Frustrated, I shake my head and look over at Gage. He’s staring at the fire, exhaling smoke from his cigarette, appearing uninterested in the discussion going on around him.
I look back at the demon. “Your attempt to evade answering my question isn’t working,” I point out. “How do you and Gage know one another with such familiarity?”
“A while ago, your protector came to me and offered me his lion spirit,” he discloses.
“It was a misunderstanding,” Gage mutters next to me.
Valfor laughs boisterously across from us. “Like hell it was.”
“It’s in the past,” Gage states coldly.
“Is this really how you want all this to play out?” Valfor asks.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Gage sit forward, gritting his teeth. “Leave it be.”
“You brought her here.”
“I came to you because I trusted you to help, not deceive me.”
“An unfortunate misstep then, on your part. It was I who taught you to never to trust a demon,” his voice sounds sad. “Given her feelings for you, and that she deems you worthy of salvation, I think the sorceress would be interested to learn that at one point you came to me, offering me your lion spirit in exchange for the soul of the one you love.”
Gage shifts next to me. “What does it matter? You refused to deliver the soul.”
Valfor shrugs. “He’s still bitter.”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
“Despite your bleeding heart, Gage, I spared your love eternal damnation.”
“Am I supposed to thank you?” Gage scoffs. “After what you did to endanger her?”
“Even now, your lion spirit is savagely protective of her,” Valfor growls. “Unable to accept her fated path. Regardless, as promised, her soul is now tied to yours, forever.”
My heart sinks. He had a demon tie Camilla’s soul to him. “Why did you refuse to deliver the soul, if he offered his lion spirit?” I ask.
The demon smirks at my defeat. “The soul exchange was deemed unworthy.”
Gage snorts and throws his cigarette into the fire. “Unworthy.”
“Then how did you save his love’s soul from eternal damnation?”
“Through a soul tie.”
Rare, a soul tie is a linking between a divine spirit and a dark soul. A soul tie is why sometimes mates can have connections to other beings. Their spirit, or essence, could be soul tied to a dark soul in the demonic realm—a spirit-to-soul link. Even if they had merged with their mate through a divine mate bond. Soul ties can be broken or created by upper-level demons. With or without the consent of the beings, since it’s spiritual.
“Gage was a mated gargoyle,” I point out the obvious. “To have a soul tie with someone else, he would have had to be tied to a dark-souled bloodline by—”
“His lion spirit,” Valfor finishes my thought. “While Gage’s mate was Camilla, his lion spirit was free to be soul tied to a dark soul. To save his love’s soul, I agreed to the tie.”
I stare at the gargoyle, confused, as his hard eyes fix themselves to mine.
“Are you insane?” I yell. “You agreed to be soul tied to a dark soul?”
“I had no choice. That was Valfor’s offer. I accepted it.”
“Camilla’s soul wasn’t in danger of being damned, Gallagher.”
Gage doesn’t say anything else. With a final look, he locks his jaw.
“It wasn’t Camilla’s soul he wanted delivered,” Valfor states.
“Then whose?”
“It was yours.”
17
Change the Game
GAGE
Fear turns my blood cold as I stare at the demon, trying not to feel bitter. I’m caught in the crossfire of his betrayal, which I kn
ew was coming. Still, it causes ice to form in my bones. Not wanting to look over at Nassa, I keep my focus trained forward. I know there will be nothing but hurt and anger behind her eyes. My thoughts turn chaotic in the silence. The only sound in the cavern is the snapping of embers every so often.
It’s true.
All of it.
I offered my lion spirit in exchange for her soul. And the honest truth is, I feel no guilt, no shame in it. I’d do it all again if it meant saving her from her dark bloodline. I would protect her from the grave if I had to. I will leave my existence knowing that at least one being, other than Camilla, found me worthy, looked past my tragic existence.
“Me?” Nassa rasps, from my left.
I try to appear unaffected by her voice, but it’s impossible; it’s deep and sexy.
“I’m not following,” she exhales. “Why would I need to be saved?”
“There are whispers in the wind of a demon prince’s daughter,” Valfor recounts. “A powerful sorceress who was given life by a Gemini twin—half of a pair of sisters, with powers from opposing forces of nature. As punishment for her creation, the demon prince’s king enchanted the child with both light and dark magic. Rumors emerged that if the child’s darkness ascended, it would consume the light within her, turning her soul dark and in turn, creating the most powerful sorceress in existence to wield dark magic.”
“I’d like to think that I’m not a violent person; however, your account of my birth makes me want to throat punch someone. What the hell does this have to do with Gage?”
“As the duke of thieves, I have dominion over ten legions of lesser demons, who tempt souls to steal. And as a Goetia demon, I can provide a summoner with an . . . advantage, if you will, in magical abilities. The more I tempt thievery and darken souls, the more powerful I become. In turn, the more power I can put behind a magical advantage.”
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