“The ferryman is powerful enough to choose not to take a mortal, but even he cannot ignore the compulsion to takemeto my final resting place.” He stalked back to me and pulled me into his arms once more. “I love you,” he said. “But I need your word.”
I attempted to push back from him and his hands tightened.
“Your power will be keeping me alive. Yours and Scylla’s. I need your promise that if you’re too drained to function, if it looks hopeless, you will find a way to break the bond.”
My chest was so tight I couldn’t take a full breath. Samael’s expression turned tender, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
“Everything dies eventually,” he murmured. “I’m thankful I got to experience the pain, and fury, and elation that comes with loving you before it was my time to go.”
“Now Iknowyou must be dying,” I said sulkily. He laughed.
“Promise me, witchling.”
I looked up into his beautiful face.
“I promise,” I lied.
* * *
SAMAEL
Danica was fearless.
No, not entirely fearless. She was smart enough to fear Lucifer and what he represented, even if she mostly dreaded what he would do to those she loved.
She was made of courage. Her will was unshakeable, her bravery astounding.
Often, in my quieter moments, I’d wish she didn’t need that courage. Wish I was just a man, and she was just a woman, and we could have years of peace together.
I didn’t think either of us would know what to do with peace, but it might be a nice change.
Of course, all my moments were quiet now. I’d heard of this place, from those of my kind who experienced near-death. Some called it purgatory. Most called the loneliness Hell. If not for the fact that I could communicate with my little witch, I would call it the same.
I would have to save my strength. Because while communicating with Danica took a fraction of my power, the talk I would need to have with Ag would drain some of that much-needed life force.
I knew my witchling, and she would never give up on me. She wasn’t built that way.
And so, if I was unable to do it myself, and if my stubborn little witch refused, I would involve Ag. He would put my plans into motion, ensuring Lucifer would pay for what he had done. And he would find a way to break the bond.
I hoped that one day, when I was long gone, Danica would forgive me. But it would be enough if she had a life to live. Even if she cursed my name for every moment of it.
* * *
DANICA
“This is horseshit,” Kyla snarled, poking at the jewels decorating the bodice of her dress. I tried my best not to laugh, but I couldn’t help the snort that escaped me at her expression.
Mariam had managed to get us an audience with the seelie king, but unfortunately he was at court. That meant we needed to travel to the light fae realm. To say I wasn’t excited about it was an understatement, but the entire experience was worsened by the formal gowns we were expected to wear.
The fae enjoyed pageantry, and both of us were wearing the kind of gowns that would apparently allow us to fit in at court. Aubrey had managed to convince his tailor to help fit the gowns Mariam had unexpectedly provided, and we were both standing in one of his guest rooms, staring into the mirror.
“You’re not wrong,” I said. “But at least you suit yours.”
Kyla showed me her teeth and I grinned back at her.
Mariam had put her in pink. Thankfully, it wasn’t Pepto-Bismol pink, but more a soft blush. Her dress fell off her shoulders, the ombre effect darker at the top and lightening to a pink so light it was almost white near the bottom.
Jeweled vines wound up the bodice, highlighting Kyla’s tiny waist and sparkling in the light. The flowers themselves were white, and the back of the dress tied up corset-style.
