“The River of Forgetfulness.”
Bael frowned. “I thought Hades refused to get involved.”
“He did,” I growled. “If he provided the water, heowesme. Even if one of his subjects disobeyed him, he’ll still be in my debt. Send a message to him tomorrow.”
“What kind of message?”
“I want Cerberus.”
The expression on Bael’s face was a cross between a wince and a laugh. “Hades loves that beast. He’ll never give him to you.”
“Temporarily. Cerberus fights with us against Lucifer, or I make Hades pay when I take back my throne. Make it clear that water from his fucking river was used onmybondmate.”
Just the thought made me want to rage through the underworld.
Evie had been quiet, but she slowly raised her head, tears in her eyes.
“If Danica doesn’t know who you are, Kyla could have been slaughtered, and Danica would have no idea.”
I nodded. “She thinks my mark is a birthmark. Couldn’t recognize me.Me.”
We will have words about that, little witch.
“CouldIdreamwalk to her?”
I shook my head. “This is a skill between mates. Others can dreamwalk, but it requires a specific set of powers.”
Evie nodded, then sat on the sofa, her head in her hands. “It was bad enough knowing she was there, likely terrified, in danger. But knowing he’s wiped her memories?” she lifted her head. “She won’t even know to fight. To look for escape. We have to fix this, Samael.”
Bael poured himself a drink. “It’s temporary,” he said.
I glanced at him, and he raised his glass to his mouth. “You really think Lucifer can keepDanicaliving in a dreamworld, unaware that she’s a witch? The amount of power he must be using to keep her complacent is stunning. The question is, why?”
Cold unfurled in my stomach, slowly making its way to my limbs. “My spies have said they’re unsure why he’s keeping her alive. He’s instructed his people not to kill her, although she’s being watched carefully. He needs her for something. And if she doesn’t get her memories back, she’ll be at his mercy.”
* * *
DANICA
I dressed silently, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to my rooms. This wing was quiet, everyone already asleep. I slipped out of my room and down the hall.
There were guards on the floor below me, and I passed them silently as I headed toward the throne room. They ignored me for the most part, although I had no doubt that news of my escapades would reach grandfather’s ears.
The dream had left me shaken. I couldn’t understand the tactics our enemies were taking, or why. Entering someone’s dreams was a specific skill set. My grandfather used his dreamwalkers to spy on his enemies. The silver-eyed demon could have harmed me if he’d wanted to. And yet he hadn’t.
I needed to figure out his angle. What was the strange demon hoping to achieve by sowing confusion and doubt in my mind? I shook the thought off. Either way, he’d been unsuccessful.
So why is he still at the center of your every thought?
I scowled, unable to help myself as I stepped into the throne room. Like much of the palace, the walls were made of obsidian stone, while the black marble of the floor gleamed like glass. My grandfather’s throne was covered in black jewels, which seemed to suck up all the light in the room before reflecting it back until it almost hurt to look at it.
Above the throne, gold letters were carved into the black wall, stark against the obsidian.
As I watched, the gold shifted until the wordsdo ut desappeared. Something itched at my brain, but the words immediately shifted to demonish as a guard stepped into the throne room from a door on the opposite side. I nodded to him and backed out, traipsing toward the servant’s quarters.
It was quiet here, too, most people in bed. The occasional lesser demon snarled at me, and I barely resisted the urge to bare my teeth back. A princess did not glower at her subjects.
I took the side exit and headed east along the palace wall. The door with the X waited, and I attempted nonchalance as I glanced around me. I may not be able to see anyone watching me, but I’d be naïve to assume grandfather wasn’t having his guards keep an eye on me.
