His hand came up and stroked the side of my throat, the movement possessive. “But don’t push me away again.”
“I won’t.” I took a deep breath. “I have to wake up now, Samael. I need to go start some shit.”
His eyes flashed. “You’re supposed to be lying low.”
I forced a grin. “Lying low was never my kind of thing.”
“Danica!”
I opened my eyes and threw my legs over the side of my bed, getting to my feet and throwing on the closest dress.
I was lucky I’d convinced Gloria to cooperate before Lucifer killed her. And I was also thankful that witches’ spells weren’t tied to their lives. Gloria may be dead, but our little secret would still function. As long as she hadn’t betrayed me one last time.
She’d had Lucifer’s blood on hand, since it was used in the spells to clamp the metal rings around each slave’s wrists. Obviously, the underking wasn’t doing such a thing himself, so he’d had the spells sent to another black witch who lived near the mine.
That witch would die, too.
But first, I would be using the death spell. A spell so brutal that it sickened me to use it. But I’d seen the horror of those mines. Not only would I free the slaves, but I’d use it as a rallying point for anyone considering switching their allegiance to Samael.
Is that all people are to you now? Tools to be used?
I pushed that thought away. We were at war. But my stomach twisted uneasily. I popped the ring in my mouth and retrieved the spells I’d moved to a closet in one of the dusty sitting rooms. Then I made my way through the palace.
Pischiel was waiting for me behind the palace, on the edge of the forest. I could hear the wyverns’ muffled shrieks, and removed the ring long enough for Pischiel to silently grab me. I shoved it back into my mouth and he hauled me into the air, using the cover of darkness. If anyone looked, they’d just see a single demon flying somewhat weirdly through the air.
I hadn’t wanted to have to rely on Pischiel to fly me to the mines. He’d sworn he could be trusted, but I was prepared, just in case he got any interesting ideas.
Pischiel was quiet as he flew us toward the mine. I’d given him directions, and now I gazed up at the night sky, watching the falling stars. They were already falling closer and closer together. Sweat broke out on the back of my neck, and I pushed away the knowledge of what those stars meant.
As soon as we were far enough away from the castle, I spat out the ring and Pischiel jolted, unprepared for me to suddenly become visible. I’d learned that speaking with the ring in my mouth made me come dangerously close to choking on it.
“Set me down close to the sleeping quarters,” I told him.
“I’m going with you.”
“The spell is calibrated to hit anyone who is on the ground and isn’t wearing one of these fine pieces of jewelry.” I held up my hand, and the metal glinted in the light of the moon. “While some part of me would enjoy watching Lucifer’s heir burn, I need a ride back.”
His lips tightened, as if he’d say something nasty, but he clamped down on the urge.
“Fine.”
I handed him the container that held the second spell. It sloshed within the metal urn. “You hold on to this. Whatever you do, don’t drop it.” He snorted, which I guessed was fair, since his reflexes were likely a hundred times more honed than mine. “The guards will be warned if they see me with you. I’m putting the ring in my mouth now.”
“Don’t choke on it.”
“Cute.”
I slipped the ring off and popped it in my mouth as we approached the mine. Pischiel tensed again as I suddenly turned invisible. He’d used his power to disrupt his features, turning them murky, so no one would recognize him as Lucifer’s heir.
The night was still. I shuddered, still shaken by the horror I’d seen on my last visit. But it was eerily quiet at this time of night, the prisoners locked away. Still, the guards were alert as they patrolled the mine and surrounding area.
The mine unraveled below us, spanning miles and miles. The opening was a black hole, cut into the side of the mountain. It was pure blackness down there, and I fought to keep my shit together.
“Be careful.” Pischiel dropped me a few feet from the ground and darted back into the air.
I took the ring out of my mouth, wiped it, and slipped it back onto my finger. One of the guards immediately appeared out of the dim light.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. I recognized him. This was the guard who’d sliced off the prisoner’s wings. The one who’d enjoyed it.
