Crouching, I scanned the floor for my boots and found them tucked neatly under the side of the bed.
Next, I needed to find Belial’s dagger earring. All I had to do was spill a drop of my blood to summon him. Together, we could hash out a plan on what to do about the Lord of Bones.
Maybe we could escape back to the human realm and lie low together.
Or take his ferry and travel the Styx for a while.
I marched to the bathroom in search of the earring. It was the last place I’d had it, when I’d stabbed him for nearly drowningme. Getting on my hands and knees, I probed under the clawfoot tub. When my fingers found the tiny blade, I pulled it out with a triumphant grin.
Holga filled the doorway and flew into the room when I put the blade to my wrist. “Lady Catherine, no! Not again!”
The terror in her tone made me freeze, the dagger’s tip piecing my flesh enough for a fat bead of ruby liquid to slip down my skin and fall on the floor. Hearing Catherine’s name was like a splash of icy water, slicing through my frantic thoughts. She too had tried to escape the Lord of Bones’ castle…by whatever means necessary. But she’d been unsuccessful.
I refused to follow in her footsteps.
However, seeing me like this had clearly given Holga a bad flashback. “Forgive me, I…”
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hurt myself.” I held up the tiny blade for her to see. “This dagger is Belial’s. Spilling my blood with its blade summons him.”
Holga grabbed a hand towel that sat folded on a table beside the wash basin and pressed it to my arm with a disapproving hiss. “That’s dark demon magic, and you’d do well not to invoke it.”
I blinked. “Belial won’t hurt me. I know you don’t like the Lord of Bones, and I don’t blame you, but Belial isn’t like him.”
“Love blinds you, mistress.” Holga shook her head as she applied pressure to my cut.
My stomach lurched. Were my feelings for Belial that obvious?
I stilled at the thought of him, fear seeping down my spine like venom. Something was wrong. Belial wasn’t coming. Usually, he’d appear before my blood could hit the ground.
“Holga…” My voice trailed off as I struggled to string everything together. She knew something she wasn’t telling me, and now, Belial wasn’t showing up when I called for him. “Why isn’t he coming?”
The witch’s teeth clacked. “Best guard your heart, girl. Now, let’s get you ready for the ball.”
What the hell was I supposed to do? Wait around in my ivory tower for my prince-not-so-charming to show up and rescue me?
Fuck that.
“The guests will begin arriving soon, and we shouldn’t keep the Lord waiting,” Holga said, breaking my train of thought. “He’ll come searching for you before long.”
“The Lord of Bones can kiss my ass,” I bit out, anger flaring. How dare he rob me of the last few hours I had to escape? That door had been too far away for three days to ever be enough time. He was a filthy cheater for not upholding his end of the bargain.
He knew I was doomed from the start, but he let me think I could escape to watch me struggle.
What a sick, sadistic fuck.
“No. I’m leaving.” I started to charge out of the bathroom, but before I could clear the door, my legs froze, one foot suspended in midair. My limbs were locked in place, refusing to move no matter how much I tried.
“What the hell?” I managed, even though my jaw was stiff. It was like every muscle in my body had suddenly gone rigid, holding me in place. I managed to shift my eyes in Holga’s direction.
She approached slowly, her footfalls getting closer until she stopped at my side. With a wave of her hand, I was able to stand up straight and glare at her.
“What are you doing?” I asked in disbelief. I tried to move forward, to reach out and grab her bony arm, but my body didn’t obey. I was at the mercy of Holga and her magic.
“I’m sorry, Lady Rayven,” she said, her voice soft and sad. “The Lord has requested that I get you ready for the evening, so that iswhat I must do. There is no escaping him. The best you can do is temper your heart. Don’t give into any more of his tricks.”
“Holga, please,” I begged, the corners of my eyes stinging as the weight in my chest returned, threatening to drag me to the stone floor. “You don’t understand. The Lord of Bones can’t claim me anymore. Belial owns my soul now.”
“Oh… No. Please, child. Tell me you didn’t…”
