“Would you stop calling me that?” she grumbles.
“Never.” He smirks.
“Can we get on with it?” Penn interjects angrily.
Nero releases Nesrin and strides purposefully toward Penn, seizing him by the collar. “You have no right to demand anything of me. You and your family spent two hundred years making demands of Ashwiyaa and now look what’s happened.”
Penn’s eyes bore into Nero’s, radiating clear disdain, but he wisely chooses to remain silent. I’m honestly not sure who would win if it came to blows, but Penn is right—we need to get a move on.
“What Penn is trying to say is that Ash is in real danger. I saw her in my dreams. She is being held prisoner by something evil and it’s feeding off her. She is in a bad way and doesn’t have access to her magic.”
Nero releases his grip on Penn, his fingers slipping away like whispers in the wind. He turns his attention to me, his golden eyes filled with a mixture of determination and concern. The air around us crackles with electric energy.
“When Ashwiyaa never showed up at the rendezvous, I was worried and sent scouts out looking for her, but they have been unsuccessful in tracking her. However, being that she is your chosen mate, I think you should be able to locate her. I will take you to the place where I last laid eyes on Ashwiyaa,” he says, his voice steady yet tinged with a hint of regret. “The Outlands are forbidden, and I cannot enter. If it were not for this restriction, I would have followed her without hesitation.” Nero’s expression softens, his worry evident as he continues. “Time is working against us if Ashwiyaa is truly trapped without any means of getting out, so we must act immediately.”
Chapter seventeen
Ashwiyaa
“Like a seed at rest in the darkness, from my shadows I grow.”
Iwake up in a small cavern, flickering torches dimly lighting the area. Leaning against the chilly stone wall, I notice that my jeans, vest, and boots are missing. I’m barely covered, wearing only my crop top and panties. I shiver as I blink through the dense, hazy cloud hovering over my mind. Rolling my head, I stretch my neck, looking left to right but unable to see anyone else. The air is damp and cold, but surprisingly light, making it easy to draw in a breath.
Where am I?
The sound of water dripping nearby echoes in my ears, causing an instant dryness in my throat. An inaudible groan slips out as I try to swallow. My head throbs severely, making it difficult to think, and I’m unable to determine how much time has passed. I attempt to move, but the weight of the heavy iron chains on my ankles and wrists prevents me from going far.
Are you fucking serious?
“Where are you? You piece of shit!” I yell, my voice broken and hoarse.
The lack of sound makes me uneasy, with only the constant dripping of water to break the silence. I make the effort to move, but the weight of the chain becomes a burden, and the weakened state I’m in hinders every movement.
Heat shoots through my biceps and I look down at where a chunk of flesh is missing. The demon’s venom has hindered the usual automatic repairing of my body. Although I will eventually heal, it will be at a much slower pace and result in a hideous scar. If I survive this, it might be nice to have an actual scar as proof of what I’ve overcome.
It hasn’t even been a full seventy-two hours since this nightmare of a mission began, and already I’m held captive by a goddamn demon.
I knew my chances were slim, but I was hoping to make it through this realm unseen. The Outlands are only for those who know the roughness of the world they live in. For criminals and monsters alike. The fact that Penn, Demitri, and Alexander were willing to let me come here speaks volumes.
Whatever they want me to collect must be more valuable than my life, or they have too much faith in my abilities to pull this off.
With a heavy sigh, I drop my chin, my long, dark hair falling around my face. The pressure of not wanting to disappoint them weighs heavily on my shoulders. I also plan to see Kai again, and it will not be in the afterlife—we have too much to live for. That man has effortlessly charmed his way into my heart, leaving me smitten. His mischievous grin and captivating ocean eyes, framed by his tousled blond hair, make it hard to look away. I smile, my heart racing slightly at the thought of escaping from here and getting back to Kai. I’m here because I want my freedom, and I’m going to fight with all I have to get it.
“Smiling in your situation . . . that’s new.”
My head snaps up at the sound of the hissed demonic words floating in the air. I look around the cavern, taking in every shadowy corner and darkened crevasse. I narrow my eyes as I sense a change in the vibrations coming from the corner. Emerging from the shadowy depths, a figure begins to take shape.
“I was just thinking of all the ways I am going to make you suffer,” I answer.
With an eerie laugh, the demon steps into the light of the fire, his presence sending goosebumps scattering across my exposed skin. I remain composed as I silently observe his altered look. The demon’s appearance has drastically changed from that of an old, frail man to that of a much younger individual, perhaps in his early forties. His skin appears smooth and youthful, devoid of any wrinkles. His once-gray hair has transformed into a deep-black shade, with only a hint of gray at the temples.
“Oh, do you like the new look?” he says, turning in a circle with his arms out wide. “Seems I only need a small amount of your blood to make a difference.”
“You’re a pile of steamy horse shit, you know that?”
The demon’s eyes glimmer with amusement at my words. “I knew you were special when I saw you cross the veil. You are brimming with magic, so much so you were like a beacon in the night. I could practically taste you on the air. You will keep me fed and young for a very, very long time.”
In front of me, the demon crouches, his previously outdated tunic and breeches gone. He’s now in a tailored suit, made to perfection. With a slight tilt of his head, he focuses his gaze on me, his eyes filled with deep contemplation.
