You are beyond enough, Maddison. You’re a fucking gift, and I will never let you go.
A small part of me feared this type of fatalistic conversation. Usually they preceded us both dying in a fiery catastrophe, and considering where we were going, and the unknown we were facing, my fears were not unfounded.
I didn’t regret it though. Asher had my chest burning in the best way, and this moment was worth any temptation for the Fates to destroy us.
When we finally reached the veil, even with my shitty non-power eyes, I could see it clearly. An unbroken curtain of darkness that couldn’t be moved or penetrated—demonstrated by Rayge as he pushed against it.
“How do we get through?” I asked.
Asher and Braxton had some sort of silent conversation, before the huge dragon flapped a few times and turned back to the sheet of nightmares.
“He’s going to see if it’s immune to dragonfire,” Asher said quickly, “since it’s able to cut through most magic.”
He moved us further away, and we both watched as a blast of flame scorched the air across the dark sheet. The other two dragons joined him, and I shook my head at the intense blue-black flame.
“Remind me not to piss off a dragon,” I murmured, and Asher shot me a slow smile.
“You could take on a dragon any day, and if you want my opinion, you should start with Rayge.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What’s your issue with Rayge? Seriously. It’s time to finally tell me.”
Asher sucked in a deep breath, his gaze conflicted. Through our bond I could tell he was sorting out his thoughts, so I didn’t pry further. “Our parents were friends,” he started in a low voice. “Rayge and I didn’t know each other that well, he was already much older when our families would catch up, and was never really around.” He sucked in another lungful of air, anger spilling into his next words. “The first time I really saw him, he was on trial for killing his parents. I went because mine weren’t alive to be there, and I felt like they would have wanted to go. Rayge sat in that room, and his expression never changed once, and whenever I went near him, my fucking hair stood on end. There was something in his gaze, Maddison … he’s dangerous.” His eyes left mine to rest on the bronze dragon.
“He killed his parents,” I breathed, turning my head to see Rayge as well. “Did he go to prison?”
Asher shook his head. “No. He was found guilty of killing them but wasn’t punished. To this day, I have no idea what happened between him and his family, and the fact that he wasn’t sent to a supernatural prison should be enough to ease my worries … but my initial assessment hasn’t changed. He is dangerous. Just … maybe not to you.”
Rayge shifted his head, dragon fire cutting off as he met my gaze. No doubt with his supernatural senses, he’d heard everything.
“He’s not dangerous to me,” I said to Asher. “I’m pretty good at judging someone’s nature, and that’s not a supe you have to worry about turning on you. If you deserve his trust and loyalty, you have it for life.”
Rayge’s eyes were shadowed as he nodded. Before I could say anything else, he’d turned back to the veil, dragon fire once again spewing from his jaws.
Asher watched us both. “I will trust you on this. No doubt my past clouded my judgement of him.”
Asher lost his family. He believed they’d been murdered, and no information ever came out about it. Someone choosing to kill their parents was probably a decent trigger for him.
“The dragon-fire isn’t working,” Asher snarled, startling me from my thoughts.
He moved us closer, a blast of heat blowing my hair back and giving my cheeks a stretched, stiff feeling. “We need to help them,” I decided. “My energy is back in my control again ... I’m willing to throw it at the veil.”
Asher moved us further along, so we weren’t at risk of being burned, and I reached out to touch the sheet of darkness. “The fire was breaking the bonds, just not fast enough,” I noted. “At least we know it can be parted, all we need is to find the right power to do it.”
Asher reached out as well, and when my hand finally landed on the dark sheet, I expected it to feel how it looked, like a thick, heavy, curtain. Instead my hand went right through to the other side, and I lurched forward with it.
“Maddison!” Asher cursed, reaching out to grab me, both of us tumbling through.
The other side was nothing like the side of darkness and mystery.
Crystal clear blue skies, clean air that smelled like sunshine and flora, and a creek casually cutting through the green grass below. An animal chirped near my ear, and I thought it was a little bird until I turned my no doubt astonished eyes on a tiny fluttering … fairy. I mean, that’s what it resembled. Like Mab crossed with a lightbulb, shining brightly.
The chirping formed into words. “Welcome to Heptashia’s underworld. Please, do not panic. You may have left your previous life behind, but here you will be safe and content and happy for the rest of your eternity. You will find your family and loved ones here, including all of your pets. You will find your greatest heart’s desires. Please follow me.”
Turning to Asher, my words died on my tongue.What…?
The look on his face … dread and pain.
“Ash?” I said softly.
