“Nice to see you again, tell me how does it feel to know that I’ve tasted that pretty cunt of yours Salem?”
The hair on the back of my neck rises as I fight the urge to beat this motherfucker to a bloody pulp. “Get the fuck out of our way.” She says and fuck me I love her backbone.
“I don’t think I will. Where were you planning on going that we wouldn’t find you?” Pride taunts, holding a knife to Nyx’s neck.
“Let me go, scum!” She squirms knife cutting a small slice into her skin.
“I do love it when they fight back.”
“Agh, you pig. I can’t believe this turns you on.” Nyx stops fighting, eyes wide as she takes in a shuddering breath.
“Let her go, Pride.” Hecate warns, hands raised as light gathers in her palm. Looking around, we’re surrounded by all seven sins. They close in, swords raised, light glistening off their horns. It’s a bizarre feeling knowing these demons once possessed us, yet we have no idea how to fight them off. We’re unarmed and relying of Hecate to get us the fuck out of here. If I have to go down swinging against a hoard of demons, I will.
The clamor of horse hooves grows closer. “Good catch, Sins.” A women’s voice calls. Salem inhales a sharp breath, turning to see Persephone. She’s wearing an elaborate riding habit, complete with an armored breast plate. Her black horse trots up to where we stand caged together, caught like mice in a trap.
“Nice to see you again.” Salem says. Her words drip with sarcasm. I grab her hand and she squeezes her fingers around mine.
“Where is my daughter? Is she not with you?”
“I’m right here.” Persephone whirls around, to see Skye standing off to the side.
Hecate waves her hand, recognizing her opportunity. It knocks back Pride and Nyx, opening the way to the portal behind them.
“Run.” She instructs. My feet obey, and within two strides I’m falling through the portal, Salem’s hand in mine. Colors whirl as the world morphs in front of my eyes, before we’re spit out on black sand. An inky sludge of water floats past and a boat anchored to a small pier bobs with the current.
Pierce and Garrison come sprawling out next. “Fuck! Get off me.” Pierce swears, hands crumpled under Garrison’s ass. They don’t have time to react before getting tackled by an airborne Emmet, who topples on top of them both. They groan while Salem looks down at them, hands on hips.
“Where’s Hecate?” Salem asks, looking into the portal. As she looks, it wavers then fizzles out of existence.
“She shoved these in my hands before Persephone shot her power at her chest.” Emmet unclenches his fist, revealing a stack of coins. “She said they’re for the river.”
I turn and look at the boat, seeing a looming figure emerge from the pier. “For the river.” I repeat, as understanding washes over me.
Salem grabs the coins from Emmet, swaying her hips with each step. “Let’s go on a boat ride, boys.”
We brush ourselves off and follow her. Well, here the fuck we go.
CHAPTER44
Chapter Forty-Four
SKYE
SONG: UNSTEADY BY X AMBASSADORS
“Mom?” I search for the woman I once knew. Her face is the same, but there’s a coldness coating her eyes. Ones that I’d always found to be warm and comforting. Are all my memories of her a lie?
“Daughter.” She dismounts from her horse and hands the reigns off to someone in armor. “It’s been far too long. Look at you. A young woman now.” She clasps my chin in her cold hands and twists my head from side to side, examining me. Her nails dig into my flesh. She releases me, but the stinging sensation remains. “Come. We have much to discuss. Fredrick, make sure the riffraff is imprisoned. And use the magic suppressing irons on them.”
“Skye don’t listen to her.” Nyx calls out as she’s hauled away. She kicks at the demons, but they just laugh at her futile attempts.
Persephone turns, eyebrow cocked as she watches Nyx struggle against her captives. “Why are you doing this?” I ask. There’s a cruelness in her smile that unnerves me. I fear I’ve made a grave mistake not going with Salem.
“I have my reasons. None of which I wish to bore you with now.”
“Wait. Where are you taking them?” My mouth drops in horror as I try to push past the soldiers surrounding my guys. “They aren’t a threat, they’re with me.” They don’t listen though, and continue to place shackles around Sloan, Graham, and Lukas. “Stop this.” I implore the woman who I’d known as my mother.
“Oh child. It’s for your own good. You don’t need your mates holding you back.”
