Page 63 of All Hallows Fate

Pink spread across Pain’s cheeks, his pleasure written on his face even before his eyes softened and a smile curved his lips. “I love you, and I love that you’re in my corner no matter what happens. It’s mutual, in case that wasn’t obvious.”

“It was,” I assured him, aware my voice had become gentle and quiet. “Alright, Madde, tie him up but not too tightly.”

“I know how to shibari a dude,” Madde scoffed, which raised a million different questions and transformed the pink across Pain’s cheeks to red.

“I don’t know what that is,” Pain muttered.

“Your blush would suggest otherwise,” Tor snarked, joining us and clapping Pain on the shoulder. “It won’t be forever. Just until we’ve dealt with this prick and we know he can’t compel you.”

“We’ll get your heart back,” I promised Pain, leaning close to kiss him as Madde wrapped Pain’s joined hands in a length of shadow in lieu of rope. “We’ll—”

The pen clasped to my chest flashed suddenly red hot and I gasped, startling back.

“Cat?” Tor demanded, grabbing my arm.

The second my fingers met the burning gold, the courtyard tore away and I blinked through the darkness to see the twisted topiaries and pale statues that stood stalwart over the grounds of Cruelty’s manor.

I hissed through my teeth at the sight of this vile place, glaring at the full moon that crept out from behind a cloud and bathed the lawn in silver light.

“I fucking hate this place,” Tor said, making me jump so hard I almost fell over.

“Tor!” I realised he still held my arm, and I covered his hand with mine. “You’re here.”

“Why are we here, Cat?” He frowned. “Matter of fact, how the fuck did we get here?”

“I think—” I began.

“I brought her here,” Rosalind interrupted, moving towards us in that floating, not-quite-walking way. Her dark hair spilled over her shoulders like silk, her face as beautiful as it was irritated. “How did you get here, Torment?” Her expression slackened. “Could you bring my brother?”

“Next time,” I promised, pulling up a smile even though this place brought back so many memories. None of them were good memories. “Why did you bring us here, Rosalind? I found your sister; I think she’ll help us.”

Rosalind came close enough, her hands lifted, that she could have clasped my hands in hers—if hers weren’t spectral. “Thank you for finding Joanna. If anyone can save my niece from Violence, she can. But Violence has gone to ground, and I don’t trust him. He planned to ambush you at Death’s castle, but he saw Joanna and spooked. He’s afraid of her.”

“That’s good news?” I said with a frown at her tone.

“Bad news,” Tor corrected. “He’s even worse when he feels cornered.”

“You need to take the fight to him before he can put his plan in place,” Rosalind said, her eyes pinched with worry. “I don’t know where he’s hiding, but I know someone who does.”

“Why do I get the feeling we’re not going to like this?” I muttered, linking my fingers with Tor’s, trying to ignore that we stood in the garden where Cruelty mind-fucked me, and pushed me to master my creature.

“Nightmare’s disciples worked for Cruelty, but one followed Violence’s orders.”

“Alastair,” I spat.

“No.” Rosalind’s face shone in the moonlight, her eyes heavy with seriousness. “Wilfrith Riggs.”

“Wil?” I demanded, teeth bared and sharp, my creature surging to the surface. “The traitor who lied to my face? The bastard I thought was my friend? I’m not going to him for help.”

Wil pretended to be my friend right up to the end, when he shoved me off a square on the chessboard and onto the square that tormented me with claustrophobic visions of the mirrored room, the corridor of locked doors, and that fairy glade full of trees and keys that refused to open locks to free me. If Darya hadn’t helped me, I might still be trapped there.

So fuck no, we weren’t going to Wil for help.

But if we didn’t… I sighed. Heavily. Violence would get all the power from the domain, and there was no hope of saving Death.

“He’s the only person alive or dead who’ll know where to find Violence,” Rosalind said apologetically. “I can search for the god, and I will, but it could take weeks, maybe even months.”

“We’ll find the fucker,” Tor agreed, earning a scowl from me. “He can tell us where to find Violence, and then we’ll wipe him off the face of this earth.”