Page 90 of Bound

“You could come with me, you know,” I offer. He reminds me alittle of myself before fate changed my life completely.

Dante shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.One of me is probably more than any plane should have to handle. I think I’llhave to try to make a go of it here. Besides, I have my shop, you know.”

He’s scared, and I don’t blame him. I might spend more timetrying to convince him, but I only have two hours before that door opens. “Ifyou change your mind, you know where the gate is.”

As I move toward the stairs that lead to the apartment, Isee Dante sitting very still, obviously deep in thought.

I heft the duffel bag in one hand. It’s heavy butnothing I can’t handle. My heart races as Dante slams his door shut and turnson his halogen flashlight. My boots crunch the gravel beneath my feet as wemake our way to the door of the warehouse. The air is cool at this time ofnight, and I pull my sweater closer.

Dante goes first, pushing the heavy door aside and holdingit open. He holds his free hand out. “Let me carry that for you. Come on. It’smy last chance to be a gentleman.”

Holding the bag out, I allow Dante to take it. I exchange itfor the flashlight. He slings the bag over his shoulder and follows me into thedarkened recesses of the warehouse. It’s different from when we visited earlierin the afternoon. There’s a gloom over the whole place that seems veryforeboding. I take a deep breath and force myself to continue moving forward.

“Wow, I really don’t like this place,” Dante says. “I wantto leave.”

I look back at him. His face is pinched and tight with fear.I sympathize. If I didn’t have to be here, I would probably be running rightnow. “It’s the doorway. I’m sure there are wards to protect it. Don’t worry.I’ll be fine. You don’t have to come in with me. I can make it on my own.”

His eyes narrow, and even in the shadows, I can see I pissedhim off. “Just lead the way, sister. I might not be a vampire, but I can handleit.”

“Of course you can, Mr. Dellacourt,” a silky voice says fromthe shadows. I nearly jump out of my skin as the light reveals we’re not alone.A Planeswalker stands on the steps leading to the second floor. He turns hishead away from the light. “If you please, Your Highness, that is intrusive.”

I direct the flashlight away from his face. My hands shakeas I face the demon. Is this the same demon who brought me here? I think Irecognize the voice. “Are you here to stop me from going home?”

The demon’s laugh fills the space. “No, Your Highness. I’mhere to use the door. I walk these planes on a daily basis. I gain strengthfrom crossing through the veil. My body requires that energy to function. Ialso take contracts and receive payment to access the doors from those lessintelligent than yourself and the great Mr. Dellacourt.”

Dante snorts. “Yeah, I’m great. I almost peed myself whenyou started talking. Is he going to kill us?”

The last bit is whispered my direction.

“As I haven’t been paid to do so, I will forego any murdersthis evening,” the demon promises, proving his hearing is excellent. “I waslooking forward to a very dull passage. Now I have a bit of excitement. It wasclever of you to find the door, Your Highness. The hag is going to be somewhatupset to discover you’ve found the way back to your kingdom. I believe heremployer will be upset as well.”

“Torin,” I surmise.

The demon smiles, showing jagged teeth. “Yes, the pretenderis terrified of the warrior king. He should be even more frightened now. Thephilosopher king has a bit of the warrior’s rage since the bonding. He couldprove even more formidable than his twin.”

“Beck isn’t sure he even wants the throne anymore,” Iexplain. My warrior husband is tired of fighting.

The demon studies me for a moment. “I doubt he’ll have achoice when the time comes. As for you, Mr. Dellacourt, your choices are justbeginning. There’s a whole world open and ripe for the plucking. I think you’vemade the first choice that will take you on the road to greatness.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” There’s an oddlook on Dante’s face. If I didn’t know better, I would swear he looks guilty.

“Don’t listen to him,” I say, grasping his hand in my own.He’s shaking slightly. “He’s a demon. I don’t think they’re known for theirhonesty.”

“On the contrary, Your Highness,” the Planeswalker says withan offended air. “I never lie when the truth is so deliciously awful. But Mr.Dellacourt’s future is neither here nor there. It is your future that is atrisk. I’m looking forward to seeing if you can save those boys of yours.”

“They’re in danger?” I ask the question, but I know theanswer. They would be weakened without me there to bridge their minds. They’vebeen in danger since the minute I was taken from them.

“Oh, yes,” the demon says smoothly, as though we’rediscussing some juicy gossip. “The hag managed to catch one of them with herspell, but the intellectual half evaded her. I’m afraid she didn’t ask theright questions. She asked for a spell that would shift the warrior’s magic.She assumed it would shift into her. That was a mistake.”

“Cian absorbed it.” I know exactly what’s happened. “Then hewas strong enough to run with Beck?”

“Oh, yes, Your Highness. King Cian was able to flee with hisbrother on his back. His own poor body, however, could not handle the strain ofboth their powers. He had to find safe haven. Both he and the warrior arecurrently in a fugue state. They sleep, waiting for the one who can set them torights.”

Tears pool in my eyes. “I have to get to them.”

The demon nods sagely. “Yes, I suspect you do. The hag wasgetting close to breaking through the barriers to their haven when I movedthrough yesterday. If you could kill her, Your Highness, I would be grateful.She signed her soul over to me, you see. As she should live a very long time, Idoubt she was worried she would have to pay up. I could use her skills on theHell plane. There’s much going on here on the Earth plane. A new power isrising, and I could use the hag’s skills.”

I’m not doing this to help the demon. I have own reasons forkilling the hag. And I won’t feel an ounce of regret when the demon drags thebitch to hell. “I promise I’ll kill her the minute I get the chance. I have aplan, you see.”