Page 32 of Bond of Passion

Chapter 11

“What the fuck?”

Sin stood inside Underworld General’s Harrowgate, staring at the glowing map on the wall. The big-screen-TV-sized map had worked fine when she first entered and tapped one of two choices: Human realm or demon realm. She’d chosen human, and the map had expanded to show the entire planet. She’d selected Ireland, and once again the map had expanded and zoomed in to a detailed graph of the island and all its Harrowgates. But nothing happened when she tapped the gate closest to Tavin’s house.

She tapped again. And again. What the hell? If the Harrowgate were private, a code would have been required. But this was a public gate, so it should open.

It was always possible that some dumbass was standing too close and keeping it open or that it was out of order. But, usually, the gate symbol went dark if one wasn’t working.

Taking deep, calming breaths, she waited in the dark, claustrophobic space for another minute and tried again. Nothing. If someone was keeping it open, she was going to be furious. Of course, someone else might be trying to get to Underworld General, and she was keeping its Harrowgate busy too. And then they’d be keeping theirs busy…it would turn into a whole big traffic jam.

She scanned the map for the next closest gate to Tavin, but it was at least ten miles away, which would mean a long walk unless she could rent a car or bike or catch an Uber in a nearby town.

Son of a bitch.

She tapped the symbol, and the gate opened inside what she thought might be a castle ruin.

In the middle of nowhere. So, no hope for a rented bike even.

Cursing, she started jogging down the overgrown path in hopes it would lead her to a road that would then get her to Tavin’s.

A sense of urgency drove her, even though she had no proof that anything bad was going on. He could be sleeping. Or showering. Or taking a swim in the ocean. Still, over a hundred years of experience had taught her some hard lessons, and one of them was that ignoring her instincts came at a cost.

Always.

“Hold on, buddy,” she said as she picked up her pace. “I’m coming.”