Page 53 of Ivy & Bone

“Why?”

“Because he’s the devil. Because he belongs to another realm. Because I tricked him into binding himself to me. Because I brought him here against his will. Because he’s power-hungry and murderous. Do I need to continue?”

Mona sighed, her expression turning somber. “You can’t help who you love, Prue.”

“I do not love him.”

“Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. But my point is, you can’t force yourself to feel a certain way.”

Prue bit her lip and looked away, though it pained her. Ever since she showed up on this beach with Mona, she’d wanted to drink in her sister every second, reminding herself she was really here. Even if Prue knew that, in a sense, none of this was real at all. Prue assumed she was dead. What other explanation was there?

But she was perfectly content with it.

“I can’t afford to go down that road with him,” Prue said at last. She would play along with Mona’s game, using the present tense as if she had a world to go back to. It was fun to pretend she could just chat about boys with Mona without a care in the world.

“Why? Because of Xandros, or because of me?”

Prue flinched. That was one thing she didn’t miss; Mona had an abrupt sort of frankness when she asked questions. She held nothing back. “I think . . . both. I gave Xandros my body, and he died. But I didn’t love him.” She finally met Mona’s stare. “I did love you. I still do. Both losses still haunt me . . . for different reasons.”

Mona nodded in understanding. She turned back toward the rolling waves, her gaze turning distant. “I can’t stay.”

Prue blinked. “Why not?”

“Neither of us belongs here, Prue. You and I both know that.”

Prue shook her head. “I don’t—”

“Do me a favor,” Mona said, her voice soft. “Don’t hold back because of me, okay?” She took Prue’s hand and squeezed. “If our roles were reversed, you’d want me to live, right? Instead of letting guilt consume me completely?”

A hard lump formed in Prue’s throat, and she couldn’t speak.

Mona stood, wiping sand from her dress.

“Where are you going?” Prue jumped to her feet, alarmed at the thought of parting from her sister.

“He’s calling for me,” Mona said, her eyes darkening. “If I delay, he’ll come and fetch me himself. I can’t risk him finding you.”

“Who?”

“He won’t tell me his name. Not until . . .” Her expression shuddered, and her face drained of color. “Shit. He’s here.”

Prue’s heart thundered in her chest as a figure materialized behind Mona. He was tall and muscular, his broad shoulders spanning twice the width of Cyrus’s, which was an impressive feat in itself. His black hair curled just past the nape of his neck, with a single streak of silver lining it. Small, dark horns protruded from his temples.

Prue knew without a doubt this was one of Cyrus’s brothers. And she’d seen him before. He was the one from Prue’s dream—the one who had snatched Mona, dragging her into the darkness. Prue’s bones chilled from his very presence. His eyes, silver like Cyrus’s, fixed on Mona with a cold, hungry look.

“It’s time,” he said, his voice a deep rumble.

Mona flinched, and Prue came forward, anger replacing her fear in a fierce protectiveness toward her sister. “She’s not going anywhere.”

The prince of Hell scoffed. “What will you do about it? You are between worlds, witch. You have no power here.”

Prue’s nostrils flared, though her chest quivered from the truth behind his words. Between worlds. Neither dead nor alive. She grabbed Mona’s arms, fingernails digging in insistently. He would have to pry Mona free by force if he wanted to take her.

“Prue,” Mona whispered, as if reading her sister’s intent. “I can’t stay. You know that.”

Prue swallowed hard. Deep down, she did know this. During seances, the Mother of their coven always outlined the rules of communing between worlds. The spirits couldn’t linger for very long or risk their souls being torn apart.

Part of her didn’t want to believe that’s what this place was. She preferred to think she was dead, right alongside her sister. That they could spend an eternity together.

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