Page 3 of A Bond in Flames

“Zinnia, don’t do this. There has to be another way,” she said.

“I have a sister who needs me, and I won’t abandon her. I’ll come with you, but only if I’m free to move between realms.”

“No.”

“That’s my condition.”

He was silent for several long moments. “Each time you visit, you must remain with me for at least one lunar month before returning to your realm.”

“Then I want a lunar month here as well.”

Death made a sound raw and violent. “I will agree, but only until your sister’s eighteenth birthday. After that, you will remain here with me.”

“Her twenty-first birthday,” I countered.

He shook his head, about to argue.

“If you agree, I’ll leave with you now,” I said.

He was quiet for a moment, then finally inclined his head. “But know this, consort, if you fail to return to me, the bargain is void. I will come for you, and when I have you back, I’ll never let you leave.”

“Understood,” I said. “And if you refuse to let me leave, same deal, the bargain is void. And I promise you, I’ll find a way to escape, and you’ll never see me again.”

“Don’t do this,” Rose sobbed beside me.

I closed the space between us and pulled her into a tight hug. “I knew this day would come, Roe. I can’t hide anymore. It’s done.” I looked into her eyes. “Take care of Jazzy for me, and Hemlock. It’s only four weeks, and then I’ll be back.”

“Thank you,” Rose choked out.

I tucked her hair behind her ear. “I want a party when I get home, okay? Something to look forward to.”

“You’ve got it,” she whispered.

“Consort,” Death said, making me jolt.

I stepped away from my cousin, grabbed my clothes, shoved them in my pack, and turned to Death. He held out his hand as I strode up to him. “Pass on the hand holding. I’m not a fan of PDA,” I said, then turned back to my sweet cousin, blew her a kiss, and walked through the archway and into Limbo.

The gate closed immediately, locking me in.

I was naked and covered in my own blood. A moment ago, I’d felt powerful—not now. Now I felt vulnerable and alone, but there was no way in hell I was showing the god staring down at me that. Death stood tall on the path of skulls, a path that disappeared into the dark forest surrounding us. He was concealed by his cloak that moved around his body like a living shadow.

Dropping my pack, I quickly pulled on my clothes and shoved my feet in my boots, then looked up at him. “Well?” I said, when he said nothing. “I assume we follow the path?”

“Do not veer off it.”

At the sound of his voice, my knees almost buckled under me. Somehow, I locked them before I fell to the ground and screamed. “Awesome. Let’s get going, then.” I strode ahead and immediately wished I hadn’t as creatures I couldn’t make out darted along beside us, disappearing into the forest. Branches cracked as if something large was moving through the trees close by. Shrieks and strange mournful howls from animals I did not recognize echoed around us. And Death himself, right behind me. Goddess, I felt him there every step of the way.

I didn’t think it actually took that long, but with Death looming behind me, it felt like an eternity before we rounded a bend and a huge black stone castle came into view. It jutted up from the ground, imposing and dreadful, and it took everything inside me not to justrun. Even though there was nowhere for me to go, the urge to run was almost impossible to resist.

We walked up its wide steps, to the massive arched doors, and they instantly swung open. A horned demon stood there. His skin was leathery and mottled green. His eyes were scarlet, and he had pointed, shiny black horns. I grabbed my knife.

“No,” Death rumbled behind me.

My knife was snatched from my hand.

“Egon is my servant. You will not harm him.”

Egon backed away, staring at me in an odd way, a look in his eyes that I couldn’t read. Death kept coming, still close behind me, directing me to a wide black staircase without a word.

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