Page 31 of Demanding Discord
I turned as Discord shoved Mr. Beefy into the throng, and I caught a glimpse of his intestine in someone’s hand before I grabbed my demon’s arm and tugged him toward the hallway.
Banging sounded on the back door, the second set of fiends trying to break in. An imp followed as I ducked into the bedroom, and I motioned for Discord to join me, slamming the door as soon as he crossed the threshold.
“Unless you have a powerful ward to cast on this space,” he said, “a thin door will not keep them out for long.”
“Help me move the bed.” I leaned against the side and shoved while the imp jumped on the mattress like we were having a demonic slumber party.
Discord braced his hands against the headboard and pushed, sliding it aside easily and revealing a pentagram situated in a circle, etched into the black stone floor. The moment I stepped inside, blue sigils glowed at each point of the star. The magical symbols represented travel, speed, crossroads, strength, and decisions.
“Come on. This is our escape pod.” I motioned for him to join me, and he arched a skeptical brow.
“How did you know where to find this?” he asked.
Crash! The back door busted open. Hooves plodded on the stone. The imp squealed and jumped into the circle, sitting its slimy butt down on my boot.
“I’ll explain later. Come here.” I made a grabby motion with my hand, and my stubborn demon finally joined me in the circle.
“Goddess, hear me. We’re in dire need. Activate the circle with magic and speed.” I clutched Discord’s hand and braced myself, hoping to Hecate my little on-the-fly incantation would be enough to get this baby running.
Nothing happened.
The bedroom door flew off its hinges. Two nasty-looking demons with black teeth and snot hanging from their snouts stormed in. I recited the incantation again. And again, nothing happened. Crap!
The demons crossed the room in three long strides. One created an energy ball in his hands. My heart hammered in my chest. My mouth went dry, and my throat nearly closed as they growled and clicked. One eyed the circle on the floor, taking half a step backward. The other paid it no mind.
He swiped a taloned hand toward my face. I recited the incantation at super-speed. His claws hit an invisible wall of magic, and sparks filled the room with bright blue light.
My skin itched and tingled, like static electricity had engulfed me, every hair on my body standing on end. The blue light grew brighter and brighter, blinding me for a full five seconds before it dissipated.
My eyes watered as my vision slowly swam into focus. I blinked rapidly and gasped, pressing a hand to my chest as I took in the scene. A deep-purple velvet duvet covered a massive bed, way bigger than a king, and a matching rug covered most of the polished granite floor. An intricately carved armoire stood against the far wall, and a dressing table, complete with a ginormous round mirror and a silver hairbrush set, stood next to it. Orange light streamed in through a slit in the heavy curtains, slicing across the mattress before fading into the corner of the space.
“Where are we?” I whispered.
The imp darted toward the bed, but Discord caught it by the scruff of its neck before it could get slime all over the blankets. His expression grim, he set the little bugger on the floor and held his palm toward it, signaling it to stay as if he were commanding a dog.
“We are inside Hecate’s private chambers…at the palace,” he said.
My mouth fell open, my brows creeping toward my hairline. It made sense. If Hecate kept that house as her secret she shed—her place for alone time—of course the portal would lead right back to the palace. She could move between the two spaces freely, with no one the wiser. But that meant…
“We’re back to square one.” My shoulders slumped. “We should have fought our way out of the shack. If I’d known the circle would bring us here, I wouldn’t have used it.”
“Tell me what you saw when you scried.” He opened a dressing table drawer and peered inside before closing it and moving on to the next one. “Did you see Hecate?”
“Yes and no.” I sank onto a dark wood feinting couch, leaning my elbows on my knees and wringing my hands. “I think…maybe.”
“We cannot stay here.”
“I know.” But I needed more time to process the experience. My mind hadn’t put together the bits and pieces I’d felt and seen, and gathering my thoughts felt like trying to pluck Toto out of a tornado.
I shot to my feet, shaking my head. “I don’t know.”
“Focus, my love.” He gripped my shoulders, and a calming sensation washed through me, bringing order to my discordant thoughts.
My chest warmed, and a ghost of a smile curved my lips. “I connected with my mom. She’s the one who’s been guiding me.”
His brow furrowed, and he released his hold. The moment he broke contact, my thoughts swirled again, confusion pushing aside my moment of clarity.
“Or maybe it wasn’t her. It could have been Hecate herself…or Ruin or Seraphine.” I nipped the corner of my bottom lip. “I don’t know.”
