Page 7 of Demanding Discord
“Before she joined Lucifer’s court, I do not know,” I said, studying her intently. She must have felt the same hesitation as I did. “After they coupled, she resided in the palace. I’m not sure if she spent nights in this realm at all before then.”
Cinder rubbed her arms. “Do you feel that?”
“What do you feel?”
“Fresh magic. For an abandoned temple, it sure feels…alive.” She took three more steps and paused to study the torso of a woman in a Grecian robe. “She must be here.”
I caught her hand before she could continue up the path. “Are you sure it’s Hecate’s energy that you feel? The vibration I sense is too low. Focus on it.”
She chuckled. “Did you just ask me to do a vibe check?”
“If vibe is short for vibration, then yes. The energy feels demonic.”
Closing her eyes, she inhaled two deep breaths. “Everything has felt demonic since the moment I got here. I can’t tell the difference anymore.”
“We should leave.”
“And go where? So far, this is the only lead we’ve got, and if there is even the slightest chance Hecate is hiding in there, we have to check it out.”
I was loath to continue this journey. Whatever awaited us inside would not be the benevolent goddess Cinder hoped to find, but—against my better judgment—I agreed. We had no other option. “Proceed with caution.”
“Always.” She crept forward, one hand resting on the dagger at her hip, the other stretched outward as if she were feeling the air for magic. Her arm hairs stood on end, and tension rolled off her in waves. Instinct told her something was awry, but she chose to ignore it…a dangerous decision.
I followed her as she continued toward the temple, my stomach sinking further with each step. “Why do we assume Hecate is in the Underworld? If she were that angry with Lucifer, would she not have left the realm?”
Cinder turned toward me. “I don’t think she can leave.”
“She’s the original psychopomp. Of course she can.”
She pressed her lips into a line and shook her head. “Not without the amulet. Seraphine told me her magic is stuck inside it.”
I stopped abruptly, grabbing Cinder’s hand before she could ascend the steps. “What do you mean?”
“Apparently, that amulet was a token of their love. Lucifer infused it with his power to send beings across the veil at whim, and Hecate gave up her power of resurrection. Neither of them can send anyone to other realms…including themselves, I assume.”
Annoyance twisted in my chest. “Why are you just now telling me this?”
“I’ve been a little distracted.” She shrugged.
“We cannot survive this quest while withholding information from each other.”
“Now you know how I’ve felt since the moment I met you.” She tugged from my grasp. “I wasn’t withholding on purpose. You almost died. Then I almost died. Then you kissed me. Twice. Cut me some slack.”
I ground my teeth. She made a fair point. I hadn’t been the most forthcoming with her thus far, but our situation had changed. My feelings for this feisty woman had changed.
What irked me now was the fact that Seraphine, a mere witch, knew the true purpose of the amulet when I did not. If I had known the symbolism, the reason for its creation, I never would have wagered it all those centuries ago.
“You are forgiven,” I said, “and, technically, you kissed me the first time.”
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “We’re even then.”
“I promise to divulge any and all important information to you from this point forward,” I said. “Will you pledge the same?”
“Of course.” Her eyes widened as if the speed of her reply surprised her. “Like I said, I wasn’t keeping it a secret on purpose. Can we go in now?”
“Allow me to en?—”
She climbed the steps and disappeared inside.
