Cool.
The air smelled more of mossy rocks and forests. There was a hint of something long-closed away. Kind of like sawdust and disuse, but it was hard to pinpoint. The path wound between huge boulders and led right up to the gates themselves, which might as well have been affixed into the side of a mountain.
I craned my head back. No might as well about it. It was definitely on the side of the mountain.
Okay, that would almost be neat, but I wasn’t here to sightsee.
I half-expected the guards to rush out and grab me, but guess what? It was deader than a doornail out here. No birds. Barely any sunlight. It had been dark back in London, but we were definitely not in England anymore.
Another breath, and I rolled my shoulders back.
Apparently, I had to do everything myself. They weren’t even going to capture me and drag me inside.
How damn inconsiderate of them.
Marching up to the gates, I glanced around for their version of a doorbell. If I had to actually break into the prison itself, I was going to report them all to the management.
Rolling my head from side to side, I gave a little shudder and shook off all the apprehension. The sudden influx of nerves wouldn’t help anyone. And I had to find Maddox and Fin. I needed them more than I needed my next breath.
The moment I thought of them, the tug was unmistakable. Maddox was inside those gates. I closed my eyes—don’t look at me like that, no this is not the best place, but I still needed to check—and the sense of him pulled me forward almost unerringly. I could find him in the dark without even trying.
I could follow that pull to the other side of the world if I had to.
I may never have asked to be a vampire or their mate, but…they were mine, dammit. I wasn’t giving them up.
Ahh, Beautiful. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.
Tears flooded my eyes as I jerked them open. But all I saw were the gates. Dammit.
Go back, Fiona. Yes? Go back for us and let Rogue or Alfred come. Or better yet, just wait for us. We’ll get out of here sooner or later.
Are you insane? I demanded. Seriously. I did not just jump out of windows, climb down a mountain, break every single nail I had, and figure out how to compel some schmuck so I could get clothes to cross a continent to get to London—where, I might add, I wouldn’t have found if several witches didn’t owe me a lot of favors—so I could just leave you here.
I love you, too.
The declaration took a lot of wind out of my temper. But it didn’t change facts.
I’m not leaving without you.
He didn’t growl at me, but he did go quiet for so long, my heart squeezed.
All right. This is a terrible idea.
I’m very good at terrible ideas.
Yes, you are…
I could almost hear him grumbling, even as his eyes flashed with amusement. As much as he might complain… You like it when I’m contrary.
Yes, Beautiful, I do. I have from the very beginning. You’re perfect just the way you are. Are you sure I can’t persuade you to turn back?
I won’t leave without you. I couldn’t. The very thought was like a gaping hole in my chest. No, not only could I not leave, I wouldn’t.
Beautiful, I plan to hold you to that for the rest of our unnaturally long and decadent lives.
Yeah?
I almost grinned, despite standing in front of these grim and gruesome gates.
Yes. I have a great many bad things I want to do to you.
And some good things, too, I hope. Because Alfred and Rogue are probably going to spank me until I can’t stand, queen or not.
His mental laughter suffused me with such warmth.
I’ll be sure to bring a balm for your rosy cheeks.
Ass.
But I was still grinning.
Deal.
Now, let’s get you inside and that means…
Even as he filtered his ideas through, I could almost taste his weariness. He hid it beneath a veneer of cheerfulness and play. The flintiness in his voice though couldn’t quite disguise the pain. Another reason I wouldn’t leave him.
I wouldn’t leave either of them.
Okay, so…I needed to make some noise. Gripping the metal gates in my hands, I began to shake them with all the force I could muster.
The metal actually screamed in protest, and metal shavings rained down on me. Magic suffused these gates, but thankfully, it didn’t burn like those shackles Maddox slapped on me day one.
Hell, I’d almost forgotten about them.
I paused a second, and the sudden silence was almost jarring.
“Seriously?” I yelled. “What do I have to do to get a fucking guard out here? Hello! Dorran!” I slammed a fist against the gate and then yanked. The metal shrieked as it split, and I tore off a whole bar.
Oops.
A soft mental chuckle stroked against my senses. Just figuring out how strong you are?
Shut up. I broke a damn nail and my shins jumping out a window. If I’d known I could have punched my way out of the door, I’d have done that.
We’ll teach you, Beautiful. Though in all honesty, I think we’ve all been waiting to see what you could do.
Yeah, I guessed they had. I gripped the gates and pulled, bending the metal as it screamed, and the magic buzzed like so many bees stinging at my skin, but it rolled off me more like a nuisance than a real irritation.
Oh, if magic didn’t affect me anymore…fucking yes! I’d have to rethink my irritation at being signed up unwillingly, ’cause that was lottery worthy.
Not us?
Pfft. I had you before you finished forcing my transition. Don’t play that card with me.
True, Beautiful. You did.
I grinned and stepped through the twisted and crumpled metal and headed toward the main doors.
I lifted a fist and slammed it against the door. That one didn’t crumple. Nor did it buckle and blow inward. It did make a dreadful gonging sound.
“Knock knock,” I yelled. “Avon calling.”
Fin’s mental chuckle warmed me.
The door began to crank, the roll of chains and pulleys announcing the locks being lifted and the drop gate pulled upward, even as the doors swung wide.
Dorran stood there, a black stain of shadow and darkness surging out to lick toward me. “Fiona,” he greeted me. “My sweet pet. I told you that you’d come to me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I told him as I strode forward. The shadows writhed toward me and back, never quite touching as I made my way inside. I had to go in willingly, right? Look at me, all willing and shit. “You also said you’d be waiting.”
Wrapping his hand around my throat, Dorran loomed over me and dipped his head toward me as though he planned to kiss me. “And here I am…”
I really fucking hate this guy, Beautiful. Do not let him kiss you.
Really? That’s your concern right now?
The shadow demon’s lips barely touched mine, and a roar split through the silence of the prison, shaking the entire foundation.
Maddox.
I exhaled, jerking my head back, even as a stupid grin covered my face.
Told you. Fin sounded almost smug. Go ahead. Let the bastard try to kiss you again and see what happens.
You know. I just might.
Chapter 2
“I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, I’m thinking of making a few more.” - Anonymous