My heart plummeted, and I had no idea why.
“What will you do with her?”
“I’ll torture her until I find out everything I need on the good Lord Thax.” A wicked grin flashed across his dark lips. “Perhaps I was too hasty, Sark. Your appearance with the little demon could be good fortune after all.”
That’s what you think. Darkness invaded my vision as my demon clawed her way past me. She was inches from breaking free, and this time I wouldn’t stop her. The moment his attention was diverted, we’d strike.
We reached another door, and Delacroix waved his palm across a scanner. It swung open and a row of cells appeared before me. Oh, hells no. The rush of energy bursting to break free disappeared. All the power siphoned out of me, leaving my insides empty.
“The warden’s tightened up on security since you left, Azara. In addition to our pretty bracelets, the entire compound is enforced with an enhanced magic siphoning spell.”
Since I left? “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I blurted as he swung me over his shoulder and marched down the corridor. Inmates roared and hollered as the brute dragged me further down the cell block. Hands and arms snaked out through the glass enclosures, pawing at my dress.
We reached a cell, and he waved his hand over the scanner once more. It opened and he dropped me onto a hard bed. Three demons in black jumpsuits waited inside, plus Sark who still followed behind us.
“Did you cut the camera?” Delacroix barked at one of the males.
“Taken care of.”
“Now, you’re going to tell me everything, Azara. Start with why Thax sent you and do not lie to me.”
“I already told you, Thax didn’t send me. I escaped, just like Sark said. I’ve been a prisoner as much as he has.”
Delacroix grunted. “If you’re still the same Azara who left three months ago, then how do you explain your newfound penchant for souls?”
“Newfound? I’m an animas demon. That’s what I do.”
A flash of confusion streaked through his pitch eyes, and his wild brows furrowed. “You’re lying.”
I opened my mouth to rebut when a crash spun my head toward the corridor. Delacroix muttered a curse as a pair of raging silver eyes darted in our direction.
My heart rammed up my throat, and all the air evacuated my lungs. Talon.
Chapter Eight
Talon barreled by the two demons in the hallway and rammed into the door. A chill skittered up my spine as the entire glass enclosure rattled. “Azara!”
My name on those lips made my stomach churn and my chest tighten.
He swept his hand across the scanner, like Delacroix had, but the door didn’t budge. “Open the door now, Balthier, or I’ll rip your insides out and paint the mess hall with them for all to see.”
A flash of fear raced across the hellus demon’s fathomless irises. “No need to get so upset, Talon. I was merely welcoming the girl back.”
“Liar,” I hissed.
Talon slammed into the door again, and the floor beneath my feet shuddered. “Now, Delacroix. Quit stalling.”
My demon captor ticked his head at one of his guards and motioned at the glass door. Then he reached into his black jumpsuit, pulled out a small pouch and tossed it at the guy. The male trudged to the entryway, turned the little bag over and sprinkled the door with a shimmering powder.
The sliding glass whooshed open, and Talon charged in like a runaway freight train. His warm hands squeezed my shoulders as he dipped his head to meet my gaze. “Are you all right?”
The blazing intensity behind those silver orbs shook me to the core. My lungs froze up, and my searing headache came back tenfold. “I—I’m fine,” I mumbled and shrugged free of his grasp.
His brows twisted, and the crease between his eyes deepened. “How did you get here?” His heated gaze ran down my neck to the sliver of skin peeking through the leather jacket, leaving a blazing trail in its wake.
“You can thank me for that.” Delacroix sauntered closer, revealing Sark behind him.
“And who the hell is that?”
“He’s one of my men from the outside. He’s the reason your precious Azara is standing before you.”
Talon’s hard gaze darted from the dwarf demon to me and back.
“It’s true,” said Sark, peeking out from behind Delacroix’s bulky form. “The lady rescued me from Lord Thax’s castle, and I brought her here per her wishes.”
Talon’s hard expression softened as he turned to me, the tense tendon in his jaw relaxing. “You remembered?”
I shook my head slowly. “I thought you’d have some answers for me.”
His eyes darkened, his lips pressing into a tight line.
“So it’s true?” Delacroix interjected. “Azara has no memories of the last three months?”
“Doesn’t look like it,” Talon hissed. “Or anything before.”
“Then she hasn’t come to exact revenge for her cousin?” A wicked chuckle burst from the hellus demon’s lips. “Well, isn’t this quite the conundrum for the great leader of the Triad.”
“Shut it.” Talon seared him with a fiery glare.
The demon turned to me with a smirk. “I apologize for jumping to conclusions earlier. I hope to make up for my mistake at a later time. Despite what the dragon will tell you about me, when you left we were on good terms. You’ll find I make an excellent friend especially within these obsidian walls.”
I nodded. At this point, I didn’t trust anyone. It was clear now my own cousin had been lying to me for months. About a million questions twirled through my mind. What was I doing at Darkblood Prison? And how did I end up in the Underworld with Thax?
“Let’s go.” Talon’s hand moved to the small of my back and heat from his fingertips seared through the fabric of my dress. Goose bumps puckered my skin, and I squirmed free from his hold.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the dragon’s expression darken, hard lines carving into the smooth planes of his face. Delacroix’s chuckles echoed behind us as Talon escorted me out of his cell.
As soon as we were in the hall, Talon called back over his shoulder, “Get that little demon out of here unless he wants to remain in the prison as a permanent guest.”
I craned my neck back and waved at Sark, mouthing a quick thank you. I had no idea what would come next, but I was certain I’d finally get the answers I’d been looking for.
As we trudged through the corridors in silence, Talon’s scorching stare razed over the side of my face. My skin prickled from its intensity. What was I to him? And more importantly, what was he to me?
We reached a large, empty atrium and Talon turned down another passageway.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“To see the warden.”
I gulped. That didn’t sound like a good idea. Hadn’t I broken out of here?
Another few beats of silence passed as I searched for my she-demon. Still no sight of her. I supposed it made sense that in a prison full of supernaturals, there would be a ban on powers.
“How’d you find my jacket?” Talon’s eyes scoured over me and the warm leather I clung onto.