“I am afraid it is not something you can do,” she told him.
His shoulders sank; sadness lay hard on his body. “What must be done?”
My heart ached for him. Despair swept across his features in every way. Valor was good. Dante was good. They didn’t deserve this. None of them did.
“Magnus must grant the release and this…” Zia hesitated, “is not something he will do lightly. We will owe him something for this request.”
“Christ,” I gasped, grasping the disparity of this situation. “Owe him what?”
“Whatever he wishes. It is his to decide what he feels Dante’s soul is worth.” She sighed heavily. “I will go and contact him now. Arrange for a meeting.” She strode out, her steps heavy.
Mixed emotions ran through me. I desperately wanted to help Dante, but the mention of the Magnus made me want to bolt.
“What has happened?” Kyden’s voice came loudly as he and Finn rushed into the hall. He glanced between me, Valor and Dante lying on the floor. He reached me first, ran his hands along my body, then turned me around a few times. “You are not hurt?”
“No.” The world spun. “Stop that! You’re making me dizzy,” I snapped.
Thankfully, he did, then knelt beside Dante to touch the side of his head. “What has happened to him?”
I grabbed his hand, allowed the memories of what happened to bring him up to speed. This was a hell of a lot easier than going through the whole event with words.
When the memories stopped, Kyden arched a brow. “Witches are responsible for this?”
I nodded bleakly. “They are, and we’re up shit creek.”
Kyden stood, removed his hand and glanced at Valor. “We will make this right.”
Valor’s expression was fully desolate. “It will be a great cost to have Magnus release him.”
“Whatever the cost,” Kyden assured him. “It is worth it.”
Zia rushed back in, breathless from having travelled to God knows where to contact the Underworld. I suspected there was a connection in the Earthworld somewhere. Maybe some freakish Goth club.
“Magnus has agreed to meet,” she exhaled in a long breath. Talon and Kyden stepped forward, but Zia shook her head. “You are not to go.”
Talon lunged forward, grasped her tight by the arms and pulled her toward him. “You will not be going there alone.”
She cupped his cheek and smiled softly. “You’re right, I won’t be going.” Then, she looked at me. “Nexi will.”
“Over my dead body,” Kyden roared.
I gulped deeply.
Haven rushed forward and wrapped herself around me. Obviously, she sensed my anxiety. Go to the Underworld, alone. A place where demons existed…over my dead body too.
“This is Magnus’ request.” Zia looked about as happy as Kyden. “He has assured that she will be kept safe and returned home immediately after.”
“No,” Kyden roared, grasped my arm and yanked me closer as if to glue me to his side.
“Ouch,” I complained as Kyden’s grip dug into my arm, while Haven hugged my other one fiercely. “I haven’t left yet. Let go. The both of you. You’re hurting me.”
Neither of them listened.
“I am not happy about this either, but this is the only way to save Dante,” Zia spoke softly. “Kyden, if she does not go, we will have to kill him. Is this what you want?”
Kyden’s eyes swept over Dante, a thousand conflicting emotions rushed along his face. “She will not go there alone.”
Valor stayed quiet. The confusion gave his face a pained look. He was torn. Wanting to save Dante, but fearful of the risk to me if I went there.
“Kyden is right,” Talon said fiercely. “She will not go there alone.” He moved in closer toward me too.
This was ridiculous. “Okay, everyone back off.” I ripped myself away from their arms and stepped away, tried to free myself from the claustrophobic state. I needed to think for a second.
My gaze focused on Valor’s eyes. Memories of what he had done for me played instantly in my mind. If it hadn’t been for him, Kyden would be dead and so would I. That was as a fact. He would never ask this of me. Would never want to put me in a dangerous situation, but I had never asked him to help when he did, and he’d acted without hesitation. It was only right for me to do the same.
“I’m going,”
It took all of two seconds for my words to have the appropriate effect. Instantly, Haven, Kyden and Talon surrounded me, all of them yelling at me.
“It is the right thing to do,” I looked over Haven’s shoulder, to meet Zia’s gaze.
She looked beyond worried, very unsure, but agreeable. “It is the only way. I am not thrilled with you having to go there, but Magnus gave his word. You will be kept safe.”
“And you trust his word?”
She shrugged. “In this regard, I do. He is a leader first and foremost. We have an allegiance with the Underworld. He will not break this.”
The yelling continued.
“This is crazy, Nexi. Crazy. What are you thinking?” Haven screamed.
“You will not be going,” Kyden roared.
Talon just seemed to be screaming obscenities.
Even Willow, who I didn’t know was here, added her thoughts. “They are right, you idiot. I cannot protect you there. I cannot gain access to the Underworld.”
I sighed, choosing to ignore them and glanced back to Zia. “I’m a little worried about what he’ll want me to do for him once I get there.”
“It concerns me as well, but his request cannot be that you join him. You would have to accept the role of Siren that he has offered you in his guard of your own free will. If he forced you, we would know, therefore creating a war. He wouldn’t do this. It is to your advantage that Magnus wants you in his realm. It will keep you safe from any harm of others. Plus, you are very strong, Nexi. I do not doubt your ability in any regard. Your shield will keep you safe. Remember, whatever he asks of you, think cautiously when you are deciding. Never doubt Magnus for a moment. He will trick you.”
“He’s a sneaky bastard—got it.”
I glanced back to the three screaming idiots. “Stop it,” I yelled at them. They quieted instantly, though Kyden still looked ready to rumble. “This is the only way to help Dante. What do you want me to do?”
Valor approached me, the raw emotions on his face completely exposed. “I know why you are choosing to do this, but you do not owe me. What Magnus wants of you cannot be worth Dante’s life—no matter how much I might want to save it.”
I sighed, ignoring him too and raised my gaze to Kyden. “I’m going.”
“No,” Kyden’s voice was a fierce and scary thing. “You are not.”
Haven started crying. “It’s not safe. I’m sorry, Valor. I know this will mean the death of Dante, but Magnus is the Lord of the Underworld. Who knows what he will want her to do.”
“It’s fine.” I gave her arm a pat. “I’ll be fine.”
Kyden crossed his arms. “No.” He was unwavering.
“I’ll get in. Do whatever he wants and get out. It’s simple,” I reached up, touched Kyden’s tense arms.
“No,” he growled.
I lifted my chin, squared my shoulders, and nearly shouted, “Kyden, I’m going.”
“I will not have this,” he roared, and suddenly exploded—spinning and punching the wall until it crumbled into pieces. His anger wafted from him. He would never let me do this.
Too bad the choice didn’t belong to him. I could only hope that he’d forgive me for what I was about to do. I leaned up, kissed his sweet lips.
“Nexi, if you go there…” His voice was so angry it came out as a whisper, his gaze burned with rage.
Slowly, I started backing away. Oh, there would be repercussions for this, that was a no brainer. It was hard enough for Kyden to let me go out with Zia. Having me go to the Underworld, and alone for that matter, we were about to have the fight. A fight that was inevitable.
He wanted to protect me, and though I loved him for it, but this was my choice. If he couldn’t support me then he’d just have to deal with it. That was that!
Haven was full out sobbing, now in Finn’s arms.
Kyden slowly stepped forward. He knew what was coming and there was no way in hell he was about to let me leave.
“Where do I go?” I asked Zia.
“When you go into the portal, think of Magnus. He has provided an entryway for you to be drawn into the Underworld.”
Two more steps passed beneath my feet before Kyden suddenly lunged forward, but I was ready. I spun away from his reach, almost drawing on my magic to trap him. The thought vanished immediately. After the stunt with Astoria, Kyden made me swear I would never hold him with magic again. I wouldn’t break my promise to him, but there was something else I could do.
“Talon, grab him!” I shouted as I ran from the room. No matter how much I wanted to stay away from Magnus, and no matter how much fear was shaking every part of me, I had to go. I had to make this right for Valor.