Zia gasped, her hands coming up to her chest. “That is what he wants of you?”
I nodded grimly. “Someone named Pye.”
Fear swept across Zia’s face as she took a giant step forward to reach out me. “By the Gods, he can’t expect this of you.”
Her attempt stopped when Valor grabbed me by the arms and placed me directly in front of him. “You are not to do this. Dante wouldn’t want you to do this. Pye is a powerful Warlock who could very well kill you.”
“What Dante wants isn’t really up for discussion now is it?” I commented.
“When does he want you to do this?” Talon asked.
My gaze met his, and I took a giant step back. Anger seeped off him with a pure need to keep me safe. My heart clenched a little knowing just how tight my and Talon’s relationship had become. As much as hearing words was nice sometimes, his reaction spoke volumes, and that only made me feel loved.
“In an hour,” I said quietly.
Without any warning, Kyden growled possessively and lunged forward, tore me from Valor’s arms and slammed me up against the wall. “Get the f**k out. All of you,” he roared.
Shock ruminated on every face, including mine. Kyden has always been possessive, but this enraged tone was one that even I had never heard before. He was always put together, rarely wavered from his calm demeanor.
“Kyden,” Talon said softly.
Kyden turned and glared at him. “Get the f**k out.”
Talon gave his son a concerned look, but nodded and followed the rest of them out. I held my breath, waiting for the storm to hit. Sure, I understood that I’d be facing his wrath when I returned, but truth be told, I wasn’t quite expecting this.
His gaze turned back to mine, and I actually shrunk a little. He looked scary—damn scary.
“You are mine,” he growled. I chose to say nothing. “No one gets to kiss your lips. No one gets to drink your blood, and you do not get to fight others without me.”
I waited, letting him get what he had to say out. If I said anything, I’d be a Nexi pancake.
“You continue to not listen to me. You continue to act foolishly. Going off on your own, endangering yourself, and I am going to put an end to it.”
I blinked. He leaned in. We were nose-to-nose. “You will not be going to do this.”
“Kyden…”
“No,” he roared, pushing against my arms to keep me immobile. “I made a promise to Drake to keep you safe, and by the Gods, I will keep it.”
“I have to,” I whispered.
“No. You. Do. Not,” he said through gritted teeth.
“It’s Dante…”
He slammed my shoulders hard against the wall as if to knock some sense into me. “I said you will not be going.”
I sighed deeply. This was pointless. We’d just be running in circles with this conversation. Instead, I just stared at him. He held me tight against the wall, making it quite clear that if he wanted to stop me, he could. I didn’t doubt that.
Half an hour passed and nothing had changed. He had me pinned, the fierceness in his eyes never faded. How could I get him to see reason? Urgh, I was coming up blank.
He was scared for my life. Hell, I was scared for my life. This wasn’t a vampire I was going up against. This was a very powerful Warlock in the Underworld. He would never allow me to go. He couldn’t. It wasn’t in his nature to let me go off on my own and fight a battle without him. We would never agree.
Many more minutes passed before the others sauntered back into the room. “We need to discuss this,” Talon said firmly. “Kyden, she cannot go in there blind.”
Kyden’s gaze never left mine. His fierceness only grew as he began to accept that it didn’t matter what he said, what he did. I’d be going.
“You have to let go,” I whispered to him.
“I can’t,” he said fiercely.
Reaching up, I grabbed his hands and pried them off my shoulders. He was right. He couldn’t let go, couldn’t allow this, but what choice did he have? I wiggled out beneath him and made my way over to Talon, taking a quick glance back. Kyden had flopped back against the wall, definitely needing the support.
Talon said, “What you need to know is that there will be many guards with Pye. As you said, Magnus got you a meeting alone with him. This will be an advantage for you. You will be able to kill Pye before the others will be aware.”
“Yes,” Zia agreed. “Keep your Spirit strong with you. Protect yourself completely. He will have guards with him. These demons hold strong Black Magic, but your shield will guard you.”
“Focus on Pye,” Talon added. “He will be your greatest target.”
Zia took my hands, holding them securely in hers. “As much as I do not like this idea, you will need to use Black Magic in order to destroy him. Our White Magic will not compare to the force of Pye. This will be your only way. Draw on it instantly and use as much force as you can. He will come at you strong. Do you understand?”
I nodded. Right about now, I was kissing the elements for gifting this to me. Without it, I’d be toast. “When will the other demons near him be notified?” I asked, curious just how much time I had to get out.
“You will only have minutes before the others will come,” Zia continued. “So, you need to get out of there quickly. Keep your shield up strong and run back to the portal. The demons’ only defense will be to try to steal your soul. If your shield holds and blocks them then you will be able to make it out.”
“So they cannot physically attack me?” I asked.
Zia shook her head firmly. “No. They are demons. They have no physical strength. All their strength thrives from Black Magic. They will come at you hard. That is why you need to get out of there quickly. A few demons your shield can handle, but more than that, you will not be able to sustain your hold.”
“Okay, so what about the guards he has with him?” I asked. “What do I do about them?”
“Do not worry about them. Once you have destroyed Pye, just get back here. They cannot cross over the dimensions without Magnus’ consent and I doubt he will give it to them.”
She may have been sure about that, I wasn’t. “What will it be like? I mean with the demons.” I had to ask.
Zia squeezed my hands tighter. “They are stealers of souls. Imagine that. Imagine how bad you think it will be, and then multiple it tenfold. It will be something like that.”
I gulped deeply. Wonderful!
Valor suddenly approached me, took my hands from Zia’s and raised them to his heart. “You don’t need to do this.”
I smiled, stepped into him. “Let’s just move past all this, okay. I’m going. I know what it feels to lose ones you love. I don’t want you to feel that, Valor. I can help you and I’m going to. That’s the end of it.”
“No. You do not owe me this debt.”
“Everything will be fine. I’ll be fine.” Deep within me, I believed it. I had become strong—I didn’t doubt in my abilities. The demons were a little worrisome, but I would just do what Zia said. Kill Pye and get out. Simple right?
Valor backed away very slowly. He didn’t want to let me go. He looked about as wound up as Kyden. I definitely had to make it through this or Valor was going to carry a heavy burden. The guilt in his eyes said one thing…he believed he was sending me off to my death. Well, my answer to that—I hadn’t been given this gift to sit on it. I had to do whatever I could.
“I would go with you,” Zia said. “But I cannot get through the portal. Magnus will set it up for you alone.”
“I know you would, Zia.” I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders. “Would you all stop looking as if I am about to die? Have some confidence! Geesh.”
No one’s expressions changed.
Surprisingly, Finn was the one who took me in his arms and hugged me tightly. Haven sobbed loudly behind him.
“Do it quickly. We will wait here for you,” he said.
I smiled softly when he released me. “Get in and get out.”
He nodded, encouragingly. “That’s right.”
Haven abruptly lunged forward and yanked me into a fierce hug. “No, don’t go. I don’t want you to go. Don’t do this.”
“Me neither,” Willow’s voice was sad at my feet.
I hushed Haven, patted her back, then glanced down at Willow. “I will be fine. I have my shield to protect me. If Magnus thought this was going to kill me he wouldn’t have me do this.”
Why I believed that beyond a doubt was a bizarre thing, but for some reason, I knew he wouldn’t endanger my life. “He thinks I can defeat Pye, so you all should too. I will be back before you know it.”
Haven clenched me tighter. I sighed and reached up to pull her arms away. Putting them in this position, sucked—the next hour was going to be taxing for them. I reached down and gave Willow a little pat before I moved on.
Kyden stood off to the side. His glare burned the back of my head. He was holding on by a very thin thread. I glanced toward him. His fierce expression remained intact. I slowly walked toward him.