Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“What was her task?” Gaia asked.
“She was to tell Andros she didn’t love him. That she never did and she wanted to give him back his ring. She was to throw his ring at him and walk away. Lilith thought he would break down, and in that vulnerable moment, she would be able to gain complete control of him.”
“Why does Lilith want to control Andros?”
The little demon shook her head but then looked around and stepped closer to Gaia. “The royals have different blood—maybe they can control the beast.” She whispered the message to the Carpathian woman. “The mistress must have all of the royals’ blood mixed together. The blood Olga gave to the mage this night was not the blood of a royal. Grigor tricked them somehow. They had to throw out the entire experiment because the false blood tainted the royals’ blood.”
“Lilith is making war on these poor women and all the places above just in the hope of controlling the beast? That’s what this is all about?”
The little demon nodded frantically. “She’s in a really foul mood. If you don’t save us, she’ll kill us, Gaia.”
Gaia nodded her head. “Most likely she will. The thing is, Molly, it would be a service to you if I let her. You’re always partnered with Patsy, who loses her temper and does everything wrong. She hurts you. She hurts whoever she’s supposed to be guarding, and she hurts herself. If I keep bailing you out, she’ll keep doing it.”
Patsy snorted and stomped her cloven feet, then dragged them backward as if she were about to charge. She even put her head down in a threatening manner, pointing her sharp horns at Gaia, who rolled her eyes and put her hand up without looking at the horned demon. Patsy froze in place.
“See what I mean, Molly? She has no self-control. This just turns into a vicious cycle. Where is Lada’s man? The royal? Where are they keeping him?”
Molly moved even closer to Gaia. “They took him to the bad place, Gaia. The really bad place.” She shook her head. “He won’t come out of there alive.”
Gaia closed her eyes and bowed her head. “No, most likely he won’t. I’ll heal this woman for you this one time, but only this one time. If this happens again, I’m not going to help either of you.”
The bad place. The underworld was one big bad place. Afanasiv had shoved all memories of being in this world into a compartment and slammed the door closed, then nailed it shut. He hadn’t wanted to ever remember the experience. Now, it was necessary. His memories were returning bit by bit, in spite of his determination not to let them escape. He had been in the place Andros was. He had to find his way there and make certain Andros knew how to get out.
He moved away from the prisoner’s cell, making his way down another long passageway lit with glowing purple candles set in sconces up high on the walls. Occasionally, he passed a guard with wicked-looking swords or spears standing at attention in front of narrow staircases leading to chambers below. Afanasiv remembered each of those chambers and what took place in them all too vividly. He placed a shield in his mind to keep his lifemate from seeing too many of the memories welling up.
For the first time, he felt Vasilisa protest. She feared leaving Lada in the condition she was in. He sent her waves of reassurance. Gaia was quite capable of taking care of Lada, and they needed her healed and on her feet, ready to make a run for it when Grigor and Andros could get them out. Afanasiv had to plant the escape route in Andros’ mind. Afanasiv would have to provide the distractions so the prisoners could escape. That meant, at some point, he would have to allow Andros to know he was there.
They control him, Vasilisa cautioned. This might not be such a good idea. We should wait and think this through. Have a concrete plan.
It is necessary to give him hope before it is too late for him. You should make your way back to the surface. The things that take place here are not for you to witness.
I will stay with you, Siv. She made that as firm and resolute as possible.
Afanasiv loved that his lady had so much courage. She would need all of it when they descended into that ring of fire. He continued moving down the corridor. When he’d passed the sixth guard, he slowed his progress. The seventh descending stairway appeared unguarded, but he knew better. Two demons waited on either side of the entrance for any unsuspecting wretch who tried to escape and managed to get that far.
Afanasiv had discovered the guards the hard way. He still had the scars of their long spears when they simultaneously stuck the razor-sharp blades into his sides and tried to lift him. Just remembering the pain could have made him shudder and pause before attempting to get past the hidden demons, but he had already pushed all emotion aside and felt nothing as he made his approach. He was spirit only. They might feel a slight breeze as he slipped past, but beyond that, they would see and hear nothing.