“I just want you to know your options, but I think you already know what you want.” Her voice softened.
Did I?
My feelings toward the prince were indecisive, but I had made up my mind about one thing. I needed answers. Something was happening to me, and he was the only one who could explain. How had I conjured flames made of night itself? I might not be ready to commit myself in heart, body, and soul to the Prince of Darkness, but I also couldn’t sit by and do nothing while his mother set forth to conquer the underworld.
Nor could I let Ashor be a pawn in her quest. I was beginning to understand just how far Ashor might go to keep me safe. He would plot to kill another queen, to overthrow the Crown of Envy if my dream had any truth to it. He sent a shade to warn me that shit was about to go down.
War was coming.
And the extent of its reach would bleed into my world.
All the more reason I needed answers.
This was something I had to do on my own. I couldn’t endanger my family any further than I already had. I would warn Chase, make sure he kept Angel safe.
The guilt I’d let consume me for weeks was still there, but I shoved it deep within me, burying so I could turn my focus on Ashor and stop him from making a stupid mistake. Killing another queen of Hell wouldn’t derail Kali from coming after Angel. And it most definitely wouldn’t stop her from declaring war on the other courts. It would only give her more power, making her nearly impossible to stop. I would rip the black soul from her demon body before Kali touched my friend.
What would happen if she reigned over two courts? Three? Or all five? Kali wouldn’t stop at just one. The greed I saw in her eyes was like an infection. It would spread from one court to the next, and as Ashor predicted, her power would trickle into the mortal world, threatening us all. The Queen of Darkness controlling the underworld gave me shivers.
Angel’s phone rang, and she cursed, staring at the picture that popped up. It was Chase. I caught a glimpse of his face when she pulled out her phone. “Hey,” she answered in a cheerful tone, an attempt to sound normal.
The corner of my lips pulled up. Chase had a direct link to Angel’s emotions and undoubtedly had sensed her alarm at seeing the shade. I was actually shocked he hadn’t shown up like a bat out of hell, ready to dismantle demons. Why hadn’t he? It wasn’t like my cousin to be so slack in his protective duties. But then I remembered, he was out of town.
Angel fidgeted, drawing random designs with her foot over the gravel as she assured Chase everything was fine and we were on our way home. I could hear the skepticism in his voice. Enhanced hearing made no conversation private if I was in close proximity.
They chatted a few more minutes as we got into the car, Angel assuring him for the millionth time that nothing was wrong and she got startled by a shadow. All true.
I was quiet on the drive home, lost in my head as I contemplated just how I would get answers. What I would do with those answers remained to be seen, but I didn’t just want answers… I wanted justice. Revenge. Retribution. Put whatever name you want to it.
“You’re planning something reckless, aren’t you?” Angel asked as we drove down the long stretch of road that led to our houses.
“Does it matter? If I say yes, you’re going to tell Chase. If I say no, you’re going to tell Chase.”
She sighed, her fingers shifting over the steering wheel. “It’s only because I worry.”
Pulling my eyes from the window, a half smile curved on my lips. “I know, but you have your baby to worry about now. She comes first.”
“And she will, but I’ll never abandon you. We’re family. We stick together. Ride or die.”
Amusement tugged at my lips. “Has Chase been taking you out on his bike again?”
She rolled her eyes. “Please. That would be categorized under dangerous, and I am currently banned from doing anything in that category. Basically, anything fun.”
“Can you blame him? Look at everything that has happened. As much as it pains me to admit, you were right.”
“Me? Right?” She put a hand over her heart, batting her eyes like an innocent belle, and she might have pulled off the look if it weren’t for those glowing rings of red circling her eyes. “Who would have thought?”
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. “I need to do something. I can’t sit around any longer feeling sorry for myself. The last month hasn’t been easy for me, but I also know that it hasn’t been a walk in the park for my family to see me like that either. I’m done feeling sorry for myself. ”
She smacked her hands on the steering wheel. “Damn straight. You’re one of the strongest females I know. I never doubted for one second that you would get through this.”
“It’s not over yet,” I reminded her. In fact, I believed the real trouble was only just starting.
“Lex, I think your story is just beginning,” she said, echoing my thoughts.
“That’s what scares me,” I admitted, rubbing the pad of my thumb over my fingers. The chill of winter still lingered under the skin. “You know how I feel about horror movies.”
She grinned. “I’m thinking it is going to be an epic love story.”
A snort breezed through my nose. “More like a tragic romance of forbidden love.”
“I’m hooked already.”
I shook my head. “You play too many fantasy games.”
“Probably,” she agreed. “But nothing beats our life.”
Truth.
She flipped on the turn signal, the beep, beep, beep, repeating as she approached the turn. “I just wish there was something I could do to help you.”
“You’ve done enough. The only thing you need to worry about is feeding my niece. Chase is going to be pissed off as it is when he finds out about the shade. It might not be the best idea for us to hang out.”
Her brows bunched together. “Hell, no. I am not letting her divide us or isolate you. Besides, who says we need to tell him?”
“You want me to lie to my cousin?” I said in mock outrage, a hand flying to my chest.
“No, of course not,” she huffed. “I would never ask you to lie. It’s not like he is going to ask if we bumped into any shades today. Just don’t say anything, unless he specifically asks.”
My lips twitched. “You know, a lie by omission is still a lie. And my cousin is bound to find out. The two of you have no secrets.” As it should be. Secrets caused bigger problems, and their bond made it easy for Chase to sense what Angel was feeling.
“I will tell him, just not yet. We don’t know for sure if there is any reason to be concerned. The shade wasn’t here to hurt you.”
“Fine,” I sighed, relenting. “I won’t say anything… yet, but you have to promise me to stay out of this. No more poking around. We don’t need to draw any more attention to you. The queen is currently distracted; let's keep it that way. I won’t put you or my niece in danger.”
“Agreed. I have no desire to take up my throne in Hell, but if she pushes me…”
“That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.” This was my fault. The Queen of Darkness might have set me up, but I fell for the trap and, in doing so, endangered everyone I loved. I had to be the one to set it straight.