It’s then that I renew my efforts to move back toward Daxell, I’m more than halfway there when I feel a pinprick at the side of my neck. My hand swats at the offending spot. Suddenly, my vision starts to fade around the edges and I stumble to a halt as my senses begin to swim. What the hell? The bloodstone at my breast feels uncomfortably warm and I feel my knees begin to buckle. Strong arms wrap around me from behind holding me up as my sight bleeds to darkness around the edges. I feel helpless. I can’t even speak. I feel as if I’m just a doll being handled by some unknown force. It’s then that I feel a bracelet being attached to my wrist and for just a split second I feel the weight of a thousand souls weighing down on me. Souls that are screaming for redemption, souls that are not worthy, souls that require my intervention before everything goes quiet. I slowly begin to sink into a beautiful oblivion that has been forced on me.
I never should have left Daxell’s side, and with that realization, I find that the darkness is suffocating as I embrace my fate.
22
She’s Infuriating
(Daxell)
And just like that she dances out of my grasp. Can she not follow simple directions? What the fuck was she thinking? I watch as she slides in and out of the patrons here and there as she puts distance between us. Hellfire and brimstone! She does not understand that we are not yet bound, so my allegiance falls to the prince of The Underworld that is about to make his entrance here. I’m a Duke, not a prince, and I must bow down to his royal pain in my ass. Even if that is the last thing that I want to do.
I’m brought up short when several of Mammon’s sentries engage me on either side. I turn to his captain and say, “Listen, just give me five minutes and I will be back here paying my respects to the prince. I just need to get my date.”
“Your date? You really must keep your women on a tighter leash.” The arrogant bastard says, drawing out his s’s.
“My female is none of your concern, demon!” I spit out.
“Duke, you must learn your place in The Underworld!”
I struggle in their grasp and spit out, “I know my place. Do you? We are nowhere near The Underworld. We’re in The Mortal Realm the last I checked, and here I follow their protocols. Even here you have no right to treat me in such a foul manner. Remove your hand from my arm before I remove it for you.” I growl.
“Here in this House, you have no rights! Your insolence has been duly noted, Duke Daxell of the Houses of Envy and Lust. Now bow to your prince.” The sound of his s’s grating on my very last throbbing nerve. I hesitate before dropping to my knee and bowing before Mammon, or Maximus as he wants to be called here in The Mortal Realm. Covertly, I look around trying to catch sight of LJ. In frustration, I see that my sight has been obscured by a rather large number of individuals as they clamor to pay homage to their fallen prince. No wonder he is gaining in power, they love him here. Worship him. Things in The Mortal Realm are getting out of control and Luc is going to have a tough time reeling Mammon in. Not caring if I’m breaking protocol or not, I stand and look around for LJ and she seems to have disappeared. She is nowhere to be found in the crowd behind me. What the hell. She was just right there.
My demon can barely be contained, my shift is almost seamless. He roars for all to hear and tears through the crowd. She’s gone. She’s not here. We stand heaving, our rage on full display for everyone to witness. The female that Mammon entertained before us has left his side. I advance upon the lord of this castle and demand, “Where is she, Mammon? What have you done with her? She is mine!” My demon roars.
“Who do you speak of? I saw no one by your side.”
“I speak of my true mate, my kindred match.”
“Well, well, if you have found your match here in The Mortal Realm then you are a very lucky young demon. Congratulations are in order!”
“Mammon, she has gone missing while I was forced to pay my respects
