“Okay, here we go.” I pull her flush against me, molding her body to my own. Then I picture the one place that I know best, the place that feels like home to me. Holding on to that image, I lift my foot as though to step through a doorway. It feels as if we are being sucked into a vacuum.
Sensing my initial unease, Lillie whispers, “Almost there.”
The next moment we’re standing on the dock of the lake outside my northern cabin in The Mortal Realm. The sun is high overhead and we squint against the harsh glare of the gas ball in the azure sky as our eyes grow accustomed to its bright light, so different from the crimson skies of The Underworld.
Letting her go, I step back, “Why didn’t you tell me?” I demand curtly.
“You never asked.” She counters, her head held high.
“We could have left at any time!” My anger is close to boiling at this point, her omission of the truth has lit a fire of anger within me.
Narrowing her eyes on me, she stands her ground, hands on her lovely hips, “I don’t think that we could have left, Dax. Luc said he locked down The Underworld. No traveling between the realms. Remember?”
“That still doesn’t justify the fact that you did not inform me that I could trace. That could have been useful during our trip to the Lava Fields. Why, LJ?”
She rolls her eyes, an exasperated sigh escapes her, “I’m not going to talk to you like this. You need to calm the hell down, demon boy.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snarl, my demon close to the surface.
“You’re being unreasonable, Daxell. This is all new to me too!” She stomps her foot in anger.
“Unreasonable? You withheld information. Information that I should have been privy to.”
“Why are you so pissed, Dax? The fact that I chose not to share my suspicions with you or that you were unable to utilize your newfound abilities because you didn’t think to ask? You can’t keep me tucked away in an ivory tower for the rest of my life hoping like hell that nothing happens to me under your watch. I’m a grown-ass adult that was born into a family that has pledged their lives, their very souls to protect and serve a purpose. I hate to tell you this, demon boy, but you agreed to all of that and more when you chose to bond with me. Don’t you dare lay all this on me. What would you have done if I told you that you could trace us out of The Underworld? Don’t answer that. I know what you would have done. You would have stopped us from going after Vengeance.”
I snort, “That turned out well for us. Didn’t it?” I demand. “Here we are, no closer to getting that whip back than the moment that we started on this crazy-ass journey.”
“What do you want from me, Daxell? I’m not perfect. I make mistakes … and so do you.”
Not knowing how to answer her, I turn away and stalk toward the garage before I remember my newfound ability and trace to my bike, lifting the garage door from the inside, I swing onto my bike and gun the engine, with one last pissed look at LJ, I take off down the drive at a breakneck speed, gravel kicking up in my wake. She’s still just as pissed at me as I am with her and I’m not sure how to deal with all my anger. Enjoying the horsepower beneath me. I gun the engine as I maneuver the bike beneath me onto the main road. I’m not even ten minutes into my ride when my anger begins to wane. Feeling bad for just leaving her there, I do a u-turn and head back to the cabin. I find her waiting for me on the front steps.
“Well, you weren’t gone as long as I thought you would be. I’m locked out. I can’t get in. You know?” Lifting her arm she waggles it from side to side showing me her binding cuff. She doesn’t meet my eyes and I sigh knowing we need to talk this out.
Pulling a key from my front pocket I park my bike and swing my leg over her shiny form. I reach out for LJ’s hand and pull her up from her sitting position, “Come on, honey cheeks, let’s talk.” I open the door and pull my kindred mate in behind me. For better or worse, we are in this together. No matter the situation. Walking into the kitchen, the digital calendar on the door of the refrigerator indicates that we have only been gone from the realm less than twenty-four hours. Crazy. Reaching into the fridge, I pull out a chilled bottle of pinot grigio. Making quick work of the cork, I pour a glass for LJ. Then turning to the liquor cabinet on the far side of the room, I pour myself an Irish whiskey, needing something just a little more stout.
The silence between us is suffocating and I don’t like it. Running my hands through my hair I turn back to Lillie. She’s just staring down at her glass, both of us at a loss for words. Not sure how to fix this chasm that has suddenly opened between us. When she finally looks up at me, our eyes meet, and the regret I feel is echoed in her gaze.
“I’m sorry,” We say in unison.
“There was no time to think or plan or anything. As soon as we ascended we had
