Chapter 17
XVII.
I can’t move.
The cave swirls around me, the ground sucking me into its depths like quicksand.
It’s over.
Nate touches my arm, and we lock eyes. His gaze is calm, releasing me from the mud at my feet. He tilts his head in the opposite direction of the voices, and I nod.
I grab my sword from the ground as he slings the bag over his shoulder, and we slink deeper into the flickering shadows of the cave.
“We have direct orders to return her to the boss.” Ferus’s deep boom batters the walls behind us, pebbling goose bumps over my skin. “He’s furious. He doesn’t care what we do to the shadeling, but he wants his daughter home now.”
His words wind around my spine and tighten. It’s too late to plead innocence. But there’s no way I’m letting Ferus, of all demons, be the one to bring me in.
“Why would she do it?” a second voice I don’t recognize asks. “Help a disgusting shadeling escape?”
Disgusting? Nate mouths at me.
I shrug and nudge him forward, pulling the torches off the wall as we go and extinguishing them against the stone. The darkness should buy us time.
“Who cares?” Ferus replies, closer now. “All that matters is that the demon that brings her in is going to get a big promotion—and I intend to be that demon.”
Not if I can help it.
I push Nate to speed up, tripping on his heels. If we can lose them in the next tunnel, they may think we took a different route and turn back.
Light stretches from the exit of the cave ahead, and my shoulders lift. We’re almost there. A shadow crosses the opening, and my eyes widen. Another souldier. We’re surrounded.
Fuckfuckfuck.
I yank Nate by the back of his vest and shove him against the wall, pressing my body into his. His breath bursts out of him, lifting the hair off my shoulder. I hold my index finger to my mouth and he nods, his chin skimming my temple.
We’re so close that his heart slams against my own, the two rhythms drowning out my thoughts. Damn Father for giving shadelings breath and heartbeats when he decided punishments would be more torturous if humans were as alive down here as they were on Earth.
We can’t stay here. Ferus will reach us eventually, but if we take the exit ahead, those souldiers will arrest us, too. Come on, Dev. Think of something. I force myself to focus on anything besides the way Nate’s body fits against mine.
Something hard presses into my thigh.
Diripo’s helmet. Of course.
An idea forms. It’s not a great one, but it’s our only chance.
“Nate,” I whisper. “I need you to trust me.” It’s so dark I can’t make out his expression, but he nods.
I reach around him into the bag crushed against the wall. He must realize the situation is dire, because for once he doesn’t try to crack a joke about me hitting on him. Thankfully, the handcuffs I took off Diripo are still there.
I hold them in front of his face so that he can make out the silver in my hand. “Put these on me.”
“Handcuffs?” he breathes.
I shove them into him without a reply. Diripo’s name tag is still on his chest. I rip it off and discard it in the bag. Then I hold out my wrists. “Quickly, Nate. You need to lock them until they light up.”
He raises an eyebrow “I don’t have the key.”
“The green button on your belt unlocks them. And put your helmet on. Keep the visor down at all times. Whatever happens, stay in character. You’re a souldier now. A demon. You’re ruled by your darkest impulses.”
He’s barely a shadow in front of me as he slams the helmet over his head and loops the cuffs around my wrists. His breath is as shallow as mine, echoed by the visor over his face.
His fear should unnerve me, but I’m oddly comforted knowing I’m not alone.
Once the cuffs are on, Nate presses the button to lock them.
There’s a ping as the lock springs into place and the cuffs glow green. Pain shoots through my wrists, and a wave of exhaustion rolls through me. I stumble into his chest, flushing when he catches me.
“These were built to contain shadelings and demons alike,” I mutter. “As long as they’re on me, I’m powerless. And the longer I keep them on, the weaker I’ll get. Which means we have to get out of this fast—and the moment we do, you get them off me. Got it?”
He nods again, his heart thudding against my cheek. I close my eyes and take a shaking breath before standing tall. Everything relies on him now. My destiny is in the hands of a shadeling.
Don’t mess this up, I silently plead as we stride toward the exit, my knees threatening to buckle with every step. The moment we’re visible, souldiers barrel toward us, knives and batons raised. They stop as I hold up my shackled wrists and pout with defeat.
Boots thud behind us, and Ferus emerges from the cave, souldiers flanking him on either side.
As one of Father’s right-hand men, Ferus isn’t required to wear a helmet or the usual souldier uniform.
But even without the formality, he cuts a disturbing figure in all black, his crimson skin glowing in the light, his mouth curved into a sneer.
My jaw tenses, sweat pooling at back of my neck. Nate’s fingers tighten around my forearm, and he steps closer to me. His closeness strengthens my resolve, and I clench my fists.
I bested Ferus once; I can do it again. And if I don’t, I’ll always have the satisfaction of kicking him where it counted.
“Well, what do we have here?” Ferus clicks his tongue as his eyes skim my body. My insides recoil, but I don’t flinch. “Hello, Princess. Long time no see.”
“Not long enough.” I raise my chin and narrow my eyes.
“And stop calling me ‘Princess’, asshat. Just explain to Metus here he’s made a mistake.
” I pull the demon name out of thin air, crossing everything he’s not with this group.
Metus usually works only in Dominus, but Father will have everyone looking for me by now.
“He’s arrested me for some reason. I’ve tried explaining who I am, but he won’t listen.
” Nate doesn’t move, and I elbow him hard in the ribs. “Right, Metus?”
“Oh. Right.” Nate lowers his voice to a deep growl I wouldn’t have thought possible from him and jerks me into his body. “Quiet, prisoner. You’re mine now.”
I cringe, but the souldiers don’t react. Are they…buying this?
Ferus presses his palms together. “Actually, Princess, we have orders to take you back to Daddy. Apparently you helped a Thirteener escape and took off. Your father’s not happy. He even mentioned a trip to the Ignis River if you can’t explain yourself. I hope, for your sake, he changes his mind.”
He speaks the last words through a wide smile.
Ferus hopes nothing of the sort.
He’d toss me into the river himself if it means an opportunity for him.
I gnaw on the inside of my cheek to suppress the threatening tears. There’s no way Ferus is letting Nate and I out of his sight.
“Ferus, you know me.” I bat my lashes like I did with Diripo on the ledge, my insides curdling.
Flattening my palms against his chest, I purse my lips into a pout.
“I hate shadelings. They’re disgusting evildoers.
” I trace a finger down his chest, breathing through the bile that swims up my throat.
“And do you even see a shadeling here? I heard he broke out of his lot, so I’ve been trying to hunt him down myself so I can have my way with him.
” Nate chokes under his helmet. Heat rushes up my face and I stutter. “Punish him, I mean.”
Ferus narrows his eyes and shoves my hands away. “Nice try, Princess. I know you’re lying. Your father brought in Attero to be questioned.”
My heart plummets to the gravel at my feet.
Poor Atty.
Father isn’t known for gentle interrogation tactics. It’s my fault Atty was put in that position. Of course my father would think he would know where I’d gone. As far as he knows—or cares—we’re still inseparable.
Ferus continues, “He admitted that you’ve been doubting your father when it came to this shadeling.
He also said he found the shadeling on top of you in your bed.
” He bends and whispers into my ear, that awful breath crowding the air around me.
“Honestly, Princess, I’d be impressed if I weren’t so disgusted. ”
I scowl at him. I can forgive Atty for his betrayal—no one can resist Father’s mind games—but there’s no way the demon who is somehow more revolting than anything in Hell is allowed to talk to me like that.
“First of all,” I say through a clenched jaw.
“I don’t owe you an explanation. But if you insist on shoving that pointy nose of yours into my business, I’ll have you know the shadeling broke into my room.
We ended up…how we did…because Father’s souldiers are trained to blow down a door instead of knock. ”
I tap my foot against the gravel. “That’s why I’ve been out looking for him. To make sure he understands his place down here. We want the same thing, Ferus. Let me go, and we can split up and find him faster.”
Ferus sucks his teeth. “I would, Princess, but your father’s promised a big promotion to anyone who brings you in.
” He caresses my neck, his fingertips searing as a branding iron against my skin.
“And we both know I’m destined for big things.
My offer still stands for you to join me.
I’m sure I can talk to your father about this little indiscretion. ”
I pull away as Nate clears his throat and speaks in a voice so low and controlled that I’d never realize it was him under the helmet. “I believe I’m the one who captured her. Which means I’m taking her in.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close.
He should be terrified. Ferus could rip his limbs off one at a time and would enjoy doing it, but Nate’s sturdy as a statue.
I lean into him, my legs threatening to collapse from the energy being tapped out of me into the cuffs.
Nate’s grip tightens. His fingers are gentle, protective, and I sink against him, allowing him to steady me.
Ferus cackles. “Don’t be silly, Metus. The boss isn’t going to promote the likes of you. Hand her over and I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.”
I take a shaky step toward Ferus, wavering on knees that no longer want to support me. “I’m not going with anyone. I’m your princess. You can’t have forgotten, since you insist on calling me one every chance you get. Not only that, but I’m almost your queen. You’ll take orders from me soon.”
“Almost doesn’t mean anything, Devica.” Ferus chews on my name like it’s an overcooked slab of meat.
“It’s not a guarantee. After this stunt, I think you can say goodbye to the throne.
Now, I’m taking you back to Daddy and getting the credit I’m due.
Whether you come with me of your own will or not. ”
Any hope I’d had when I left Dominus shatters at my feet. None of this is going according to plan.
I bow my head, and defeat edges down my shoulders. No one else speaks as I contemplate my fate, our soundtrack the screams echoing from the lots below. A familiar door shimmers in the firelight and my lips curve.
Of course, Ferus has to get us home first.
There are no vehicles around, which means the souldiers are travelling on foot. That’ll buy me time to figure out how—and if—I can pull this off.
I take a deep breath, then meet the red demon’s dark eyes. “You win, Ferus. Take me to my father.”