up something believable.”
He shrugged, looking me up and down. “Where are you going?”
“None of your business.”
“In fact, it is.”
“Are you still on guard dog duty, or something?”
“Or something.” He pushed himself off the wall to join me. “Well, where is it we’re headed?”
“Guild City.” I firmed my jaw. “And you can’t stop me. Hades agreed.”
He nodded, hands shoved in his pockets. He looked relaxed and dissolute, like a playboy after a long night out. But where did one go out in a place like hell?
“Were you watching the apothecary’s cottage all night?” I demanded.
“No.” His eyes flashed.
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
“Whatever. Take me to your city of guilds.”
“Guild City.” I started toward the town. “Come on.”
He followed, his long stride unhurried. I couldn’t believe he was allowing me to do this, but then, it seemed Hades was capable of keeping his word. As long as he had his guard dog at my side.
Echo continued to follow my directions, leading us on a quiet route through the back of town. Lucifer looked like he was about to complain, then shut his mouth, obviously thinking better of it.
We moved down lonely cobblestone streets and passed the darkened windows of houses that might or might not be abandoned. When we reached the library, I spotted the night wolves sitting at the base of the stairs. There were nearly a dozen of them, each powerfully built with gleaming gray and black fur. Their eyes glinted with intelligence as they stared at us.
“Children of Cerberus.” Wariness echoed in Lucifer’s voice.
“You don’t like dogs?” I frowned at him.
“’Course I like dogs. Do I look like a monster to you?”
“A pretty one, yes.”
He shrugged. “Fair enough.” He pointed to the dogs. “But they are not dogs. They are creatures of mayhem and chaos.”
He wasn’t wrong about that. The sight of the huge animals sent a shiver through me. But I’d need to get past them to reach the library, so I walked slowly toward them and held my hand out flat so they could sniff me. They watched me warily.
“Hey, puppies,” I said.
“Puppies?” Lucifer muttered. “Off your rocker, you are.”
I shot him a glare, then looked back at the night wolves and continued to talk to them in a baby voice.
“You sound ridiculous, you know,” Lucifer said.
“Yeah, yeah.” Skin chilled, I knelt in front of the leader, reaching my hand out farther. I tried to use my magic the way I had before, when I’d first escaped the underworld and compelled the dogs not to attack me. I’d appealed to the light in their souls, my magic somehow connecting with theirs, and it had worked.
The massive wolf growled low, then leaned forward and sniffed my palm. He stopped growling and sat back, watching me warily. It wasn’t as good as a lolling tongue and a doggier smile, but I’d take it.
“Thanks, pal.” I straightened, then gestured to the stairs. “May I?”
The beast didn’t move, and I took it as a yes. Quickly, I strode up the stairs. Lucifer followed, and we stopped in front of the door.
“You have a key?” Lucifer asked.
“Yep. Never let it out of my sight. Did he change the lock?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Good.” I dug into my pocket and removed it, then slipped it into the lock and turned it. As the lock snicked, I couldn’t help but wonder where Hades was. I expected him to swoop out of the sky and stop me.
He didn’t, though, and soon we were inside.
Thank fates for that.
The dark library welcomed us in, our footsteps echoing off the soaring ceiling. It sounded almost as if the library were greeting us, and the brilliant emerald and amethyst spiders all paused in their weaving to look at us.
“Hey, guys,” I said.
They said nothing, of course, but returned to tending their diamond webs.
“Are you friends with all the creatures?” Lucifer asked.
“Just call me Cinderella.”
“Hmm. Don’t know her.”
“You wouldn’t.”
I hurried to the portal set into the bookshelves, not hesitating now that I was inside. Quickly, I entered, letting the ether suck me in and spin me through space. I felt a tearing sensation as I left the underworld—the pomegranate potion trying to keep me there, no doubt. My stomach lurched, and my head throbbed. It spat me out in my library, and I stumbled forward, making room for Lucifer.
He exited directly behind me, looking around with curiosity. “So this is where you live?”
“Yep.” Pride streaked through me. “Or at least, where I work.”
“Not bad.”
“Not bad?” I sputtered.
He grinned.
“You’re a jerk.”
He shrugged. “Where to