Inferno of Darkness (Divisa Huntress #2) - J.L. Weil Page 0,22

the glass into my hand as I studied her reaction.

My mother’s features were cool, not giving away much emotion, just like a typical demon. She sat on the couch, crossing her legs as she got comfortable, a hint of a smile playing over her lips. “I want to hear all about it.”

Kira’s crossed leg tapped in the air, her glass of sweet tea half gone. Demons could fake eating and drinking in situations to blend in, but it wasn’t required for them to live in the mortal world. “So, my only daughter gave her soul to a demon. How very paradoxical that I disobeyed my queen and court to smuggle you out of Hell, only for you to tie yourself for eternity to a higher demon’s son—a prince at that.”

Yeah. I got it. Fate was a twisted son of a bitch, but it wasn’t like I planned to be abducted by the Wild Hunt. “I didn’t give him my soul. He tricked me.” From my position on the couch, I had a view of the sliding glass door, which led out to the balcony. It was open, and the warm breeze fluttered into the apartment, carrying traces of magnolia.

“Did he?” She cocked a disbelieving brow. “Did he also trick you into wearing his crown? It does look good on you, by the way.”

So I’d been told. Normally, wearing a glittery crown would so be my thing, but this crown wasn't just a pretty piece of decoration for my head. It served a purpose. Multiple purposes. “You can see it?”

“Hmm. I’m a demon,” she replied, as if it should have been obvious to me.

Nothing was obvious anymore. “Oh. How am I able to see it then?”

“You’re his mate. In essence, what’s yours is his and what's his is yours. A bond such as yours is formed deep within our cores, to the soul, to the heart, to the bones of our body. He might have tricked you into the underworld, but no game or lie could have bonded your soul to his. The essence of your soul recognized his as its match.”

“It doesn’t really matter how it happened now. What’s done is done.”

Her lips pressed together as if she was trying to hide a smirk. I didn’t know what it was about this situation she found so amusing, but I found her humor irksome. “As far as princes are considered, you could have done worse.”

I set down my barely touched glass of tea on the coffee table. “Good to know, but I didn’t come here looking for approval or to discuss Ashor’s limited redeeming traits, but a solution.”

“You haven’t told me what it is you are looking for. If you’re here to sever the link between your souls, I might know of such things, but it comes with a very steep price, one I am not sure you are willing to pay.”

“Why does everyone always assume I want to break the bond?” I mumbled, another crescendo of panic gripping my chest.

Kira arched a brow, the corners of her lips twisting. “You like him. The prince got under your skin, and that’s what made you jump on a plane to seek out me for help, the last person in the world you would ever ask.”

I scowled. “You are the last person, but you are also one of the few demons who isn’t trying to kill me.”

“And who you aren’t hunting,” she added.

There was that. “Will you help me?” I asked, keeping all desperation out of my tone.

Silence rippled between us, her eyes searching my face. “You haven’t told me why you need a demon’s help. Don’t tell me you want to go back to the Court of Darkness; only a fool would—”

“He is going to do something stupid,” I blurted, not all that receptive to being called a fool. It had been a long day, and the journey here, however short, was starting to wear on me and my patience.

She stared at me as if I’d grown a pair of horns. “And?”

Dealing with demons was more frustrating than the mall on Black Friday. Why had I thought this was a good idea? I should grab my bags and get on the next flight back to Chicago. “I have to stop him,” I said like it was the most obvious answer to the stupidest question I’d ever heard.

“Why, exactly? The Prince of Darkness is more than capable of taking care of himself—and you, apparently, seeing as he got you out of the underworld.