Inferno of Darkness (Divisa Huntress #2) - J.L. Weil Page 0,30

balloon over them. My fingers hovered over my dagger for quick access.

Something about this place was familiar, but not in a good way. Was it the darkness?

I didn’t think so. I’d grown accustomed to the dark, craved it even. It was something else.

Kira’s eyes met mine for a brief second, conveying a series of warnings. Be on guard. Stay behind me. And don’t do anything stupid.

I rolled my eyes, promising none of the above. It wasn’t in my DNA to be a rational individual.

She shook her head and stepped into the room. I followed behind her, halting just over the threshold at the sight of a silhouette. The man’s back was to us, his gaze focused on something beyond the window. He didn’t turn around at first, not until Kira spoke, her voice carrying over the storm raging outside.

“It’s been a long time, lover,” my mother purred, a feline grin glimmering on her lips.

I tried not to spew my guts. God, was there any mortal or demon my mother hadn’t slept with? The thought made me cringe.

Swallowing a bout of nausea, I studied the shadowy figure as he pivoted on his heels with the grace of a wild panther. His movements struck me as familiar, but without seeing his face, I couldn’t be sure. If only there was a ribbon of moonlight, then maybe…

The flitting thought died, and instinct kicked in. My body rippled with unbridled anger, the amber color of my demon eyes slicing through the darkness like a knife. In the few steps it took me to reach the demon, I had my dagger out of its sheath and pressed against his throat. Dancing emerald eyes clashed with mine. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I hissed, digging the tip of my blade further into his skin.

“You missed me then?” Cayden, the Queen of Darkness’s personal punisher, smirked. He was also Ashor’s friend, a relationship I didn’t understand.

God! A part of me was relieved he was here. The other part of me wanted to shred him into such small bits, he would be nothing but dust in the wind. They were overwhelming emotions, but the anger won. “I’m going to kill you,” I ground out between my teeth.

Cayden folded his arms over his expansive chest, rocking back on his heels. Damn him and his cocky grin. “Well, that escalated hella quick.”

My damning gaze whirled to my mother. If she wasn’t already a member of Hell, I’d send her there myself. “How dare you involve him? I should have known better to trust you.” My voice dripped with disgust.

She was unfazed. “Oh, good. You know each other. Simplifies things. Now, sweets, put the dagger away before someone gets hurt.”

“That someone being him,” I said, jabbing the dagger deeper. I felt the tip break through his skin but felt no remorse. It wasn’t going to kill him… sadly. Damn demon healing abilities. But I could kill him if I rammed the blade into his heart cavity, and poof. No more Cayden.

I was tempted.

If there was ever a time to turn off my conscience, now was that moment.

Cayden chuckled, causing my knife to slip further into his flesh, but the demon didn’t seem to care or feel any pain. “I’ve really missed you. The underworld is just not the same without you. It lacks color.”

That was laughable, but I wasn’t in the mood for his antics. “Where’s Ashor?” I demanded, easing my blade away from his throat.

“He is not with me, if that is what you’re asking.”

“It’s not. I think I would know if he was with you. I am asking where he is at this moment.”

Cayden gave a half-hearted shrug. “How am I supposed to know? You’re the one with a direct connection to his soul.”

I snorted. “Don’t play with me. I saw what you did to him in the dungeons. What you continue to do to him.”

A heavy sigh left his chest, and his eyes filled with regret I didn’t want to admit was there. “Last I saw, he was still shackled to the dungeon walls.”

“Fuck.”

Cayden studied me, an unusual expression of seriousness in his handsome features. “You seem surprised by this. Why?”

“None of your business,” I snapped back, withdrawing my blade but not backing away. I was sure he had gone to Gardeness. Was the dream not real? Just a dream? What about the oath? Had that just been a dream? “How long ago was this?” I demanded.

“You know time doesn’t work the same in Hell.” Cayden