She'd once been bold(ish) and quick to laugh, generally happy. She had never imagined she'd end up like this-a timorous, incapacitated mess.
Sheer will netted her a few more steps. But when she made it to a well-lit storefront, she froze, glued to its safety as if soldered there.
Someone would soon come along to walk with her. Surely. For now, think of other things.
As she feigned interest in a shelf of figurines on sale, her thoughts returned to Daciano. He'd entered for her hand-not because he was a glory hound or because he'd been condemned on his home plane.
No, apparently he'd surrendered his home forever.
And once the tournament had begun, that vampire had been the only one who'd acknowledged her, acknowledged that he'd fought for her. No one else had even looked at her. Not even Caspion.
Cas had been helpless not to respond to those battle groupies surrounding him, especially the voluptuous demonesses. My h*ps will never be that round, my br**sts that plump. The one bad thing about freezing into immortality? If unhappy with your appearance, you were eternally screwed.
Yet even the slim demonesses got a swoon-inducing grin from Cas. In fact, it seemed there was only one female he didn't respond to.
Me.
Five minutes passed. Ten. She'd begun meandering through the store, picking up a figurine here, a vase there. But soon, the shopkeeper started insisting that Bettina take them all as gifts, refusing any offers to pay.
"No, please. I'm just resting a bit inside your lovely store. I couldn't accept more." And there went another vase into a bag.
Bettina was unable to leave, and equally unable to decline the merchandise without insulting the kindly shopkeeper.
I don't even like knickknacks! Morgana would never have this problem. Bettina's deadly patroness wouldn't. Those two Sorceri females always got what they wanted.
Why can't I?
When the shopkeeper began looking for a larger bag, Bettina inwardly groaned.
Ultimately, she accepted all the offerings with a strained smile, then forced herself to turn toward the exit.
Outside, the buildings loomed taller, the alleys twisting narrower and darker. As she cautiously peered upward, that familiar seed of anxiety started to seethe in her chest-the one that wouldn't stop growing until she was covered with sweat, shaking with fear, gasping for breath.
She was trapped, standing at the threshold like an idiot, clutching her sack like a life preserver.
I hate this! When did I become that girl-the pushover afraid of her own shadow?
She knew her fear was irrational. There'd never been a Vrekener in Abaddon. If one managed to enter this plane, the Abaddonae milling around would never let it hurt their princess.
The demons would trace into the air and attack, asking questions later. She knew this.
So why wouldn't her body listen to her mind?
"Bettina!" Caspion? He'd left his admirers for her? "I've been looking for you!" He jogged up to her, still spattered with dried blood from the fight. He glanced around, lowering his voice. "You're alone here? Aren't you afraid?"
Salem and Cas were the only ones who knew about her phobia. "It isn't so bad tonight." Not a lie-she hadn't had a full-blown attack yet.
He didn't look like he believed her. "I'll walk you back." He took her bag with a frown-he knew she wasn't a knickknack type of person-then offered her his arm. As they started toward the castle, relief breezed through her. The shapes of the buildings morphed to normal, the alleys opening up like mortal freeways.
"You fought really well tonight, Cas. I was so proud."
"Did you see what Daciano did?" Before she could answer, he said, "Bastard muscled into my skirmish just for the chance to kill me himself! I was about to get free of that whip even without his interference."
Not true-and Bettina was almost glad it wasn't. Otherwise I bet five boons for nothing.
"The vampire returned for you."
She gave a slight nod. "I could scarcely believe it."