Hell doesn’t like anything affiliated with witch spirits. Did you really have to bring him?”
“Yes,” I said, my words final.
I needed all my Virtues to get through this Hell and whatever else came next.
It didn’t escape my attention that one of my said Virtues was missing. “Where’s Kaito?”
Hendrik shoved off the wall, finally seeming to have something to say. “He walked right through those demons and they didn’t bat an eye.” He joined us and his eerie black eyes reflected the red glow all around us, making him look more pissed off than usual. “Is there something you want to tell us about your mentor?” When I didn’t respond, he narrowed his eyes at Dante. “Well?”
“Nobody knows what kind of supernatural he is. I don’t think even he fully knows his origins,” Dante said, then turned to me. “But I have a feeling we’re about to find out.”
“I don’t care where your mates wander off to,” Jess snapped. “We have other shit to worry about. The Demonspawn are on high alert because our travel here has opened up a portal between Fortune Academy and Hell, which means the Dean is going to be coming after us.”
“Wasn’t that the point?” Dante asked. “She’s the Conduit. Once we get her down here, Calamity will be trapped. If any realm can contain chaos, it’ll be Hell.”
Jess stabbed a clawed finger into his chest, drawing blood. “Maybe if we’d been able to travel to the lower levels where the Queen could help us… but not here. If the Dean follows us from the outer layers, she’s going to ease into this place like slipping into a hot bath. Don’t underestimate that bitch.”
All my Virtues started arguing at once, including Logan who growled and snapped at Jess’s feet.
“Enough!” I yelled, sending them all into silence. “Jess. Do you have a place you can take everyone while I go find Kaito?” We all needed to stick together and if Kaito was going off the rails, I needed to be there to help him come back to us. “If we all go parading after him, he’s just going to run deeper into Hell.” I sensed the fear and flight in him. Coming here had unlocked something inside of him that frightened the most mysterious of my Virtues. I had to do this alone.
“I’m not leaving you,” Dante insisted, followed by sounds of agreement from Hendrik, Orion, and a yip from Logan.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course, the only time you guys agree on anything is when it goes against what I want.”
“Luc,” Jess said with a wild grin. “He’ll know what to do.”
Dante shifted between me and the Demonspawn. “Who is Luc?” He spat the name as if he already hated the sound of the guy.
Jess smirked. “Only the hottest of Hell’s Demons who also happens to run the Barracks down here, among other things. If you really want to protect your little girlfriend, you’ll come with me and let me do the talking.” She swept back her hair as she grinned. “He has a total crush on me.”
Orion gripped my wrist, sending energy tingling through my nervous system. “Kaito can take care of himself. We should all go meet this Demonspawn leader together.”
“No.” I peeled Orion’s fingers off of me. “I can feel his suffering. Can’t you?”
My Virtues went silent, confirming that the mate-bond was just as strong for them as it was for me. All of their wants, needs, and desires swarmed around in my head and my love for them squeezed my heart until I thought I would burst.
Orion was scared, even if he wouldn’t admit it. He’d been around the block, gone to Heaven and back but he’d never been in a place like Hell. He didn’t know how to protect me down here and our relationship was only just now starting to grow into something more. He wasn’t comfortable with the idea of sharing me, but even he was glad that Hendrik, Dante, and Logan had my back. For now, he wanted us all to stick together, but I couldn’t just abandon Kaito.
Not when I felt his suffering jutting through me like a spear.
Logan paced while Hendrik and Dante shared a look, seemingly having an unspoken moment of agreement. The two had a weird love-hate relationship going on and it intrigued me, but I didn’t like it when they allied against me. “You’ll take the wolf,” Hendrik instructed.
“Agreed,” Dante added.
I scoffed and crossed my arms. “Wasn’t it just a few hours ago