“I hear what you’re saying you experienced.” He released her arms and looked past her to the falls. “But I am telling you that I didn’t go anywhere. I was standing right here the entire time.”
“That’s not possible.” Kai folded her arms over her breasts and shook her head. “I was here alone. It was probably only a minute or two but it felt like a lot longer.”
“Your Fae magic.” Asmodeus walked around her and put his hand in the rushing wall of water, sunlight spilling over him in a glittering ray. “Perhaps you—“
“No.” Kai shook her head furiously. “It wasn’t me or my magic. I didn’t do anything. You were the one who vanished. Not me. I didn’t go anywhere. I was here. Under the waterfall and you weren’t.”
“Kai,” he sighed and turned to face her. “You are still new to your powers and because you have been refusing to use them, and better understand them, you may have inadvertently—“
“Hey. Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot. It wasn’t my magic,” Kai bit out.
Frustration and a horrid sensation of helplessness swamped her as he stared at her with that arrogant I’m-a-demon-and-I-know-everything face. That’s the expression that made her want to sock him right in the nose.
“Stop it.” She poked him in the chest. “I mean it. You’re wrong, Asmodeus.”
“I doubt it.” He arched one eyebrow. “I’m rarely wrong. I think when you touched the sunlight, you— “
“What about the unstable portal?” Kai desperately wanted to change the subject. “Could that have something to do with it?”
“I suppose, but you were standing in sunlight and you know that the Fae use light to travel.”
He was infuriating, speaking to her with such a condescending tone and she couldn’t take it one more second. In that instant, every single shred of fear and sliver of inadequacy, mixed with the rising fury that he wasn’t listening to her, boiled over. The truth, the one she could no longer hide was about to become a reality for both of them.
“I have no more magic, Asmodeus,” she shouted. “Okay? None. Zip.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you do.”
“No, I don’t! I’m not magical or awesome or some amazing fucking spectacle of the universe. I’m just a regular girl who can see auras and happens to be married to one of the seven Princes of Hell. I am not magical or a fairy or a witch. I’m just a regular human woman with a weird ass life.”
“What are you talking about?” He scoffed. “Of course you have magic. You’ve used it on many occasions.”
“Really?” Hands on her hips, she shot back, “Like when? When was the last time I used any magic?”
“Well, you have refused to use it since…” His voice trailed off and her heart crumbled as she witnessed the realization washed over him.
“Not since the day of the battle.” Kai threw her arms wide as though embracing the suckage of the situation. “The Ring of Solomon was giving me magic, Asmodeus. The ring was magical, not me, okay? You married a plain Jane.”
“Kai— “
He tried to touch her but she stepped back and held both hands out in front of her, preventing him from getting any closer.
“Just stop, okay.” Tears stung her eyes because the look on his face was one of disgust and disbelief and pity and it was breaking her heart. “I can’t use my magic. It’s gone and maybe it was never mine to begin with. Ever since the Ring of Solomon came off my hand that day after the battle, I haven’t been able to do anything. It wasn’t me, Asmodeus. It was the ring.”
“You told me that you didn’t want to use your magic. You insisted on it.” His arms hung at his sides and his eyes flickered red. “Why would you lie to me about that?”
“I was afraid.”
“You should be.”
Her heart seized in her chest as everything she had been worried about came to fruition. The look on his face was nothing short of disgust.
“I-I’m sorry.” Her vision blurred with tears. “Please don’t look at me like that.”
“Do you have any idea what kind of danger you put yourself in? If you were having trouble accessing your gifts, why wouldn’t you tell me that? All this time, I thought you were able to defend yourself and— “
“I’m not helpless.” Defiance mixed with anger shimmied up her back. She took a step backward, needing to keep a little space between them. Sure, she was pissed at herself but he was doing a damn fine job of ticking her off too. “Just because I can’t cast spells or use fairy light doesn’t mean I’m incapable of taking care of myself.”
“Kai, stop.” The muscles in his jaw flickered beneath the stubble of his beard. “Don’t take another step or you’ll end up in the caves and if you really believe that you can’t access your magic…”
She stilled and looked down to see that there was barely an inch between her sneaker and the edge of the pitch-black opening to the caves. Kai let out the breath she didn’t even realize she had been holding and moved away from the darkness. Folding her arms over her breasts, she shivered as cold air drifted over her damp skin. Heat wafted over her other arm as Asmodeus moved in closer, but Kai couldn’t bring herself to look at him. She didn’t think she could bear to see that expression of disappointment again.
Silence hung between them, thick with unspoken accusations and unanswered questions. The water continued to rush behind him and the vast seemingly endless darkness of the caves loomed ominously on the other side of her. There was nowhere to go. No place to run or hide. The truth was out and now she had to face it. She had to face him and a possible future without him.
Kai sucked in a deep breath and forced herself to look at Asmodeus.
At the moment her eyes met his, the ground beneath their feet rumbled and lurched. Kai wavered, her arms spinning wildly as she fought to keep her balance. Dirt and bits of rock fell over them as Asmodeus grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against the shelter of his body. Water sprayed and mud over them as the quake grew stronger.
“What the hell is going on?” Kai shouted.
“We’re getting out of here.” Asmodeus raised his arm. “Hang on.”
Kai braced herself for the fire and smoke routine and held tightly to him. His body vibrated and heat flared over both of them as the power inside of him built, but when he threw his hand toward the ground, there was nothing.
No fire. No smoke. Nothing.
The earth shuddered and cracked beneath their feet and Kai shrieked as larger pieces of rock fell over them. Asmodeus swore loudly and tried again. Still nothing.
“Damn it all. You aren’t the only one having magic problems. The fucking portal is messing with my power.”
The shaking grew stronger and the crack in the rocks beneath their feet widened.
“What about the caves?”
Just as Kai pointed to it, the entire void filled with a cascade of rocks and mud.
“Guess not.”
For a split second, she thought maybe they could climb out but as the shaking increased, and more debris fell, it was glaringly clear that their options had become even more limited. Huge boulders splashed into the pool of water behind them and Kai knew what they were going to do, even before Asmodeus’ suggested it.
“No way.” She shook her head and pointed to the glowing pool of water. “That is not a good idea. You said it’s unstable.”
“Well,” he shouted over the thunderous booms and cracks of the earth. “You always said you wanted to go to the Underworld.”
“Aside from the fact that we could get pummeled by falling rocks, if that portal is unstable we could end up anywhere.” She shrunk away from another rumble. “What about the Brotherhood? You can call them, can’t you?”
His mouth set in a tight line and he shook his head while avoiding her gaze.
“Like I said, you aren’t the only one having problems with your powers. I haven’t been able to connect with them.”
“Oh really?” Kai’s eyebrows lifted. “Loo
ks like we both have some explaining to do.”
Another rock skittered down to their left and Kai jumped out of the way before it could hit her. Asmodeus grabbed her by the hand and nodded toward the glowing churning waters.
“Wherever we end up, we’ll be together and apparently with much to discuss.” His eyes flickered to bright red and he squeezed her hand tighter. “Take a deep breath and swim toward the light. I’ll be right beside you. Are you ready?”
“Do I have a choice?” Kai shouted.
“You can do this.” He took her face in his hands and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Just keep swimming. Don’t stop and don’t look back.”
Before she could protest, Asmodeus picked her up and threw her into the pool. Reacting on instinct, Kai pumped her arms and legs and swam toward the bright light at the bottom. Her lungs strained and her muscles burned with effort. She wanted to look back, to see if he was behind her but she fought the urge and kept moving toward the odd pulsating white and yellow light. As she got closer, the water grew hotter and fizzed over her flesh, making her feel like she was swimming in a vat of seltzer.
She swam deeper and knew that even if she wanted to turn back, she was too far from the surface. Searing heat flared in her lungs as she struggled to hold her breath. Black spots littered her already blurred vision and just when she thought she couldn’t hold her breath for one second longer, Kai broke through the surface.
Down was now up.
Gasping for breath, Kai treaded water and breathed in huge gulps of fresh cool air. She swiped at her eyes, coughing and fighting to keep her head above the waterline, Kai looked around, frantically searching the water’s surface for Asmodeus. For a split second, she feared he hadn’t made it or they had been separated but a moment later, he broke through right beside her. Kai let out a cry of relief and swam over to him, instantly wrapping her arms around him.
When his body stiffened against hers and his arm tightened around her waist, Kai knew something was wrong.
Even before she heard Kristine’s voice.
“Welcome to Hell.”
Chapter Eight
Treading water and with Kai at his side, Asmodeus’ relief at making it through the portal safely was swiftly replaced with fury. Contrary to Kristine’s greeting, they weren’t in the Underworld. Given the number of armed soldiers who stood around the edge of the pool, with their six-foot-long spears at the ready, it was clear they had somehow ended up in the Fae realm.
“Asmodeus,” Kai whispered. “This isn’t the Underworld.”
“Well, it’s not the Hell but it’s a hell.” Kristine stood at the far edge of the pool and her wicked gaze was pinned on Kai. “At least as far as the demons are concerned, the Fae realm is their personal hell. They have no power here. They’re as helpless as a human.”
Asmodeus’ eyes flickered red but Kristine waggled her finger at him as the soldiers hoisted their spears higher in warning. The walls surrounding the pool were made of multi-colored crystals and glittered in the bright sunlight of this dimension. A pink sky streaked with yellow loomed above, confirming they were exactly where Kristine claimed. He had been here before but hoped he would never come back.
No such fucking luck.
Asmodeus glanced down, expecting to see the light of the portal below but there was none. The blue waters grew darker by the second as did his burgeoning sense of dread.
“Before you attempt to dive back down there, you should know that the portal has been closed on our end.” Her smile widened. “Permanently.”
“Kristine, what is your problem?” Kai asked. She treaded water furiously. “Honestly, what is your damage, lady? You wrecked my wedding and now you’re screwing up my honeymoon?”
“I told you that I have a gift to give you.”
“Really? Do you have something against sending me one via the United States Postal Service? Because getting abducted is the worst gift ever.”
“I will explain everything but first, why don’t both of you come out of the water?”
“No way.”
Kai shook her head and her legs bumped his as she fought to keep her head above the water line. Asmodeus could tell she was getting tired and that worried him more than Kristine or her soldiers.
“Aside from basically kidnapping us, Grandma, you have us surrounded by these gladiators or whoever they are.”
“They’re soldiers, dear. The Queen’s guard. You’ve met them before.”
“Oh right,” Kai scoffed. “You mean when you and Zemi imprisoned Asmodeus? Yeah, right. I remember.”
“I didn’t imprison him. Zemi did. As you know, she is not here. She’s not anywhere to be found, actually. I have been in charge during her absence but I’d be happy to relinquish my duties in exchange for her safe return.”
Kristine snapped her fingers. Seconds later two young women appeared with enormous pink towels in hand. They were dressed in the long medieval-style gowns that the women in the Fae realm preferred.
Asmodeus’ eyes flickered and shifted back to their human form. He fought to keep his rage in check. He could handle himself in hand-to-hand combat with the guards but he didn’t want to put Kai in any more danger than she was already. He knew how quickly a situation like this could devolve into violent chaos and he definitely didn’t want his wife in the middle of it.
“Fine,” he bit out.
“Hey.” Kai splashed water at him. “It’s not fine. Nothing about this is fine.”
“The portal is closed and my powers don’t work in this realm, Kai.” His frustration with their situation grew as his patience waned. “I would tell you to use your gifts to get us back home but, apparently, you are unable to use your magic. I don’t see that we have any other options at the moment. Do you?”
Kai blanched and her expression went from outraged to wounded. He thought she would push back at him, as she usually did. No rebuttal came. Without another word, Kai swam toward Kristine and the shoreline and something inside his chest withered at her reaction. He hadn’t meant to sound as furious or as scolding as he did. His ability to soften his response had been upended by his fury with himself for allowing the two of them to wind up in this situation.
If he were being honest with himself, he was upset with Kai as well. If she had been honest with him about the trouble she was having with her gifts, maybe he could have done something to help her. He could have armed her with other tools to help her protect herself.
He was scared for he, afraid of losing her. Fear was not an emotion he ever experienced until he fell in love with Kai. He had never had anything or anyone to lose. All he ever worried about was himself but all that changed when he found her. The idea of Kai being hurt was more than he could bear, but of course, he didn’t express his genuine concern or fear.
As usual, he reacted with rage and an indignant tone, and in the process, upset his wife.
He was terrible at these human relationships.
Asmodeus swam behind her and promised himself that once they got out of this blasted situation, he would make everything right—all of it. She hadn’t been the only one keeping secrets and it was time for him to come clean.
***
Damp and shivering, Kai tugged the fluffy pink towel around her tightly and avoided Asmodeus’ gaze as they strode side by side behind Kristine. Guards flanked them on all sides, which struck Kai as odd. Why would they need their big stupid spears if Asmodeus’ magic didn’t work in their realm? Kai brushed a wet strand of hair from her face and stole a glance at the throngs of people who gathered along the street toward the palace. They were gawking at Kai and Asmodeus like a couple of circus animals, pointing and whispering. She half expected them to throw rotten vegetables but thankfully, they didn’t.
She rolled her eyes and let out a short laugh. This show Kristine was putting on was a power play. If Zemi really were missing, and the Fae people were concerned, Kristine might have been doing all of this to show them that the Fae were doing just fine. Qu
een or no queen, Kristine had captured one of the Princes of Hell and his new bride.
Awesome.
“We’ll be alright,” Asmodeus murmured. “As long as we stay together—“
“Silence!” Kristine snapped her fingers and one of the guards shoved Asmodeus.
Her husband reached out with otherworldly speed and grabbed the man by the throat and hoisted him into the air like he weighed nothing at all. Kai’s question about why the men were armed was answered with his display of inhuman strength. Asmodeus may not have his magic in this realm but his physical strength still outmatched the Fae men. The guard dropped his spear and clawed at Asmodeus’ hand but his grip didn’t loosen. Moments later, two other guards took Kai by the arms and another pointed the tip of his spear at her throat. Kai cried out form surprise more than fear but it instantly captured Asmodeus’ attention. He snapped his head in her direction and a deadly growl rumbled in his throat.
“That is unwise.” Kristine didn’t even turn around and her voice remained calm. “Unless, of course, you want your lovely bride to meet her end right here in the street?”
Asmodeus, eyes blazing red and with fury carved into his features, swore and threw the guard to the ground. Coughing and red-faced, the man scrambled to his feet. He picked up the fallen spear and looked like he was going to drive it into Asmodeus’ heart. One sharp look from Kristine must have made him think better of it.
“Mind yourself, Grogan,” Kristine chided. “My granddaughter and her husband are to remain unharmed…for now.”
Grogan lowered his weapon but kept his furious humiliated gaze on Asmodeus.
“Good.” Kristine peered over her shoulder at Kai. “If your man listens as well as my guards do, it will make the rest of this so much easier.”
Kai’s gaze went from Kristine to Asmodeus. He looked like he was going to rip everyone around them limb from limb. His jaw clenched and his hands curled into fists but he didn’t move. However, he kept his furious gaze on the guard who still held the spear to Kai’s throat.
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