“What do you mean?” Sheng’s question pinged in the fog hazing Price’s mind.
He closed his eyes and puffed, “Yāoguài took her.”
“How do they plan to sneak her past Ox Head and Horse Face?” Kassian’s voice boomed.
Price pried his eyes open and spun to face the group of Chosen. “The same way you’re going to smuggle me in.”
“Oh, shit.” Kassian’s eyes shot wide. “Mate, no. That’s crazy.”
“Yeah?” Price poked a finger toward Nat. “You’d do the same for her. So either help me, or get the fuck out of my way.” He tore past them, through the thin crowd of humans too drunk or high to have noticed the chaos erupting around them, and out into the street.
Clearer than the stuffy nightclub, the night air washed over him. This was an absolutely insane plan. Daji would kick his butt if she was here, but he refused to sit on his hands with his thumbs up his ass waiting for her to show up.
If she came back.
She might have known her ex in another life, but she couldn’t be certain what she’d have to deal with. What if he was too strong for any one being to defeat?
“Hey, Price.” Nat sprinted to his side. “I gave her the knife. She’s going to be ok.”
He peered at her face. “You don’t buy that.”
She scrunched her nose. “Okay, maybe not, but going into Hell is insanity. Even if you make it in, you won’t make it out alive. That place is crawling with demons who’d love to carve up a Chosen for lunch.”
He shrugged a shoulder and stared out at the ocean. “Doesn’t matter. I’m going.”
She sucked in a terse breath. “Okay, fine. I’ll help you commit this idiotic suicide.”
He twisted to face her. “Yeah?”
A smile curved her lips. “Yeah, why the hell not.”
He quirked his lips and set a hand on her shoulder. “Thanks, Nat.”
Her hand patted his. “All in the name of true love.”
A male cleared his throat behind them. Kassian. He and Nat broke apart. There wasn’t any spark between them except friendship, but best not to push his luck with a charging bull at his back.
“Where do we start?” Kassian tugged Nat into his side.
“Hold on.” Sheng stalked forward. “If you’re headed into Dìyù—alive—and you have any hope of making it out in the same state, you can’t do it alone.”
Price knitted his brows, not liking where this discussion was headed.
“Sheng’s right.” Kassian nodded. “If you join with us, we’ll be able to yank you back. Consider it a lifeline.”
A lifeline? He snorted and folded his arms. “No. Not going to happen.”
“Price,” Nat hummed. “How badly do you want to save her?” Her words hung thick in the night air.
He recognized what she was asking. How much Daji meant to him. How much he’d renounce to be with her.
Was it love?
“Everything,” he murmured.
Nat shook her head. “That’s not what I meant—”
“Yes it is.” He pegged her with his glare. “You’re asking how much she means to me, how much I’d risk for her. The answer’s ‘everything.’ ”
“Okay then.” Her brows pinched together, eyes shining as though she held in tears. “We’ll get her back.”
“Damn right, we will.” Kassian’s hand clamped tight on Nat’s shoulder.
Price bowed his head at their support, his insides threatening to squeeze together in gratitude. “Just don’t make me do it with him.” He jerked his chin toward Sheng. “No offense, but I’ll take the Dragon.”
***
Daji’s throat burned. The stale, dry air of Dìyù parched her, drawing the moisture from her skin. Even a few hours in this hellhole was torture.
And she wasn’t shackled like the humans.
Of course, they were dead, so the lack of water didn’t affect them. As a húli jīng, she didn’t require sustenance, but she did drink water and occasionally consume food.
In Dìyù, the arid environment sucked her dry.
They clambered over the top of the mountain of knives into the eighth level, a frigid hill of ice where schemers and adulterers were subjected to freezing temperatures, naked.
Daji rubbed her hands together and blew on them. The dryness absorbed the moisture from the air, freezing it in her lungs. She hastened her steps, hurrying past the weeping human souls and to the top of the hill, down into the next level, where sexual offenders and thieves were boiled in hot oil. Fun.
The air warmed once again and her tongue scraped the inside of her mouth as though it was made of sandpaper. She didn’t speak the language of the minions, but they seemed to understand her.
At least as much as a dog would.
“I need water.” She drew her fist to her mouth in a drinking motion. “Your master doesn’t wish me dead, right?”
They skittered amongst themselves before the lead one with the spear prodded a smaller, winged one away from the group. Off to fetch water?
Daji reclined against a boulder and huddled her arms around her middle, stretching her legs. The break for water wasn’t her sole intent. In order to face Dì Xīn, she had to be well-rested and alert. Trekking for hours through the pits of Hell didn’t prepare her for the fight of her life.
The winged minion scampered into view, bearing a gourd it delivered first to the leader. The yāoguài pried the lid off with its gnarled fingers and grimaced, before handing the gourd to her.
Hesitantly, Daji sniffed. Ugh, lovely. The sulfuric stench permeating the air had also seeped into whatever water source this liquid came from. She studied the scent and determined it was drinkable. Her scorched mouth and throat didn’t protest as she gulped the water. Ah. She swiped the back of her wrist across her lips and sucked in the last drops.
The demons hopped around, as though eager to continue their trek, but Daji required more rest. Hmm. How dim-witted were these minions?
Húli jīng didn’t have to eat, but did they know that?
Catching the stare of the leader, she motioned breaking off a piece of bread with her hands and placing it inside her mouth, chewing.
The demon scowled and squawked at her, but singled out another minion to fetch her sustenance.
Daji rested her head against the boulder, closing her eyes and gathering every last ounce of strength.
She’d require everything in the next few hours. The blade Nat had handed her prodded her spine, offering the comforting promise of success.
Her mind wandered to Price. What was he thinking? Was he angry with her, hurt, or the very worst, indifferent?
She prayed he trusted her enough not to do anything foolish. Well, she’d pretty much ensured he couldn’t. She’d ventured to the one place he would never be able to follow.
Unless Horse spilled her secret too soon and he remembered.
Price sank to the ground in front of Delun, Chosen host of the Dragon. They were at Kek Lok Si, and it was time to pay up. The Chosen weren’t going to help him unless he traded his freedom.
A price he’d willingly pay, if it meant saving Daji.
He’d never envisioned anything would make him surrender this, but his loyalty for her safety was a fair trade to him. No regrets.
Besides, the idea of spending the rest of his existence stuck in Dìyù, unable to make it out, didn’t appeal to him. The Chosen connection was like the famed trail of bread crumbs. Except no birds would peck at this path.
After he rescued Daji, he’d follow his link to the Chosen. Sounded simple enough.
If he got lost, they might be able to yank him back.
And if he died, well, no loss to them.
Delun rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m glad to have you.” His eyes crinkled. “You’re my first.”
“Yeah, well, let’s pop your leadership cherry and get this the fuck over with.” Price puffed out his breath and extended his hands.
Delun mumbled some fancy poem, w
hich Price repeated, and a haze formed around them. Horse and Dragon greeted each other, and Dragon plucked a piece of Horse’s spirit, a thread professing its loyalty.
The haze dissipated as the spirit animals sucked back inside them. “Damn, that was fast.” Delun chuckled.
“That’s what she said,” Price snickered, but shook Delun’s hand anyway. “Thanks boss.”
“Any time.” Delun squeezed his hand, firm. “I mean it. We’re family now. I’ll always have your back.” He released Price’s hand, and they both shuffled to their feet.
“All done?” Nat strolled into the room, Ling and Kassian behind her, carrying brown paper bundles.
“Yep.” He jerked his chin toward their packages. “What are those?”
“Your way in.” Ling slid her glasses up her nose and folded aside the string and paper from one of the parcels. “Take a gander at your disguises and say hello to the new Ox Head and Horse Face.”
“Awesome.” Price grabbed for the antique-looking mask, but Ling shooed aside his hand.
“These are priceless artifacts,” she snapped. “They’re on loan, so be careful with them, or you’re paying.”
“All right.” He held up his hands and whistled. The replicas were exact copies of the ones the real guardians wore. “Why not ask the real guardians for permission to pass?”
“We’re not sure if they’re trustworthy,” Nat droned. “A crapload of yāoguài have gotten past them recently. Enough that we’re better off keeping them outside our circle of trust.”
He bobbed his head. Made sense.
“Kassian will get you to the gates, but once in, you’re on your own,” Nat explained.
“How are we going to sneak past the real Ox Head and Horse Face?” He folded his arms.
“You’ll be identical copies of them. I’m sure you can figure out how to divert their attention long enough to break in.”
“Yeah, they’re much more concerned with demons breaking out than in.” Kassian chuckled.
“You good?” Ling glanced between them both.
“We’re cool.” Kassian sent him a reassuring nod.
“Yeppers.” Price unfolded his arms and accepted the bundle from Ling. Nat helped Kassian get the garb fitted on correctly, while Price peeled his apart. The long taupe robe and garish horse mask reminded him of a Chinese B movie, but they seemed accurate enough. He’d observed the two guardians a couple of times, but never without their superhero costumes. The expression on the brown horse’s face was twisted into a menacing sneer.
If it got him one step closer to Daji, then Hello, mask. He shrugged on the robe and tugged the mask onto his head, grimacing. The plaster headgear was heavy as shit, and created before the era of breathability.
“How do I look?” Kassian spun to face him, a leering ox’s face adorning the top of his red robe. Its curved horns twisted high and the nose ring was a nice touch. Definitely not someone he intended to mess with.
“Fugly,” Price sniggered.
“Yeah, you look hot yourself.” Kassian scoffed and angled his face to Nat’s. They whispered, a conversation Price could practically lip sync to.
I love you.
Be careful.
Promise I will.
Plus, loads of other romantic crap.
A knock rattled the doorframe and in strode Fang. “Yep, you guys are ready to go to Hell.”
Nat laughed. “Price, I’ve told you to go to Hell many times before, but I actually meant you should die first.”
“Ha ha.” Though they couldn’t see him, he rolled his eyes at her pathetic joke. “Umph!”
Nat had flung her arms around him, squeezing. “Be careful, and if anything happens to Kassian, you’d better not come back.”
“Uh, thanks.”
She slapped his shoulders and embraced Kassian next, but drew back suddenly. A woman and a man strolled inside the room, and a low snarl hissed from Fang’s Rat.
“Wen, Li.” Nat shoved Kassian in front of Fang.
Price tilted his head at the pair. His senses tingled as the female strode forward. She wasn’t a Chosen, but she was something, that was for certain.
“Wen is a new member on the Council of Elders,” Nat explained. The Council was a group of eight powerful beings who claimed they acted on behalf of the Jade Emperor and therefore behaved like playground bullies. Oh, and surprise, the Matchmaker was a member. “And she also hosts Cat.”
Aha. That was it. Cat and Rat had nasty history. The tall, surly-looking man protectively shielding Wen must be Li Tieguai, one of the Eight Immortals.
“The Matchmaker told me about your situation. She said this might help.” Wen removed a small, gilded jade cube from her long leather jacket pocket and tossed it to Price.
“You’ll need this too.” Li slipped a gold chain from off his neck, the key hanging on it flashing as he handed him the chain.
Price twisted the items in his hands. “What am I supposed to do with a box?”
“It keeps nasty things from getting out.” Wen smirked. “Don’t forget to lock it.” She jerked her chin toward Fang. “Bye, Rat.” Snaring her arm in Li’s, she sauntered from the room.
Nat examined the box. “Good to have a backup plan.”
Great, now all he had to do was distract two ancient guardians, sneak into Hell, and locate Daji. Then destroy her motherfucking ex-husband and save the world.
Maybe grab takeout for lunch.
He shook his shoulders, releasing the tension. As a Lotus, he’d completed plenty of stealthy missions, had infiltrated high-level organizations, had…
Enough.
This wasn’t like any other mission, so no point in making light of it. This was his future, Daji’s future.
Everyone’s future.
Resting on his shoulders.
He closed his eyes, shutting everyone out, and focused on her. On Daji’s shining eyes, the warm glow of sunset lighting them from within.
Her plump pink lips, her murmuring—asking him a question.
Wait. This wasn’t a fantasy concocted by his mind. This was a memory. That day at the hot springs, Daji had made him promise her something.
After she’d asked to speak with Horse and he’d blacked out.
Horse whinnied, stomping its hooves.
Remember.
Daji’s last word to him, but she’d spoken it before.
He’d waved it off as a dying person’s sentimentality, but what if there was more? Daji was practical like that.
She’d done something to him that day. A jolt of energy he’d interpreted to be the chemistry between them. But it wasn’t, was it.
Horse? He dug deep, concentrating on the spirit animal. It was hiding—something Daji had told it to conceal.
Horse hedged forward, revealing a thin shining thread. He frowned, until recognition settled over him.
Her fox spirit.
The answer he’d been waiting for. How to find her. This was his trail of bread crumbs.
She hadn’t abandoned him. Hadn’t taken the fall, sacrificing herself for him, without providing him a means to swoop in, protect her, and save her.
Remember.
He clenched his hands into fists at his side, hope bolstering his heavy heart.
I do remember.
And I’m coming for you, Daji.
***
Tingling spread through her core, as though someone caressed her fox spirit.
Not someone, Price.
Damn.
Horse had shared the memory with him. Of course, she should have anticipated it would. Horse apparently couldn’t keep a secret. She’d hoped it would until she’d defeated Dì Xīn, then she could use her link connecting her to Price to haul herself home.
She’d figured that if Dì Xīn could steal a thread of her fox spirit to tether her to him in Dìyù, a separate thread fastened to Horse might anchor her in the human realm.
Time had run out. She’d refused to draw Price into her fight, but she had require
d him as her lifeline home. That wouldn’t work now, unless she hurried and completed her task. Before Price got any idiotic ideas about coming to her rescue.
Fifteen levels in, three to go. Daji had pretended to consume the rat-like rodent the minion had delivered, but now time had run out. She scurried to her feet and ushered the demons forward. Quickening her pace, she rushed through the Chamber of Dismemberment, where tomb raiders were hacked into pieces.
Past the Mountain of Flames, the Yard of Stone Mill, and finally stumbling into the Chamber of Saw.
Her muscles tensed. Dì Xīn was somewhere in this level, among the others who cheated in business. Was he, too, being sawed in half? Or had he served his punishment and now awaited her?
She treaded into the chamber. It was darker than the others, pitch-black, and the stench from the pools of stale blood stung her nostrils. No wailing, only an eerie silence. She pressed her foot forward, hands held palms flat in front of her to prod ahead. A squishy mound bumped into her hand and she jolted backward. A body. She blinked, grimacing at the half-sawed form of a human, hung upside down between two wooden planks.
The demons in charge of the torture in this chamber were nowhere in sight.
Probably dismissed by Dì Xīn.
She suppressed a shudder and veered to the side, weaving through the bodies. Sticky pools of congealed blood covered the ground. At least I wore boots.
Undeterred by the darkness, she pressed forward. Having adjusted from the previous bright level, her húli jīng eyes filtered through the shadows. Hundreds of bodies were scattered around the darkened cavern. Where was Dì Xīn? Why play this game of cat and mouse?
Of course, he liked games. He’d always sought to terrorize her mind. Back then, she’d been a youngling, inexperienced and horrified by his actions. Yet strong enough not to succumb.
Dì Xīn had no idea what she’d become. He wouldn’t intimidate her, not with his pathetic pools of blood. It would require far more to unnerve a Queen.
She closed her eyes and sought out the tether binding them. There. At the end of the line of victims. Marching through them, she headed straight for the massive stone fortress.
Reining Him In (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 5) Page 22
