“You’re strong to have gotten through all this.”
The more time she spent with Andre, the better she felt. Her adrenaline had long since worn off since they began talking. Coupled with three cups of hot chocolate, she was craving a nap. Stephanie glanced at her watch and almost groaned. She was due to listen to petitioners in less than an hour.
“I have to go,” she said and straightened in her seat. “But I don’t know what to tell you to do next. Can you go somewhere safe?”
“Don’t worry about me,” Andre replied with a smile. “I’d recommend not telling Wynn about any of this. He’ll find out soon enough I’m missing. If Darkyn tracks you down personally, don’t deal with him. Summon me.”
She nodded. “Where will you be? Or is it better I don’t know?”
“I’ve got friends.” Andre winked. “Focus on staying alive and off Wynn’s radar. Fate is right – Wynn is the worst kind of dangerous. I’m going to find Kris and have a talk.”
Stephanie rose. “I’m so happy I got to meet you,” she said. “You’re the only almost-normal person I’ve met.”
“I’m as normal as Immortals come.” He smiled. “I’ll give Fate’s position some thought. After recent dealings with Darkyn, I understand better why everyone says not to deal with him directly. There is a way to free your mate. We just have to find it.”
Hope bubbled inside her. She feared dwelling too long on what Fate was going through and how horrible it had to be. When Andre explained the mating bond, their society and why things were so fucked up, her perspective began to shift from entrenched denial into consideration of a future most Immortals could only dream of.
Stephanie left Andre at the café and returned to the fortress through a portal. She had time for a quick shower and breakfast before she went to the audience chamber to listen to petitioners. The moment she sat down, she wanted either a quadruple shot of espresso or to run and hide in her room.
Kiki had texted, and she messaged him back between petitioners. She started to relax about her midnight adventure and assume she’d pulled it off. Darkyn and Wynn didn’t confront her, and she made it to the evening family dinner in peace.
Kiki was late to dinner. With Wynn at the head of the table and no Kiki to ramble on about logistics, it was more awkward than any other night. Wynn didn’t wait for her brother to join them but began eating.
Stephanie did as well, sneaking a peek at her cell phone to see if Kiki had texted. His last message came an hour before dinner.
“Kiki isn’t joining us?” she asked finally.
“He is not,” Wynn replied.
Stephanie waited for the second course to be served before the awkward silence between them grew unbearable.
“I saw sixty people today,” she said.
“Good. How are you enjoying the work?”
“It’s … interesting.”
Wynn leaned back. “There’s no better way to learn the names and struggles of our people than to interact directly with them. Petitions maximize this opportunity.”
“I’m definitely meeting a lot of people,” she agreed.
“Tomorrow you can start working on the infrastructure issues.”
“Kiki’s job?”
He nodded.
She grinned. “I can’t wait to tell him he’s got petition duty. Or did you tell him?”
“I did not,” Wynn said. “I’ll leave that pleasure to you when he returns.”
“Returns?”
“It seems Andre escaped from Hell, voiding my agreement with Darkyn. He demanded another child to replace him.”
The fork fell from her hands and clattered against the plate. The sound jarred her but not as much as his words. Wynn appeared to be watching her, waiting for her reaction.
“Why … why him?” she managed finally. “He’s running everything.”
“Apparently your mate made a deal whereby Darkyn can’t touch, talk or make deals with you,” Wynn said. “I hope you can learn Kiki’s job quickly. He was running everything and now, you are.”
Stephanie said nothing, stunned. Of all the sons she’d met, Kiki was the least deserving of a stint in Hell. Did Wynn know of her involvement in Andre’s escape?
Would the master manipulator tell her if he did?
She picked up her fork, uncertain what exactly to do. The warnings from Fate and Andre replayed in her head, and she didn’t dare admit anything about her involvement in Andre’s escape. The moment she left the dining hall, she was summoning Andre.
“Sorry I’m late.” Kiki opened the doors and rushed in.
Stephanie stared at him then looked at Wynn.
“You think I wouldn’t know?” Wynn asked quietly as Kiki took his seat across from her. “Step out of this game while you have the chance.”
She folded her hands in her lap and twisted them.
“What’s going on?” Kiki asked, glancing between them.
“Father-daughter chat. Right, Stephanie?” Wynn replied.
“Yeah,” she managed. “Just getting to know one another.”
Kiki gave her a long look.
“She’s definitely my child,” Wynn said in satisfaction.
Stephanie’s appetite fled. She hadn’t considered the consequences of breaking Andre out and wasn’t at all certain Wynn wasn’t going to send Kiki to Hell after all. Worse, he knew of her involvement in the rescue. She’d fallen right into his trap – again.
Feeling like the world was closing in around her, she pushed away from the table and walked to the door. By the time she hit the hall, she was in a run. Stephanie raced through the corridors until she reached the exit to the back lawn. She stopped and threw her head back, sucking in the evening air.
Where did she go from here? How did she juggle a world so foreign to her let alone survive it?
She sank onto the stairs and held her head.
“You’re in over your head.” Wynn’s voice made her tense. He sat beside her and held out a glass of amber liquid. “Your instincts are good.”
Stephanie studied him for a moment before lifting her head and taking the drink. She wiped her eyes with her other hand.
“What’s your next move?” Wynn asked and sipped from his glass.
“I really don’t know.” Stephanie swirled the glass, wishing the liquid inside would either poison her or put her to sleep until this was over. “Are you going to send Kiki to Hell?”
“Darkyn gave me a day to decide which son to send,” Wynn replied.
“How could you send any of your children? I mean, isn’t the parent-child bond supposed to be the ultimate bond?”
“No one dies,” Wynn said and shrugged. “When you have an eternity, when you’ve lived an eternity, you begin to measure outcomes differently. There’s always a way to change your circumstances. You’ve learned this. In time, whomever is in Hell will have something Darkyn wants. When that time comes, he’ll negotiate for release. Everyone lives. Everyone gets what they want eventually.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“What does right and wrong matter when no one else is playing by those rules?” Wynn countered. “If the game is rigged, do you refuse to play or find a way to win?”
Stephanie said nothing.
“Kiki will go to Hell tomorrow night, unless you figure out a way to keep him out of it,” Wynn added.
She knocked back the whiskey with a grimace. “What would you do?”
“It depends on how far you’re willing to go to save your brother. If you’re going to play by human rules then there’s nothing you can do. You’ll tell me in the morning you’re out of the game, and you’ll do exactly what I say from here on out, and what happens to Kiki is no longer your concern,” he replied. “If you’re willing to become your father’s daughter, you will do whatever it takes to save someone you care about.”
She listened, surprised to hear him sound as if he were capable of caring for anyone.
“Darkyn claims another deity was set loose as well,” Wynn continued. “Any idea how that happened?”
“None at all,” she mumbled.
“Good.” He took her glass from her hand and rose, returning to the interior of the fortress.
“Wait,” she called. “What deity was it?”
“It’s not your concern now, is it?” He left.
Stephanie dwelt on the brief conversation. Wynn was right. Her distress came partially from the conflict between what she as a human would do and what an Immortal wouldn’t do.
She had her own limits, namely moral ones, and wanted no one hurt in whatever route she pursued. Leaving Kiki’s fate, or her own, up to Wynn was terrifying. Was it worse than taking on Wynn? Than refusing his directive to do what he wanted?
She needed help. Stephanie wiped her eyes once more, exhausted after her long night, and sifted through everyone she’d met who might be able to help her.
“Deidre,” she whispered finally.
Seconds later, the demoness appeared on the lawn before her with a smile.
Stephanie rose and approached her. “Hey. Thanks for coming.”
“How can I help?” Deidre asked.
“I’m wondering if there’s any way I can see Fate.”
Deidre considered. “You want an invite into Hell this time?”
Stephanie’s breath caught.
Deidre laughed.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have contacted you,” Stephanie said sheepishly.
“C’mon. I’ll take you to see him.”
“Really? You’re not mad?”
“I thought it was funny. Oh, and if someone offers to take you to Hell, make sure you specify they have to bring you back immediately after your visit is over.” Deidre winked. “Demons will take you to Hell in a heartbeat and leave you.”
“Seriously. I’m not in trouble with you-know-who?” Stephanie pressed. “He scares the hell out of me.”
“He doesn’t get mad,” Deidre replied. “He does get even, though. You made his short list of people he’ll one day corner.”
“That sounds absolutely terrifying.”
“Yeah. It is.” Deidre opened a portal and waved for her to follow. “You coming?”
Stephanie hesitated.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” Deidre said.
I don’t think it matters at this point. Stephanie trailed her, at a loss as to what to do next without Fate to offer some sort of insight.
Deidre led her once more into Hell, this time emerging from the place-between-places somewhere Stephanie didn’t recognize. The narrow hallway ahead of them was lined with open doorways every six feet. She could see nothing in each room aside from darkness.
“Third on your right,” Deidre said and pointed. “Stay in the middle of the hallway until you reach his door. Don’t talk to anyone else who tries to talk to you. I’ll wait here.”
Stephanie absorbed the odd instructions and followed them until she reached the third doorway.
“Hello?” she whispered, pausing before it.
She held her breath and heard nothing for a long moment. Finally, stirring originating from the cell was followed by, “You shouldn’t be here.”
Fate’s voice was lower, rougher, pained.
Stephanie froze, her imagination running wild with all the horrible possibilities of what had been done to him. Realizing she was dumbstruck and standing stupidly in front of his cell, she spoke. “Are you okay?”
“Relatively speaking.” His amusement was back. “He’s been messing with me. These cells are on auto-torture. I think he’s probably softening me up.”
She squinted into the darkness without being able to see him. “I came to complain about my own issues but … that’s probably not the right thing to do,” she admitted.
“I’m happy to hear your voice. Have a seat. Tell me what’s happening.”
She hesitated then sat cross legged before the doorway and whispered her latest adventures to him. Fate listened until she was finished – and then laughed.
“You are amazing,” he said.
“I don’t feel amazing. You’re here, and everything else is falling apart,” she replied. “Andre and Kris are in the wind, and Wynn’s onto me. I need a vacation.”
“Me, too. Where should we go?”
“Someplace with nice weather and no Immortals.” She squinted once more, hearing him shift but unable to see him. “Are you really okay? I mean … I know it’s a stupid question. You’re in Hell.”
“Don’t worry about me. Worry about keeping your head focused on your goal.”
“Which is …”
“Staying one step ahead or away from Wynn.”
She bit back her response, hating the way it sounded in her head. She wanted to tell him it’d be easier if he were with her, and she thought her goal was freeing him, even if she were taking a rather indirect route to get there.
“You disagree,” he guessed.
“I’m screwing everything up.”
“The best lesson you can learn as an Immortal is to survive. It’s not an easy lesson.”
“How can you be so calm about this? If not for me, you wouldn’t be here.”
“This was part of the chain of events I foresaw,” he replied.
“Really? Being tortured by Wynn and sent to Hell?”
“I believe this is penance. I’m working off my karmic debt,” he said with a grunt.
“None of this is fair! It’s not right to be stuck with you, then not stuck with you and kinda wish I was, at least long enough for you to show me how to deal with all these assholes.”
He chuckled. “Things change rapidly.”
“I’m out of ideas and worried about what Wynn will do.”
“In this situation, I like to throw in a wild card,” Fate said. “Someone to distract Wynn.”
She listened, fascinated by the idea.
“Find Rhyn.”
“Karma is looking for him. I haven’t heard from her in days, so I assume she’s not having any luck,” Stephanie said, disappointed.
“She won’t be able to find him,” Fate agreed. “But you can. Describe the man you freed during your adventure into Hell once more.”
She did so.
“Perfect. You’re going to summon him and cash in your favor, along with one of mine,” he said. “He knows where Rhyn is, and he can offer you what I currently can’t: protection that can hide you even when you have your soul.”
“Really? Who is he?”
“His name is Raphael, and he’s the head of the guardian angels.”
“Angels are real,” she murmured, surprised. “Are they uh, normal? Or like everything else, kind of twisted?”
“They are neither cherubs nor innately good, if that’s what you’re asking,” he replied. “They protect. It’s what they do, and how they do it has no restrictions.”
“So Raphael killing six demons is normal around here.”
“Angels and demons always massacre one another when they meet.” Fate’s voice was sounding fainter, and concern for him caused her chest to tighten. “Summon him and ask for the two favors. Be certain to specify you want a mature protector, not a baby.”
“No baby angels,” she repeated, once more feeling overwhelmed. “What about you? How do we get you out?”
“Concentrate on Immortal business. I’ll handle the deity side.”
“Maybe I can break you out, too.”
“No,” he said firmly. “Even if you made it this far, these cells can be opened only by Darkyn’s will.”
She started to respond then stopped herself, considered briefly, and spoke. “I really do want that date. Please tell me you have a plan.”
“Stephanie, I always have a plan.”
The tension in her belly had uncoiled. Whether it was a result of hearing his voice again or his advice, she wasn’t certain. But for the first time in weeks, she felt like she, too, finally had a plan.
“Go on. I think my break is about up,” Fate said with a grunt.
She hesitated, not wanting to leave him knowing he was going to be in pain. “Thank you,” she said.
“Everything will work out,” he said with forced lightness.
Except you can’t see the Future to know that. Stephanie frowned and stood. Gaze lingering on the darkness of the cell, she stepped away and joined Deidre in the hallway beyond the row of cells.
Dread was heavy in her stomach, and she had the urge to fling herself into his cell and hug him until the world melted away.
“Good?” Deidre searched her features.
“Yeah. I think so.”
The demoness led her away and opened a portal. “Go on through. I can’t do this again, but I wanted you to be able to talk to him at least once,” she said quietly.
Stephanie smiled. “Thank you. Really.”
Deidre mirrored her smile and stepped aside.
Stephanie breathed a sigh of relief when she crossed into the place-between-places and paced to the glowing portal leading back to the castle. She dwelt on Fate’s advice, grateful for his help, while feeling equally guilty about leaving him in Hell. He claimed to have a plan, but … well, he wasn’t the kind to tell her if he didn’t. She didn’t feel reassured about his chances of making it out of Hell, of them ever going on a date. She hadn’t thought she wanted anything to do with him and yet found herself praying he survived.
She blinked out of her thoughts when she entered her bedroom once again. It was evening, and the chandelier and torches of her room beamed happily. Stephanie looked around, doubting this place would ever feel like home, and grabbed a bottle of chilled water out of the small fridge near the living area. She sat and sipped, reviewing what she’d learned from Fate.
She didn’t feel at all ready to confront yet another new angle to the Immortal world. Being back under Wynn’s influence, however, left her unnerved, scared he meant to act, to trade her to Hell or worse.
Stephanie rose, hands trembling with anxiousness, and drew a breath. “Raphael,” she breathed the summons.
Moments later, the man from Hell with the white eyes appeared. “You figured it out,” he said, smiling.
“My mate told me,” she replied.
He cocked his head to the side, as if to discern her mate by looking at her.
“Shai,” she said.
His eyebrows went up. “Intriguing. A deity and a half-breed?”
“Yeah. I, uh, want to cash in my favor and one of his.”
“I’m listening.” The lean man with penetrating eyes had the intensity of a demon. For a moment, she was caught in one of her old thought patterns, in wondering how any of this shit could be remotely real and when good and evil became indistinguishable from one another.
Stephanie shook her head. “I need to find Rhyn. That’s one,” she said. “Two –”
“Wait. Rhyn,” he interrupted. “He’s under our protection. I can’t give him up.”
“But you owe me.”
“You’re new at this. This much I can see,” he stated. “What I can do is offer to set up a meeting with him, as long as you understand he has the choice of whether or not he wants anything to do with you. I can’t force him to come. Immortals have free will, too.”
“Okay. That makes sense.”
“In order to arrange a meeting, I must have an oath from you, signed by your soul, that you won’t harm someone under my guardianship.”
“Easy. I need his help. I don’t think I could ever hurt anyone.”
“Good enough. Two?”
“I need your protection. But not a baby angel. An older … I mean, really mature angel,” she said.
He gazed at the ceiling. “Smart. As always. Shai doesn’t make mistakes. I imagine a mate wasn’t in his plan, or he wouldn’t be cashing in a favor.”
“Something like that. And no unwritten terms or conditions or small print or catches or whatever.”
“Agreed on both counts.” He held out his hand.
She touched him, and a familiar streak of cold went through her.
“I’ll deliver your protector within twenty four hours. Do you have a message for Rhyn? Something that might make him more willing to meet you?” Raphael asked.
“Tell him ... tell him his sister needs his help.”
“Very well. A pleasure, as always.” He turned and strode into a portal.
Stephanie waited until the tear in the universe was gone before sinking onto the couch. She’d phrased everything the best she knew how and managed to get him to agree. If she tripped herself up or fell into someone’s trap, she’d never know it until it was too late anyway.
Drained after her day, she got ready for bed, a small bubble of hope helping her fall asleep optimistic for once.