The Darkest Touch

“What strikes me as odd is the fact that your prisoners didn’t try to escape sooner.”

“Hmm,” was all he said as the three prisoners were dragged in.

Keeley held back her sigh of relief. Not Torin, Viola and Pandora, after all, but a redheaded warrior—Baden, surely—as well as the spirits of Cronus and Rhea. All three wore serpentine wreaths.

Well, well. Her gaze narrowed on Cronus. The male had imprisoned her for centuries and had played a sinister part in Mari’s death. Though vengeance against his body had been stolen from her, there were plenty of things she could do to his spirit....

The walls began to shake.

Cronus must have suspected the direction of her thoughts. He struggled against his captors.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she announced. “Definitely don’t let them go. We’ll play pin the dagger on the dead.”

Rational thoughts peeked above the darkness of her desires, bright lights she couldn’t ignore. Did Torin know Baden was here? Had anyone noticed his absconding with Viola and Pandora? She hoped he’d succeeded.

If he was caught...hurt...

I will burn this realm and everyone in it to the ground.

“Excellent idea.” Lucifer dabbed the corners of his mouth with his napkin, even though he’d never taken a bite of the food.

“Where’s Pandora?” Baden snarled. “What have you done with her? Tell me!” His wild gaze flicked to Keeley, moved back to Lucifer, only to return to Keeley and widen. “The Red Queen. You’re here. Why are you here?”

He knew her?

Victim of the Time Out box?

“It would be my pleasure to show you exactly what I’ve done to your precious female.” Lucifer stood. He helped Keeley to her feet, and she could think of no reason to protest the trip to the throne room. Surely Torin was gone.

But then, why hadn’t an alarm sounded?

Lucifer led the way, never releasing her. First problem—if she couldn’t break free of his grip, she couldn’t flash anywhere else in the underworld. Those stupid wards!

No time to panic.

The doors were opened for Lucifer so that there was never a pause in his step. As they entered the room, he casually said, “Tonight, Keeleycael, you will warm my bed, and I will brand you as my concubine.”

Uh, second problem. “How about...no.”

“Did I lead you to believe you would have a choice in the matter? My apologies.”

“Do you think you’ll have the strength to force me?”

He laughed. “I recently captured two females beloved by the Lords of the Underworld. You may remember them from my throne room. The ones in chains. Yes? I planned to hurt them and blame Hades. The Lords would have gone after him, distracting him, allowing me to swoop in. If I’d known you would show up on my doorstep, I wouldn’t have bothered. You will make a far better distraction.”

As anger burned through her—try to use me, the Red Queen, never!—he stopped short. Viola and Pandora were gone. And none of the demons had noticed.

Impressive. Masterful. How had Torin managed that?

Lucifer leveled undiluted rage at her. “It seems I underestimated you. My own distraction. Bravo. But no matter,” he said with another unveiling of his cold smile.

“What can you do about it?” she asked, then hit him so hard in the chest his sternum cracked. While he tried to draw in a breath, she punched him in the face. Jab, jab, jab. She turned, swooping low, and grabbed a smaller minion by the neck, turned again, going back the way she’d come, and swung. The creature’s horns cut through Lucifer’s skin and cracked into his thigh, breaking his femur, the biggest bone in his body.

He grunted—and vanished. She turned, expecting him to materialize behind her. She flashed a dagger into her hand, ready to stab him. But he’d tricked her. He’d returned to the spot he’d vacated—with a piece of brimstone in hand. He pressed it into the top of her spinal cord, singeing hair, flesh and clothing. A scream burst from her as pain and weakness spilled through her.

“This, Keeleycael, is only the beginning of what I can—and will—do.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

TORIN HURRIED THROUGH the portal, shouting, “Keep it open.” He dropped the two girls he’d had to carry out of the underworld under his arms like sacks of potatoes, and turned. He had to get to Keeley. But as he dove back through the portal, it closed, and he skidded into the Cage. “No! Open it, Danika.”

She slumped against the Rod, panting, beaded in perspiration, her features pale. “Trying...can’t...so sorry.”

“She barely held it open as long as she did.” Reyes tried to wrench the cage door from its hinges, but the metal held steady. “It’s jammed. Why is it jammed?”

Because Keeley was the owner of the Cage, and it would only respond to her. Or...maybe to Torin, too, the possessor of the All-key. But if he freed Danika, would she lose control of the Rod, Keeley’s commands voided?

Can’t risk it.

He explained that to Reyes, panic and urgency riding him hard. “We need to get Keeley back.”

“Dani is too exhausted.” Reyes withdrew a dagger and picked unsuccessfully at the lock.

Torin rushed out of the room. All of his friends were congregated in the hall, waiting for the verdict. “Lucien,” he shouted, and the warrior strode forward, pushing everyone out of the way. “Flash me to the underworld. You can do it without a portal.”