They were led up the steps to a set of wooden doors that were reinforced with metal straps strong enough to hold off an army. The guards pried open the doors, the warped wood creaking in protest, revealing a murky interior, the fey lights burned out, obviously consumed by the fog. Torches were lit and carried as they were marched through the labyrinth they called a building, the inside a warren of rooms.
This was no modern church, but a place to worship the old gods. Statues stood sentinel throughout the room, faces that appeared out of the darkness at random, giving the room a creepy feel, like they weren’t alone, that ancient, powerful beings were always watching.
They came to a halt in front of a large door at the end of the passageway. The men glanced at her, waiting for her signal, but she gave them a subtle shake of her head to stand down. They needed to find out what was happening here. These people knew something important about the fog that could give them a clue about what they were fighting.
Locks disengaged as their guards tugged on the door. The dryads prodded them through the doorway with the tips of their spears, only to slam the door behind them with a resounding thud. Four set of locks engaged at once.
Gloom saturated the room, the darkness was so complete, she could only see a few feet in any direction. But instead of cells, the huge room resembled a large, abandoned library. Cobwebs infested the place, covering nearly every surface. Ryder immediately began to gnaw on the vines binding his arms, his sharp teeth flashing. Morgan closed her hand into a fist and felt liquid flow down her hand to form a blade. “Here.”
Ryder extended his arms, and her knife easily sliced through the vegetation. It shriveled, dropping to the ground, where it exploded into a pile of dust. She did the same for each of them. When she freed Kincade, he grabbed the vines binding her, and ripped them apart.
Loki peered out of Kincade’s shirt, his snout twitching, then scrambled up to perch on his shoulder. Kincade ran a finger down the mutt’s spine, smiling when the pup snuggled into his touch with a rumbling grumble of contentment.
The necklace warmed, the metal twisting until the Eye of Horus dangled from the end.
Kincade ran his hand over the metal, nodding as if he understood to be on watch, turning to scrutinize the room.
“Well, you sure landed us in a pile of shit.” The young hellhound scowled at her as he began to pace back and forth.
Smoke rose from Ascher, and he quickly stepped into the young man’s path. “Don’t.”
The kid blinked, licking his lips nervously, clearly intimidated by the bigger hellhound.
“Ascher.” Only when he lifted his attention away from the kid did she speak. “He went through a lot of trouble to locate you. Find out why.”
He didn’t look happy at her order, but nodded.
“I came because they are hunting us. You can’t let them discover that you’re a hellhound.”
Draven snorted. “In case you haven’t noticed, they’re hunting everyone.”
“Not everyone has immunity to the fog.”
Everyone stopped and slowly turned to face the kid.
“Come again?” Kincade and Atlas both prowled closer.
The kid shifted uncomfortably. “They’re trying to use our blood—hellhounds’ blood—to duplicate our immunity.”
“You were trying to warn Ascher.” Morgan shook her head at the selfless risk he took.
“No.” He snarled at her, then yelped when Ascher smacked him on the back of the head. “I came to ask him to help me rescue the others from my village.”
“Where are they being kept?” She glanced at Ascher, concerned at his continued silence.
“I don’t know. They raided my village and many others, dragging everyone away. I was out hunting and came back to find the place deserted.” Exhaustion slumped his shoulders. The kid was running on fumes.
“What’s your name?”
He glared again, but there was no heat behind the look. “Chander.”
“Nothing is happening unless we get out of this room.” Kincade pointed to Atlas and Ryder. “Head right. Draven and I will go left. Report back in ten.”
Before she could protest being left behind, they scattered.
Loki peered at her from his perch on Kincade’s shoulders, and she whispered to him. “Watch over him.”
The mutt straightened at her command, and leapt to the floor, his tail twitching as he whirled to search out any trouble, quickly disappearing into the gloom
Morgan reached out and slipped her hand into Ascher’s, tugging on his arm. “Do you believe him?”
Ascher hesitated, staring at the kid before reluctantly nodding.
A pang went through her…they simply didn’t have time to both solve the issue of the fog and rescue his people. How was she supposed to ask him to choose between his people and her? “Go.”
His head snapped toward her, nearly crushing her hand when he tightened his hold. “No.”
She brought up her free hand, and cradled his face. “Since your people are immune to the fog, you can go freely and help them.”
She would not make him choose…but she was selfish enough to be terrified that he wouldn’t choose her.
“We eradicate the fog, the problem is solved. Hellhounds are guardians. My people would not want me to give up trying to save the realm in order to rescue them.”
“You’re willing to give up your people for her?” Chander was both flabbergasted and outraged.
A snarl twisted Ascher’s face. “If we can’t eliminate the fog, where do you think our people will go? This realm is dying. If we don’t solve this problem, everyone dies.”
Chander glared at them, sulking in silence when he couldn’t come up with a rebuttal.
Her gut clenched at everything he was giving up. “Ascher—”
“You are my main focus now. I will not abandon you.” Steam rose from his clothes, his turbulent blue eyes glowing as his beast surged toward the surface and his control slowly shredded.
Her heart leapt into her throat at his rough confession, her emotions threatening to strangle her. “Ascher—”
He slammed his mouth down on hers, stealing her breath and her protests as he took control of her mouth. His bottom lip was full, his kiss demanding, his taste full of heat. It ignited the need for more. He tried to be gentle, go slow and savor, but his hunger was insatiable.
Her thoughts—hell, the very air she breathed—vanished. All that mattered was him. She slid her hands up his arms, dragging her fingers through the short hair at the back of his head, needing more.
He tore his mouth away, leaving her to groan in protest when he rested his forehead against hers. “I choose you. I will always choose you.”
Pure joy engulfed her, and when her magic rose from her bones to wrap around him, he gave a startled gasp as it caressed him. Through the magic, she could feel everything—his need, his desire, and she groaned with the consuming need to possess him.
Heat emanated from him, smoke rising from where they touched, soaking into her until her every cell craved more of his touch. Then, through the connection, fear began to erode the pleasure and her magic retreated. “Ascher…”
He jerked away in horror, and she bit back her groan of complaint. His expression cooled her ardor. “What’s wrong?”
“I hurt you.” He glared down at his hands in revulsion.
“What do you mean?”
His head jerked up, his mouth opening, then snapping shut when he stepped forward and gingerly inspected her arms. “You’re not burned.”
“Was I supposed to be?” She frowned, glancing down at her smooth skin.
His grip tightened on her arms, and he brushed his face against hers before stepping back and releasing her. She didn’t want to let him go. She even took a step after him when he gave her a blinding smile. “I didn’t burn you.”
She shook her head, trying to stop the way her hands trembled. “Is that why you’ve been keeping your distance from me?”
“It sure in hell wasn’t because Kincade ordered it. When a hellhound’s emotions are engaged, we can become…combustible. Very few can withstand the heat.”
“I enjoyed the heat.” She couldn’t stop the way a blush heated her cheeks. She clasped her hands behind her back, anything to resist the urge to grab him again. “I could feel what you felt.”
It was like an addiction.
She wanted more.
This time, it was Ascher’s turn to blush. “It’s what the connection will be like when complete.”