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“It was pretty awesome,” I admitted.
“I bet it was.” She laughed.
“Kat.” I turned serious again. “When I was there, everything, I mean, it was just my soul, but it felt so… I don’t know how to explain it.”
She nodded, scooting closer on the bench. “Yes, I know what you mean. Our souls, even outside of our bodies, experience emotion and sensation the same as if body and soul were one. But,” she said with a grave gleam in her eye, “our bodies complete us, giving us the power of physical form. When we’re whole, we’re more than body or soul alone. It’s difficult to put into words, but just know”—she paused, giving my hand a squeeze—“it will fade. You will heal. And you’ll be stronger than before.”
I believed her, despite the ache sitting on my heart. After all, she knew from experience.
“Kat, can I ask you, well, did Jude save you when you were…taken?”
She shook her head. “No. It was someone else.” A frown creased her pretty brow, and she wouldn’t meet my gaze. “It took a very long time for him to get inside the lair of Damas. By the time he came for me, I’d lost all my hope.”
Pain tightened her features and pinched her brow. I stayed quiet a moment longer until I couldn’t help but ask, “Why did it take so long?”
“He has a deep lair, well-guarded.”
“So, this Damas, he’s one of the princes?”
A curt nod.
“You said deep. Deep in where?”
She gave me a puzzled look. “In hell, of course.”
I flinched. How did I not realize I’d been in hell that whole time? Black fortress in a lifeless void, demonic creatures on watch, serving their lord and master. I laughed at my stupidity, but my heart opened to a wonderful realization.
“You mean I saved myself from the clutches of a demon prince in hell? On my own?”
“Yeah! That’s what I’m saying. You’re so awesome.” She gave me a gentle shove on the shoulder. “You’re my hero, Gen.”
We both laughed. Though the wound was still raw and fresh, Kat gave me hope. She’d been through worse and survived to be this vibrant and strong warrior. So could I. Hammering broke up our girl-power celebration.
“What’s he doing?” Kat asked, peering up at the second-floor window where Jude nailed plywood over the broken window from the inside.
“Oh, he’s, um, cleaning up.”
“Cleaning up or remodeling?”
“Well, I imagine he’ll be doing a little of both.”
“Yikes,” she said, eyebrows raised. “I’m actually surprised his house is still standing.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Genevieve. Seriously?”
“What?”
She scoffed. “Listen, I’ve known Jude the better part of two centuries, and while he’s generally an intense guy, I’ve never seen him so smitten before. For anyone.”
“Smitten?”
“Smitten. Fixated. Obsessed. Bewitched. Whatever you want to call it, he’s got it bad.”
I felt a warm blush crawl up my cheeks. I glanced at my watch nervously.
“What’s up? You late for something?”
