Page 143 of The Bonds of Indigo

“Honestly never thought I’d be here,” he says, coming to stand right beside me, his arm snaking over my shoulders and curling around my neck.

I sigh. “Me neither. But we’re here now, and I’m ready.”

However, I’d be a lying Witch if I didn’t say I was nervous as fuck.

This is nothing like opening the passageway to the Vayl. That’s a singular channel. One way in, one way out. But the Beyond… it’s so different. It spans dimensions, worlds, and I’ve even heard timelines. Once I’m in there, I’m completely disconnected from this world and from my God, which will make me merely Mundane. My spell should stay on Kayn, but just barely—enough to get him through the threshold—and hopefully whoever he’s looking for will sense him.

There are so many unanswered questions, and I’m starting to feel just as crazy as this plan always sounded.

His hand catches my chin and tilts my face up toward him.

“Thank you, Amarah.”

I frown. “For what?”

“Doing this for me.”

My heart swells, heat blooming through my chest.

“Put aside the blood binding. I don’t care if you have to. To me, you don’t. In my eyes, you’re doing this because you care about me. And about getting Luce back.”

He’s right. If we weren’t bound, I’d still go to the Beyond and back for him. Maybe that makes me the idiot, but… that’s okay. I’ll be his idiot.

“So, thank you.”

My smile is bright as I nod. “Anything I can do to help get you back to him.”

He hums, leans in, and kisses me tenderly. When he pulls back, his thumb drags along my lips and down my throat, touching every bit of skin he can reach.

“What do you need from me?”

I let out a long breath. “In the most respectful way possible…”

“Great.” He chuckles.

“…don’t be in my way. And, as painful as this will be for both of us, don’t touch me until we get through.”

I can feel his instinct to argue, but he only nods, leans in for one more kiss, and then steps back. “As you command, my little slayer.”

He gives me a wide berth, and I turn my back to him. The sea fills my view, and for a moment I let the darkness of the scene wash over me.

“Be vigilant in there. Be safe… Things from the Beyond can kill you, regardless of the Hex.”

“I wasn’t aware of that…” I wonder if I could’ve summoned another Demon to end my life before I was captured. There really isn’t any point in wondering about that now, but the thought lingers for a few seconds until Vendra responds.

“Belial and his creatures bypass most Hex laws created on Earth. Nocthariel was constructed by Hexborn, not by Yldarwrights or my Magic.”

“I see. Well, I don’t plan on engaging in any combat. Hopefully we will be in and out.”

“You better. Do not make me break our laws to come fetch you.”

I smile. Knowing that Vendra couldn’t do that doesn’t stop the feeling of protectiveness from flooding over me.

“Will do, Mom.”

“Cute, Amarah. Good luck, and see you all soon.”

The moment I no longer feel her in my mind, I close my eyes and cup my hands together in front of my chest. Silence swallows me whole. No pulse, no waves crashing against the jagged rocks ten feet below, no wind whistling across the barren wasteland.