AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sweetheart, if I wanted to trap you, I would’ve by now. Power or no power.”
“So you’re trying to swoon me?”
“God no. You’d drive me batshit. My brother can have you. I’m here because your purpose serves mine. And quite frankly, you’ve already died once. You need me if you have any hope of getting your friend out alive.”
“Died… What are you talking about?”
He leans forward and arches his brows. “What? You thought you were sleeping all that time? No… You were healing. Now come on, Princess. We’re wasting precious time.”
10
Alice
I’ve beendead… For a fucking WEEK!
No… This can’t be happening. I pause, my eyes stretching wide open as my fingers fumble in my pocket for the piece of fabric I tore off my shoe, praying I didn’t lose it. The frayed edges of the tag scratch against my fingertips and I yank it free.
Asmo stands, silent as a mouse, watching me with a damn smirk. I could smack it off his treacherous lips and not feel bad for him in the slightest. The cloth ignites as I once again try the spell to see how long Finn has to live. The green hue of the flames lick around the edges. 1 second. 2 seconds, then the fabric begins to burn and I quickly stomp it out. Most of the tag is destroyed no… His note illegible. Closing the molten tag in my fist, I scowl at Asmo. This is somehow his fault. I just know it.
Had he not distracted me in Hell Hold, telling me how he was wronged, I would’ve made it back to that battlefield and somehow convinced Finn to stay. I would’ve come up with another way to keep our men, and the people I hold close, safe. Deep down, I know the truth, though. The only reason Asmo wasn’t on our side of the fight is because his father abandoned him here. No matter how much I want to, I can’t blame Asmo for that. He’s not the catalyst. Lucifer is.
“Gah!” I grind my teeth, tossing what’s left of Finn’s tag on the ground. Threading my fingers through my red curls, I pull at the root and let my hands fall back to my sides.
Asmo still could’ve found another way to keep me silent. He could’ve gotten through to me in another way that didn’t involve him kissing me or letting metouch him. Fucking bastard. When Kai finds out, he’ll want his head on a spike and I won’t stop him from doing it.
My heart slows, my focus falling on the ground as the realization that he never came from me settles in. I’ve lost at least four days’ time from the moment I fell down that ravine to waking up in the oracle’s cave. Asmo can’t lie about that. My spell just proved it.
Kai would’ve found me by now. Even if I didn’t die–as Asmo said–I broke the watch in the fall. He’s been free from the prison world for at leastfour days… He has witches at his disposal who could’ve done a locator spell to point him directly to me. Hell, all he’d need to teleport is to picture my face–I think. I’m still not entirely sure how that works. Somehow, Kai would’ve found a way. It’s what he does best.
Yet, I’m still knee deep in the fucking prison realm and in the company of Asmodeus Morningstar. Not him. Which means he never came for me and that tells me everything I need to know. I don’t notice the tears rolling down my cheeks until once drips off my chin and I quickly wipe them away.
“I didn’t think my company was that bad,” Asmo says, feigning a chuckle.
Pinning him with a glare, I speed walk into the forest. There’s no time to waste, and I’m not sure how far we are from Solaria.
“Whoa! Slow down. You’ll never make it through these woods on your own. Not without knowing where you’re going, and if you stay near the river, you’ll get swallowed up before sunrise.”
“And how do you make my position any different? You’re powerless, which is just a fancy word for dead weight. I have less than two days to save Finn. I don’t have time for you to manipulate me.”
“Manipulate you?” His hand touches my arm, and I stop my pursuit, staring daggers into his very soul until he drops it. “I meant what I said about helping, but I need to know the specifics of how you plan to get this thing off me, first. So tell me, and I’ll help make sure you get back to Hell Hold in one piece. Then you can marry your prince and live happily ever after.”
“I’m pretty sure any chance of a wedding has set sail.” I shake my head, resuming my path through the woods. “I’ll find a way to get it off. From where I stand, it’s either trust me, or some squirrelly king.”
He growls and I glance over my shoulder, spying him tossing his hands up in the air before pinching the bridge of his nose. Still, I keep walking on. The leaves begin to shuffle behind me and my lips pull into a smirk, even as my heart breaks at what this trip has truly cost me.
I might not be able to win Kai back. He’s royalty, after all. Royalty doesn’t marry for love. They marry for convenience. His people hate me, and saving Finn might not be enough now for his people to accept me. Not if Kai himself can’t, and based on my present company, I think it’s safe to assume my love has washed his hands of me.
This trip came with a heftier price tag than I was willing to pay. At this rate, Finn might be fed to that beast before I can get to him, and if I did truly die, that means my connection with Luri went with my mortality. There’s no way I’ll find her in these woods, and she’ll assume I’m dead. She’s not going to look for me.
Maybe I should’ve listened. Is one man’s life worth this much?
I hate that I still can’t accept it, because to me, it is. Finn’s my best friend, and I’m a ride or die best bitch. Regardless of whether this trip ends with me alone, if it means those I love are all safe, I’d still make the choice again in a heartbeat. I’ll always put their well-being and happiness above my own. Even if it means I don’t get to be a part of their happily ever after.
Asmo falls into step next to me. “I hate you, or at least the fucking chaos your wreak on my brain.”
“Your brain?” I can’t help the airy laugh that escapes me.
“Yes. My brain. Your unruly attitude, your stubborn, bullheaded need for approval–every last bit of it, down to your fucking red hair–is all a gigantic thorn in my side.” We’re quiet for a moment, and the silence of the forest around is almost peaceful. “You better hope your plan works. If it costs me my head, I’ll make sure I haunt you in spirit for the rest of your days.”
