Page 85 of Demon Unleashed

“Explosives. I know where the largest magma chambers are in relation to the vortex circles. If I blow up the right chambers, the lava inside will flood the vortex circles and destroy them. The lava will remain liquid for centuries, and even if it cools one day, whatever created the vortex circles in the first place will have been stripped away.”

“That’s a suicide mission,” Enya said, her voice shaking, her eyes boring into him. “If you destroy the vortex circles, you can’t get back.”

“I’ll set a timer and transport out just before.” Of course, there was always a risk, but he was willing to take that.

Enya shook her head. “That would assume that you can still cast a vortex by then. What if you can’t?”

“Enya, I—”

“Don’t Enya me,” she interrupted, bracing her hands at her hips. He recognized that gesture. She was ready for a fight. “If Wes and Charles are correct, then you’ll turn fully back into a Stealth Guardian within twenty-four hours and will lose all your demon powers, including the power to cast a vortex. You’ll be stuck there. It’ll be your tomb too, and I’ll be damned if I allow that to happen.”

“But it’s the only way,” Zoltan said. “We have to destroy the Underworld, otherwise you’ll never be safe, and neither will our child. And if that means that I won’t ever see my child, I’m good with that, because I know that the two of you will be safe.”

“There has to be another way.” Tears welled up in Enya’s eyes, and he wanted to pull her into his arms, but he couldn’t, didn’t dare, or he would break down himself. He had to be strong, for both of them.

“There is none. The only way out of the Underworld is by casting a vortex in one of the circles.” He let out a bitter laugh. “Just like you need your portals, the demons need their vortexes.”

Enya sniffled, then wiped her face with the back of her hand, her eyes widening. “That’s it. A portal.”

“What?” Zoltan asked, not understanding, while several of the Stealth Guardians started shaking their heads as if they knew what Enya was alluding to.

“That’s crazy,” Logan said.

“And it won’t work, not for him,” Manus said, pointing at Zoltan. “He hasn’t got all his powers.”

“The council will never approve it,” Aiden said. “And without their approval—”

“Would somebody fucking tell me what you’re talking about?” Zoltan interrupted, raising his voice.

Everybody fell silent for a moment.

“It’s not even an option,” Pearce grumbled.

“Too risky,” Logan agreed.

But Enya lifted her hand to silence her brethren. “Sure it’s risky, but we signed up for risky when we became warriors.” She looked at Zoltan. “If we carve a portal somewhere in the Underworld, we could make it out even if you lose your ability to cast a vortex, or if the circles are destroyed before we can teleport out.”

Zoltan let the statement sink in. It made sense, though there was one thing he needed to clarify. “Who are you referring to when you say we?”

“You and me, of course.”

“Out of the question!” he snapped.

“You have no choice. To carve a portal requires the blood of a Stealth Guardian, and your blood is still green. And I’m the only one here who’s seen a portal carved. I know how it’s done.”

“Then teach somebody else.” He pointed to her brethren. “Any of them.”

She shook her head. “No. If something goes wrong, I’m not going to be responsible for having sent one of my brothers to his death. Not happening. It’s gonna be you and me.”

Pearce cleared his throat, making everybody look at him. “Has somebody else here forgotten one of the most important things?”

Everybody stared at him.

“The dagger. The council will never hand us the source dagger so we can send you both down to the Underworld. Even if we try to convince them of this plan, they’ll never go for it.”

“Then we won’t tell them,” Enya said.

Grayson raised his hand. “Uhm…”