Page 59 of Love Summoned

“Although I don’t care for your fanfare. Surely we could have come to a more amicable arrangement to resolve your dissatisfaction. No need to drag us down to your level.” I smile snidely, and it feels even better when he hurls himself against the bars of my cell. Smoke curls around my throat as I’m lifted from the ground.

“Your ancestors tricked me.” He snarls. “Chaining me to Hell was not part of our deal.”

“Looks to me like you didn’t have trouble building your empire, regardless.” I glare at Hynde, who stands behind him, before my gaze shifts to the woman on his right.

Blood-red eyes peer through a sheer black lace veil that reaches the ground. Her body is cloaked in it and nothing else. The curve of her breasts and hips are on display for everyone to see.

This must be his seer, the one who saw Catori’s death. Now that I think about it, her visions likely started at the same time as mine. I wonder how much of what I saw was the same, but our loyalties are the difference in how we acted.

“She’s the one who told you the Seven Sisters would end you?” I ask, pointing my chin to the woman, then lean in, dropping my voice to a whisper. “Did she tell you I’d make it hurt?”

“Chimere,” Catori calls on her as the smoke locked at my throat squeezes.

She steps forward, eyes on me. “Yes, my king,” she rasps, almost like a moan.

“Tell the witch what you saw.”

“The descendants of the Seven Sisters had risen. Ones with enough power to destroy Catori once and for all.”

“They seek to destroy me, my pet?”

She slowly nods her head. “You and yours.”

And yours, what does that mean?

“Of course,” Catori coos. “Kill a demon lord and all his subjects die with him.”

Nix.

My eyes fly to Lennox. His tired eyes and weak smile bearing the weight of resigned acceptance. He understands my duty as a witch as much as his own to his warden. I vanquish demons, but I can’t take out Catori without taking Nix and his brothers with him.

“That’s right, witch.” Catori releases me from his hold as a single tear slips down my cheek. “You kill me, Nix dies too.” He spits out his name, and that alone tells me that though he’s stuck in Hell, he’s not completely unaware of what’s been happening in Hemlock. I’m certain Hynde has a lot to do with that.

Catori lowers his head, hissing to Hynde, “Have you been able to sense them yet?”

“No, my lord.” Hynde mutters back.

“The witches must be helping him. Keep pushing.” Catori turns his back to me and walks away. Hynde follows like the obedient dog he is, while Chimere stays in her place staring at me. I try searching for my power again. It feels like someone is holding it just out of my reach, until a grain of hope pushes against me, a ripple of warmth that feels like reassurance.

Where is that coming from?

I try to call on my magic again, reaching out to the seer. For a split second, a balm of strength envelops me. A glimmer there, and gone in an instant, before Chimere turns and rejoins Catori’s side.

“You know, I really expected better from you,” Catori says, looking up at Lennox. His hands are clasped behind his back as he paces in front of Delaney’s cell.

“I have always acted in honor and loyalty to you, my lord,” Lennox says through a tight jaw.

“You used to inspire the men to be ruthless, dedicated fighters. Of all my soldiers, you and your men were the only ones in any other squad to never be defeated in the pits. You train beasts, Lennox, but something happened when the four of you went to the human realm this time.”

Catori’s shadows stretch through the bars to grip Delaney by the throat, making her cough and wheeze. Lennox’s chains rattle again. “Too much mortal pussy? It has been so long since I’ve had a taste myself. Perhaps I need a reminder of how sweet—” Catori lifts Delaney against the bars and licks up her cheek.

Lennox roars, making Catori chuckle before he tosses Delaney back against the dirt floor.

“You’re pathetic. Don’t even get me started on Nikolai. What was it you said, Hynde? He didn’t fuck the witch, he fell for her,” Catori spits.

“Yes, Lord Catori,” Hynde says. “He’s an embarrassment to us all.”

I’m so going to vanquish you, you fucker.