Page 58 of Into the Abyss
“True,” I agreed. “We have to return to theAbyss; we have to try to help those trapped there. Are you sure youwon’t help us?”
“We cannot go against the others.”
I placed my hands on the ground andstood.
“Stay with us, Amalia,” Rislen said as sherose before me and took my hands. “You belong here more thananywhere else.Weare not the fighters.”
I squeezed her hands and released them.“Neither were the fae, and look at where that got them.”
“But you are more fae than the rest of us,”she said as she lifted my hair to let it slide through her fingers,“with your coloring and your telltale eyes. The Abyss is not foryou.”
“No, it’s not, but I’m already involved, andI can’t turn away from helping now.”
Rislen’s gaze shifted to Magnus. “You betterkeep her safe,” she said.
• • •
Magnus
My eyebrows rose at the vehemence behind the jinni’swords. For someone who claimed not to be a fighter, Rislen lookedmore than willing to tear out my heart.
“I will,” I said and rested my hand onAmalia’s shoulder. Beneath my hand, her collarbone felt fragile asit pressed against my palm. Mortal, and with her tender heart, shewas more delicate than any I’d ever encountered; I’d do whatever ittook to keep her safe.
The shadows beneath Amalia’s eyes gave her araccoon-like appearance when she glanced at me. I suspected she wasmore than just exhausted, but also hungry and beaten down by theemotions battering her for the past day. It might be time for herto give this up, but that was something we could discuss later.
“We believe Sloth is mixed up in this andthat he helped the jinn trap everyone,” I said to Rislen, and thejinn gathered around the fire gasped.
Rislen’s chin rose. “Our brethren havechosen their alliances, but they are not ours.”
“You will remain neutral?”
“We will.”
I couldn’t do anything to change her mind,it was their choice, and after what she revealed, I understood itmore. Not only the Faulted, butallthe surviving jinn werepart fae.
If someone told me this last week, I wouldhave laughed in their face and said they were crazier than acrantick demon. And the cranticks were known to run head first intowalls and throw themselves over cliffs for the fun of it. When agroup of them were together, they often howled at nothing. Manydemons were afraid of them, and though they enjoyed a good fight,the cranticks were mostly innocuous and about having fun.
I now understood the bond and protectivenature of the jinn toward each other. The most vicious demonspecies had bred with the kindest. They must have been thestrangestcouples in Hell.
“We have to go,” Amalia said. “The longer westay here, the more deaths occur.”
The rest of the jinn rose and came forwardto hug her. I resisted pulling her away from the men. It would onlyupset her if I did, and there was no rational reason for theimpulse. But rational or not, I was tempted to tear their hands offwhile they embraced her.
When the last of them stepped away, Rislenclasped Amalia’s hands once more. “I don’t approve of this, but Ibid you well, Amalia. I hope you return to us one day.”
Gripping Amalia’s elbow, I drew her closer.Her warmth and the way her body fit so perfectly against my sideeased some of my tension. Savoring her scent, I led her through theshadows of the calamuts. As we walked away, the rustling leavescreated a sad song.
CHAPTER 25
Magnus
“Fascinating history,” I murmured when we steppedfree of the trees.
We strode back through the burnt-out town onthe border of the calamut forest. The glow of the full moon shoneon the land, revealing the pitted road, broken homes, anddilapidated remnants of the humans who once thrived here. Eventhough it had been fourteen years since the gateway opened and thebombs were released in this area, the stench of burnt flesh andwood was still detectable on the air.
“Or sad.” Amalia’s skin turned red when sherubbed her arms again.
“It’s both. You’re hurting yourself,” I saidand grasped her hands.
