Page 98 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

Kadmiel moved closer. “He’s dangerous right now. It’s not a good idea.”

I stared up at him, my jaw slack. “I know you think you’re making sense, but I don't know you.” I pointed at each of them. “I don’t know you. Or even you. So forgive me when I say that I want to see him. Now.”

No one moved.

“My mate. Now,” I snarled, ignoring the pounding in my head as I shoved my legs over the edge of the bed and stood. Pain rose through my body, but I gripped the edge of the bed and leveled my best glare at the group.

Lucia sighed. “We will take you to him. But you need to brace yourself. It’s not what you think.”

I didn’t know what she was talking about, nor did I care right now. I needed to see Nephesh. I needed to tell him how sorry I was. How much I loved him. “Now.”

Kadmiel nodded, stepping forward. “There’s a portal in the great hall.”

I stepped forward, wobbling a little as all the muscles in my legs seemed to give out on me all at once.

Lucia reached for me, her expression kind. “Can I help?”

Tears threatened at the back of my eyes. All that power, all that force that I'd been so strong with just a little while ago. But now I was a weakling, begging people to take me to my…my Nephesh.

I nodded jerkily, suddenly unable to speak. Lucia looped her arm through mine and then towed me out of the immense bedroom. I didn’t ask and she didn’t offer to take the time to change from the pair of loose sleep shorts and soft shirt someone had put me in.

“Are these yours?” I asked.

Lucia moved to the door, her head held high as someone on the outside swung the doors wide. “Yeah, we’re close to the same size. I thought you would be more comfortable that way.”

I nodded. My cheeks felt hot as I considered who might have dressed me, but there would be time to be awkward about that later. As we walked down a wide, stone-walled hall, soldiers passed dressed completely in black with bright red threading across their throats.

It would’ve reminded me of Drude’s soldiers maybe, if not for the variety of sized horns twisting over their heads. They eyed me with black, pupil-less gazes that made me shiver. But none of them moved our direction. I could feel Kadmiel behind us, as well as more soldiers like Paran who seemed to file in as we made our way towards Nephesh.

“Are you doing okay?”

“They are…demons?”

Lucia’s grip tightened. “They are. I don’t know how much you know about the Underworld, but these are among Lucifer’s most loyal. You are safe here.”

I nodded again, awestruck as one that was nearly as tall as the immense vaulted doors stooped down to open it for us, leathery wings snapping back as he moved to bow lightly to us.

“I can't believe…” There were so many things I couldn't believe. But the bottom line was: “I couldn’t believe that we made it.”

Lucia led me down a wide hallway, stopping by the arched entry. “I’ve heard you showed the Drude and his crew what’s what.”

I shook my head. “I barely did anything. Nephesh, he…he fought so hard. And I didn’t let him kill her.”

“The girl, the other witch there?”

“Yeah.” I suddenly jerked away from her. “How do you know any of this? Did Nephesh tell you?”

“Nephesh isn’t talking a lot right now, but Arafel has been able to get a few things out of him. Including how you, Justine, returned his soul to him. You made him whole. You saved him.”

“I just did what we had to, to survive.” I swallowed hard as we entered a vast room with stained glass windows. Lucia’s grip softened as we walked through the room. It was empty now, chairs lining the front, all surrounding a massive centerpiece.

A throne, shining under the glow of row after row of chandeliers, all swinging from a vaulted ceiling, the candles thick, black, the dripping wax leaving lines along the iron holders. It was dark here, even with all the candles and the stained-glass windows that should be letting in a variety of light from outside.

I swallowed, another realization hitting me as our group slowed by the throne.

“How is there light here? There’s no sun, is there?”

Lucia glanced at me, biting her lip. “This world is of Lucifer and the first witch’s craft, but it’s not really ‘under’ anything. This is a world within your world, so to speak. And when the first deal was struck and Lucifer was put in charge of the souls, his power began to fuel this place. In return he likes it to run similar to the living world.”