Page 22 of Spring's Descent
“Hurry up.” Aidoneus’s voice was low and laced with an unspoken threat.
A scornful scoff scraped my throat as I managed to tie the thin material around the back of my head. It didn’t offer much protection from the ash singeing my nose and throat, but it was something.
“You demons are all the same. Soulless, vile monsters who find joy in murdering hundreds of innocents?—”
My toe caught on a jutting garnet, sending me tumbling forward.
Aidoneus caught me before I could crash into the smoldering earth, lifting me up before so much as a finger was harmed.
My mouth fell open as his arms wrapped around me, holding me close. I stared up at him, unable to speak. Aidoneus stared back at my wide-eyed gaze, looking nearly as stunned as I was.
“You saved?—”
“Your clumsiness has delayed us long enough,” he growled, cutting me off.
Then we were moving.
14
PERSEPHONE
The world streakedby in flashes of red, orange, and black as we climbed higher. It was stifling, like running through a blazing oven, but my mind was stuck on why Aidoneus had protected me.
I wouldn’t have died, but it definitely would’ve been painful enough to power him up. He had no doubt gotten a good blast of fear from me just tripping, but he’d caught me before one edge of the hot gemstones connected with my skin.
Demons exploited any and every chance for their next hit. Not only did they incite chaos and death, but they enjoyed the suffering of their victims. That was why the covens in The Realm of the Living were adamant about finding a way to prevent them from crossing into our world.
Regardless of being a demon of The Dark Faction, despite everything I’d been taught, Aidoneus hadpreventedpain.
I dared a glance up at him, aware of every place our bodies touched as he continued up along the mountain filled with bright embers and blackened ash. Beads of sweat linked together, trickling down my neck and chest, but the thin layer of shadows surrounding us kept the worst of the heat at bay.
“Does the heat bother you?”
He lifted a brow but shook his head.Interesting.I should just let it go and allow us to continue in silence, but holding my tongue was never a strong suit of mine.
“You’re using your magic to keep the heat away from me,” I said, not posing it as a question but the stiffening of his posture confirmed it. Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “Why?”
“You’re sweating,” he replied dryly. “My shadows are hardly doing anything.”
“But they are doingsomething,” I insisted, needing answers. Everything about him was the opposite of what I’d been expecting. I was drawn to him, something inside of me urging me to relax into his body andtrusthim, but demons couldn’t be trusted. “Why would you go out of your way to be kind to me?”
“Maybe I’m not,” he replied evenly, but I swore something flashed in his eyes. “Maybe I’m aware of our close proximity and am trying to keep things as fresh as possible.”
My mouth fell open the same time I flushed scarlet. “Excuse me for not being courteous and taking a shower before I was abducted and carted across The Underworld.”
“Apology accepted, little witch.” He was definitely smirking.
“I didn’t—that wasn’t,” but his smile only grew. Deciding on a threatening glare, I crossed my arms.
After a moment of silence, Aidoneus offered me an olive branch. “If all goes well, we will have fresh water to bathe in tonight.”
I waited for him to explain further, but he took one glance at the winding river of fire beneath us and increased his speed.
“You’re really hustling up this mountain. Does the bridge close at a certain time?”Nice Rae.Way to put him at ease.Ignoring the blush staining my cheeks, I cleared my throat and tried again. “It’s only that you said we had to time our crossing or things would get complicated. Is it a fire thing?”
“It’s a monster thing,” he grunted.
“Oh. What type of monster?”