Chapter 32: Erin

No matter how much I argued, Cal didn’t let me leave his bedroom until the day my trial resumed—four days later. I got what I wanted: Cal’s blade currently strapped to my thigh and his new contract mark branding my inner leg, but the cost ... I didn’t want to think about it. I’d figure a way out of it, but first, I needed to follow through and make my sacrifice worth it.

As soon as Cal teleported us back to the foyer of The Council’s Sanctuary, I stormed off (my ankle had made a full recovery) toward our private trial room. Llewyn greeted me when I walked inside and slammed the door shut behind me.

Like last time, Llewyn wore an array of robes in varying patterns. Today’s were of a forest and birds.

“I’m glad you’re here.” I sighed, running my hand through my disheveled brown locks. I purposely chose a long-sleeved black dress with easier access to Cal’s blade strapped underneath, but neglected the other important parts, my mind too focused on Saya.

“The Council released me from my cell as soon as it was decided that the trial would continue. We have time before we go back on stage, but I see you have other things on your mind. So, it begs the question: What is it you want to do, Erin?”

Again, those all-too-knowing eyes looked at me, as if seeing all of my past and present. “I think you already know the answer.”

Llewyn’s gaze became unfocused. “The branches of your life come to a big parting here, as they did when you accepted Dezmandaro’s contract. Depending on the decisions you make here, things will play out very differently. Some not so pleasant.”

I nodded. Even if I knew the consequences of all the actions I’d made up to this point and would continue to make, I’d still stand true to my convictions. “Please, can you take me to Saya?”

“We do not have permission to enter Wyllhelmin’s dimension.”

My shoulders sagged.

“But you can enter Dezmandaro’s.”

I frowned. Why would I want to go back to Dez’s? Then it hit me.

Llewyn nodded. “If I do this for you, the Council will sense my flare of power here so close to their source. It won’t be long before they figure out Caliphiste didn’t strip me of my energy like every other prisoner. They will punish him and then send him to execute me.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Llewyn held up his hand. “In exchange for this, I have a request.”

He leaned close and whispered.

I gaped at him. “Will that work? What about Megan?”

Llewyn took my hand in his, slipping a piece of paper into my palm. “I’ll handle things here. Promise me, Erin.”

“As in a contract?”

He shook his head. “From one soul to another, promise me.”

I took a deep breath. “I promise.”

He smiled and took my hand; the world blinked out of existence around us.

Llewyn teleported me just outside of Dez’s estate. Or what was left of it. The estate still lay in shambles, the land ripped and fractured. All the beautiful autumn leaves had finally fallen, leaving everything bare and foreboding. The only thing that was repaired was the stone and glass wall surrounding the grounds.

When the face appeared in the gate, I didn’t scream. “Welcome home,” it said before the glass faded away, letting me walk through. This place was far from home. Still, it was sad to see the sunroom in ruins, where I held fond memories of gossiping with Rowan, Saya, and Lucille. The lake and sailboat had sunk into the pits of a dark hole, and rocks and chunks of land were still falling into the abyss below without a sound. This place was now downright terrifying, but it also felt ... lonely. Sad.

I dodged pockets where the land had collapsed, careful not to fall to my death. It was hard to remember exactly where Dez almost strangled me as I had been a little preoccupied. My long-sleeved dress did little to block out the cold, and I shivered at a gust of cool air and ... something else.

I felt fingers reaching for the nape of my neck and eyes watching me from afar. I glanced around. The air shimmered in parts, but looked normal in others. It was as if the entire dimension was trapped inside a snow globe, with cracks in the sky revealing another world beyond this one.

“My love,” Dez’s voice called out behind me. I whirled, but no one was there.

“You’ve kept me waiting, Dez.” A feminine voice chuckled. “That’s going to cost you.”

I looked around again until a pocket of air shifted, revealing a moment in time—a memory.

Angelica lay on Dez’s bed wearing lavender silk pajamas—the sight made me feel hot all over in a bizarre mix of jealousy and rage. She lay on her side, augmenting her curves, with her brown hair splayed out behind her. Dez unbuttoned his shirt, showcasing lean muscle that rippled as he picked her up in his arms.

“I’ll gladly pay,” Dez’s tone turned husky. I glanced away as the two voices devolved into moans. I covered my ears, and it faded as I walked closer toward the side of the estate.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Cal,” Dez said. Another memory pocket. This time Dez and Angelica were on the deck of a sailboat.

Angelica was naked, her head leaned back to absorb the sun grazing her golden skin while Dez steered the boat shirtless in a pair of board shorts. He had eyes only for her.

“Jealous?” she teased.

“Yes.”

Angelica didn’t turn to see Dez’s expression, raw with longing. Vulnerable. It almost made me feel bad for him, but that wasn’t right. Dez was the last being who deserved pity.

“What can I say? You’re both amazing lovers. I just can’t choose.” She shrugged.

Dez’s jaw tightened. “He doesn’t care for you. Not like ... not like I do, Angelica.” The last bit was almost a whisper. It was odd seeing Dez like this. So different from the arrogant, shielded being I knew.