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“Well, that sucks, but I’m glad I know. Thanks, Wren.” I glance down at my phone as it vibrates, seeing a message from Wraith. “I better hurry. I think they’re getting impatient.”

“Love you, Ree. I’ll see you later!”

I wave as she heads toward her dorm building, and I duck into the administration building. I could’ve gone around, but that would mean extra walking. Why walk more than I have to?

I nod to Barbara behind the front desk as I pass her, and she waves. Then I’m outside, staring at the academy gates. Wraith and Donovan are talking quietly beside it, and I hurry over to them.

“Sorry I’m late. I went looking for Wren so I could let her know I wasn’t going to be around. We had a quick talk, and she told me why I have so many issues with crowds.” I explain to them what she just revealed, and the two of them share a look. “What?”

Wraith frowns. “Honestly? I forgot about your issues with crowds. We were planning to take you to Ephonia to show you around, but it’s always crowded there. Hard for it not to be since it’s the major city of the underworld. Maybe we should do something else.”

“Oh, no. Nope. You’re not getting out of this. I want to see the city. Plus, Celeste and Diana told me they just got their new apartments. I want to see them.” I wrinkle my nose. “I can deal with crowds if I need to. Wren said I could do it with her, so I don’t know why I wouldn’t be able to with the two of you.”

As usual, Wraith looks like he wants to argue with me. “Fine, but if you get too overwhelmed, tell me. I can travel us through the shadows to get us away. That’s how we’re going to get there, anyway.”

“I promise, I’ll tell you if it gets to be too much.” I squeeze his hand as I grin. “I really want to see Ephonia. Can we go now?”

Wraith still looks uncertain, so I turn to Donovan as I poke out my bottom lip. “Tell him it’ll be okay, Donovan.”

Donovan shakes his head. “Don’t try to use me to get your way, pretty girl.”

Now I really am pouting. Now that I know what we were going to do, I’m not going to be happy doing anything else.

Huh.

Maybe Wraith is onto something. I am a brat.

“Please, Wraith. I really want to go.”

“Fine, but do not leave our sides,” he demands in his best dad tone, and I really want to call him daddy to fuck with him, but I promised I wouldn’t. “At least one of us needs to be with you at all times. If you get overwhelmed, I’ll bring us to the reaper apartments and you can see your friends.”

I nod. “I agree with your terms. Although I want to see my friends, regardless.”

“We’ll make sure that happens. Now, hold on tight and don’t let go.” He pulls me against his side before doing the same to Donovan.

I loop both my arms around Wraith, smiling when Donovan grabs one of my hands while locking his other around Wraith’s back under mine. I know that even if I do accidentally let go, Donovan won’t let me go. He’ll always keep me safe.

Shadows rise around us, pooling at our feet before wrapping around us like a cocoon. As with the last time, my stomach dips a little as I feel us beginning to move. It takes us longer this time. I’m guessing it’s because we’re covering a longer distance, but it’s still only seconds later when the shadows begin to recede.

I find myself standing in an alleyway, surrounded by tall, dark buildings. They’re not black but a dark slate. At first, I think they’re made from brick, but as I reach out to touch them, I realize it’s some kind of rock.

“Obsidian,” Wraith tells me. “Every building in Ephonia was built by Lucifer’s magic, and he fucking loves obsidian. We’ll point out his palace when we’re closer. I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise that it’s also made from obsidian.”

My ears feel like they’re blocked, so I yawn to clear them, and the noise finally filters in. I wonder if that’s caused by traveling through the shadows. I don’t remember it happening the last time, but I was also a little preoccupied then.

Turning toward the sounds, I see people bustling past the open alleyway. Sniffing, I realize something smells amazing, too.

“Can we go now?”

Wraith chuckles. “Yes, trouble. We can go now. Remember, one of us needs to be with you—”

“And I need to tell you if I get too overwhelmed. I got it.” I hurry forward, realizing we’re at a street market. “Ohhhh, what’s this?”

Donovan throws his arm over my shoulders and leads me to the first tent that houses leather clothing—my mate knows me so well. “Every weekend, people from all over the underworld come out to sell their goods. You’ll find a little of everything here—food, clothing, weapons. You name it, it’s probably here.”

“We thought it would be something familiar that could ease you into the city,” Wraith says as he comes to a stop on my other side. “If you see something you want, let me know. Most of the sellers are demons. They’ll rip you off if you don’t know how to haggle with them correctly.”

“I take great offense to that, Death,” an old woman says as she slips between the curtains at the back of her tent. She appears as a human, but I know that doesn’t mean anything.