Page 48

Oases, she realized.Water.

Thank fuck.

There was a thick line that went from right to left across the center of the map. Beneath the X was what appeared to be another cluster of trees. Perhaps another oasis?

If the top of the parchment was north, it would imply they’d be journeying west to get to the place marked on the map. However, there was no way to determine how many miles the journey across the map would be. There was no scale for distance. It could be anything from a few miles to hundreds of miles.

She pointed to the nearest cluster of trees on the map. “We make for an oasis. Even in a desert as cold as this one, we won’t last long without water.”

Sweat gathered beneath her breasts and along her limbs, making her leather pull uncomfortably. If this desert was similar to ones in the mortal realm with an unyielding sun, travel would be much slower in the heat. At least, that’s what she’d gleaned from the books she’d read. She’d never actually been to a desertbefore. But here, the climate was cool. Gusts of wind carried crisp air—and sand—toward them.

“Prince, can you scout ahead?” she said with a nod toward the sky.

Hadeon waved a hand. “Of course.” Spreading his wings, he was about to launch into the air when he paused. “And Hadeon is fine.”

She shook her head. “We can behave more familiarly around each other once there isn’t a bargain hanging between us.”

It would be wise not to allow herself to get too comfortable with this male. Even if they temporarily shared the same goal.

“As you wish,” he said. Then he took off into the air with several beats of his powerful wings.

Breckett frowned at the prince before his gaze settled on the map. “Do you have any idea how to read that?”

“None,” she said, her eyes on their surroundings.

There was no sun, no moon, no stars—nothing to indicate which direction was north, south, east, or west.

Sighing, she started walking in the direction Hadeon had flown off in, carrying Jessamine over her shoulder.

I suppose this direction is as good as any.

Before she’d taken two steps, the strange presence she’d felt a few times—the one that felt like a dark cloak over her shoulders—returned. Only this time, it was stronger than ever. The dark draped over her, and her shadows rumbled to life. The thorny vines seemed to nuzzle into the misty darkness hovering around her.

But even as her shadows moved, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She froze in place, trying to steady her racing heart as she glanced around.

Other than the dark mist, there was nothing else. It was just her, Breckett, and Jessamine.

Then the pressure atop her shoulders shifted. As though it was trying to turn her. Brows furrowing, she allowed her shoulders to move with it until she faced the opposite direction Hadeon had flown.

Biting the inside of her cheek, she considered which direction to go.

It was possible whatever it was had brought her through the gateway. It was also possible not everything in the underrealms wanted to consume her soul. Or it could be a demon that was leading them to its lair and some horrible death.

She knew what Jessamine would say if she were conscious.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

“Fuck,” she muttered before striding in the direction the strange presence had indicated.

“It’s unwise to follow anything blindly,” Breckett said from where he walked beside her.

She frowned. Could he sense this strange presence, too? Maybe his being a demon allowed him to perceive more than she could in this lifeless landscape.

Distantly, she wondered if mentioning the presence aloud would draw its attention or give it more power. Some demons in the forest beyond Shadowbank couldn’t take form until someone spoke their name. Then they’d gather strength as they consumed the fear of their victims—until they were large enough to consume them whole.

“I could say the same about you,” she said, deciding not to mention the presence for now. Turning, she looked up at Breckett. “You leaped into a gateway you’d never gone through before. One youhopedled to the Abyss. For all you knew, it could have led to your death.”

A twinkle of humor filled the erox’s eyes. “Couldn’t have my friend’s mate die while he’s otherwise occupied. Besides, if anyone is going to kill you, it will be me.”