Page 58 of Hell-Bound

“It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a Mortal,” she crooned, backing Ren into the wall. “Mortals scream so much louder. Such delicate skin. Makes a nice ripple when—”

Ren didn’t let her finish. She was done listening to Devils. She lashed out swiftly with her dagger, piercing the female’s neck. The Devil, eyes wide, dropped her sword but didn’t reach for her throat. The dagger, as Azur had claimed, froze her in place.

Ren twisted the dagger and bared her teeth as she felt the gush of black blood trickle down her hand before yanking the serrated weapon out. The female Devil collapsed, mouth open as if trying to speak, but could only bring forth the familiar gurgling sounds of blood as it made its way up her windpipe.

Time stopped for Ren. She watched as life faded from the female’s eyes, and she waited. Waited in that timeless spot for shame to hit her. For the feelings of remorse overwhelm her senses, causing her to stumble before regaining herself. Forcing her to compartmentalize this moment of survival before, eventually, the ever-growing knowledge of taking a life assaulted her waking hours with regret.

But it did not come. Instead, she felt…sated. Almost proud of cutting the creature’s life short.

“Time to go, Elfy!” Jester yelled, appearing before her as he shoved her out of the way from the guard to her right. “I can get us back, but I can’t portal in here—he had some sort of ward! We need to get outside!” he yelled.

Renata glanced back at the final guard. His eyes were wild and a little fearful as he menacingly descended upon the two.

In a flash, Ren shoved Jester to the side, sending him crashing through the window before she flung herself out. The wind lashed against her face as she plummeted through the air, hair whipping, eyes watering. But before she could blink them away, she felt a hard tug on her waist and slammed hardinto a wooden surface.

Ren and Jester were back at the Denizen’s tower, gasping for air.

Jester was huffing, bleeding from a large wound to his forehead, and trying to prop himself up.

“Don’t cry, Ren,” he said between gasps, “I know my…heroics are spectacular—but.”

“Oh, shove it!” she said, rolling onto her side, breathless. “Tell themasterthat we got his damned document.”

“Oh,nevercall him that. I’d hate to see the glee on his dumb, smug face. He definitely prefers Royal Panty Dropper Supreme!”

The two caught each other’s eyes and smiled. A little delirious from the whole experience—they burst out laughing.

However, the laughter was short-lived, as Renata’s hands and feet started to smoke.

“Ugh. Lord Luscious Lips is calling. Someday, you’ll have to teach me how to do that teleport thing,” she said with a wink.

“First of all, it takes a lot of magic, somethingyouwouldn’t know anything about, Elfy girl,” he teased.

But before Ren could retort, she appeared once more in the cold study of Azur Pelegros.

Azur was leaning forward on his chair, face propped on his knuckles, one eyebrow perked.

“I hear that you think my lips are…luscious?” he said with a crooked smile.

“I thought you weren’t supposed to spy!” she said, narrowing her eyes.

“She doesn’t deny it, I see.”

She tossed the papers on his desk irreverently.

“I barely made it out with these. Sorry if they’re a little blood-stained.”

But he wasn’t listening; his body went rigid, his eyes were wide, and his jaw was working.

“Did you just throw a relic marked with my unholysymbol?”

It was Ren’s turn to raise an eyebrow.

“Did youhearwhat I said? We almost got captured! Then you wouldn’t have yourunholyrelic!”

Azur breathed in slowly, trying to regain composure. He ran his hands delicately across his silken hair and cleared his throat before gently shifting the pages and stacking them into a perfect pile. He raised two long fingers and snapped. A scroll appeared, floating by his head.

“Service rendered, you are allowed your three questions.”