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“It’s the borromium,” I said calmly. “They’ve made the entire prison out of it. It’s a mineral found only in Hell that blocks all powers. No species can use their powers in here. They’re all rendered as weak as humans.”

“And you didn’t think to tell us thisbeforewe entered?” Zandren gritted out, releasing my shirt and backing up.

“You didn’t have to come.”

Omaera’s hand in mine tightened. “I wish you’d told us though.”

I nodded, even though they couldn’t see me. “I’m sorry. I should have. To be honest, it slipped my mind.”

“I’m sure it did,” the bear muttered.

“So, nobody has any powers in here?” Omaera asked.

“Nobody. It’s to keep the guards, guests, and prisoners safe.”

The bear growled again, but didn’t say anything.

“You okay, Drak?” Omaera asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Very well,” my mate said with a sigh. “Let’s keep going.”

To be perfectly honest, I did forget about the entire prison being made of borromium. There was really no reason for the mineral to be used anywhere else in Hell. Why would the demons want that? And it didn’t make it through the portal to Earth. It disintegrated to dust and did not reassemble on the other side. They’d been trying to make that happen for centuries to no avail.

Light glimmered up ahead and Omaera’s hand squeezed mine. We reached another door, this one just an iron grate with a big bulky lock on the other side. It was something from the Middle Ages.

Another ugly-as-fuck guard appeared on the opposite side, a big keyring loaded with keys jangling from his belt loop like some medieval prison guard. He grunted at us and unlocked the door all while giving us some serious stink-eye.

“Prisoners are in waiting room C,” he said with a heavy lisp, pointing to the left with a gnarled finger.

“Thank you,” Omaera said, flashing him a friendly smile.

Just like the other guard, this one seemed entirely shocked and almost put-out that she was polite.

I held her hand in mine, though now that we were within the prison walls she couldn’t send me any thoughts of calm or reassuring affirmations. Her touch and being there for me was magic enough though. Or at least, it would have to be.

I glanced behind us at the bear, who basically wore a thundercloud as a hat, and the vampire. I had to do a double-take at the vampire though. He looked better than I’d seen him in … ages. Was not having powers actually benefitting him?

We reached waiting room C. The door was closed and there was no window on the door.

I pulled in a deep breath through my nose.

Omaera turned to face me, releasing my hand and gripping me by the arms. “You’ve got this. Go in with the lowest of low expectations, that way you’re not disappointed. It’s better to be pleasantly surprised than horrendously disappointed.”

I gave her a meek smile, then pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thanks, babe.”

“Are we doing this or what?” Zandren asked, his voice rough. “Not being able to shift is giving me the fucking creeps.”

Omaera smirked and glanced back at the bear, reaching for his hand. “I appreciate you coming, Pooh Bear. We’re a team, the four of us, whether you like it or not.”

Zandren’s nostrils flared, but his gaze softened the longer he looked at her and she kept her eyes on him.

Finally, his stony expression cracked and he blinked, nodding just a little. “Just be careful in there, Little One.”

“We will be.”

I sucked in another breath through my nose and reached for the door, turning the knob and pushing it inside.