Page 183 of As Above, So Below

“You sent forme?” Rowen greets as I open my bedroom door.

“I did. Were you seen? Were you followed?” I peer past Rowen into the hall.

It’s empty.

He shakes his head. “Of course not. But meeting like this will raise questions. Summoning me to your personal quarters?”

“We don’t have the time to meet elsewhere.” I swing the door wide, stepping aside, and gesture for him to enter. “Please, there are things we need to discuss.”

Rowen purses his lips, hesitating. With a glance over his shoulders, he sweeps into the room and I close the door behind him.

Please don’t let this be a mistake.

Turning, I release a sigh.

“I need your help,” I admit and Rowen turns, eyes widening.

Sporting a full set of polished bronze armor, his green eyes narrow upon meeting mine. The questions he has are clear on his face.

“My help?” He shifts his weight onto the other foot, his head tilting. “What could Netharis’ daughter want with me?”

Eve sits up from her lounging position on the couch near the fireplace, keeping her ear in our direction, making herself known. Rowen’s eyes dart to her before returning to me.

“You hold a contract with my father.” I fold my arms over my chest.

Opening his mouth to argue, I hold up a hand, stopping him. “I’m not here to judge, or to question. I need you to keep Ryc away from me. Doing so willpossiblyenable me to end your contractearly—withoutyou rendering payment.”

His eyes shoot wide as his jaw drops.

“How?” he breathes.

With a small laugh, I smile. “Glad to see I have your full attention.”

Moving across the room, I lean against one of the tall bedposts, folding my arms across my chest.

“Is Alaryc not your mate?” He steps back, throwing a scrutinizing glare in my direction. “Why would you—”

“Because I have to return to the hells,” I answer without letting him finish. I heave sigh. “Mates don’t exist for demons. I don’t know what it is between us. But I know it’s something Netharis will never allow. As long as he exists, he will not relent.”

Rowen stands silent, a slow realization washing over him as he stares at me. “You never had any intention of taking the High Throne,” he laughs to himself, shaking his head.

“If it were possible for me to remain, I would. I would do that for Ryc,” I reply, my voice firm.

Rowen glances across the room at Eve, who sits on the couch by the fireplace watching us intently. She leans back, resting her arms along the back of the couch casually.

The sandy brown hair near his temples is touched with silver. I’d never noticed before. He must be significantly older than I am.

“Then you’ve rallied us behind you for nothing,” he says coldly.

“No. Not for nothing,” I argue heatedly. “To keepRycsafe. To keep hispeoplesafe. If I fail tonight,allof you will need to be here to protect Eldoterra—to protect thisrealm.”

Rowen bursts into a dry, sharp laugh. “You thinkyoucan stand against a god?”

“I do.” My voice sounds more confident than I feel.

Silence.

“But not if Ryc tries to stop me.”