Page 4 of As Above, So Below

How in the nine hells is this possible?

This fae is uninjured, not standing close to death. He should not be able to see me, let alonethreatenme. He doesn’t move, instead he studies my face.

“Return him, and I’ll send you back to Netharis quickly.”

Unable to stop myself, I stand, the blade following me, my throat, even as I turn to face him.

“Brave mortal doesn’t realize who he is threatening,” I laugh, holding his stare.

He stares at me still, and I feel exposed, judged, vilified. Perhaps rightfully so. The odd pull in my chest beckons me to walk forward, it would have me impale myself on his blade. I firmly plant my feet against it, clutching Thalion’s soul to my chest.

None of this makes sense.

The boldness of his eye color steals all of my attention. Deep amber gold, ringed with black, set in a beautiful fae face. A strong jaw, high cheekbones, dark brows—he isn’t simply beautiful, he’s a dark, haunting creature. The kind of mortal I would seduce into a contract were Netharis to ever allow it.

“Who are you?” I ask, destroying the silence hanging between us. “Whatare you?”

“I’ve finally found you,” he says softly, lowering his sword.He sounds just as incredulous as I feel.

Stepping back, suspicion snakes up my spine, and my innate vibrates in response. I may have to kill this fae. Ishouldkill this fae. With a swift swing, the fae buries the end of his sword into the dirt and extends an open hand.

An invitation?

From a mortal?

“You belong here,” he says, an unexpected note of pleading in his tone. “With me.”

The pulling sensation sears through my chest, and I take another step backward, fighting the notion. Glancing around, we’re surrounded by chaos, the small circle created by the soldiers keeping the area clear.

It’s as if he’s stepped into the veil, into this realm.

How is such a thing possible?

I’ve taken too long. Netharis is going to start asking questions and I don’t know how to explain this mortal.

“I belong to the hells,” I finally reply, shaking my head.

They’re words I’ve never believed, words Netharis won’t let me forget.

Behind me, my shadows rise, swirling violently, opening a door to the hells. The stench of sulfur and smoke reaches my nose within seconds and I step backward through the portal, holding the fae’s stare.

“I will find you.” He lowers his hand and his words sink into my skin.

Is this one of those fabled fae promises?

Because it sounds more like a threat.

My shadows slam the door shut between us before vanishing like morning fog in the rising sun. I’m left standing alone in the hells with the soul of Thalion Witherhorn, unsure of everything I’ve ever known.

CHAPTER ONE

Three hundred yearslater, I’m still dreaming of that night.

Of that encounter, of his eyes, of his words.

Worrying at my lip with my teeth, the jagged barren terrain of the hells stretches for miles before me. Like always, the view is uninteresting, but I stare anyway.

Losing myself to thoughts, the unchanged world before me goes out of focus. The hells will forever be as they currently stand—nothing changes, nothing evolves, nothing grows. Not here. It all will stay exactly the same, just as Netharis wants.