It’s why I can afford to march into the Underworld for my sister tomorrow and not have a single fear holding me back.
CHAPTER 6
Finley
It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for since I found out my sister was trapped in the Underworld over a month and a half ago. While many important things had to be dealt with and other more prioritized leads followed, it is now finally time to get Zora out of there.
It’s the first time since my journey started into this strange new world I’ve fallen into that I feel a level of deep confidence in my choices and actions. I can’t explain it other than it’s an identical twin thing, but I know she’s supposed to be with me. We have not only blood and DNA connecting us, but we also have something magical and mystical reinforcing those bonds.
No clue how it will play out, but I feel in my heart that Zora is going to be important in the final battle, if nothing more than to be a source of sisterly strength to me when my time for sacrifice comes.
We’re assembled down in the library, going over the logistics one more time. Boral had managed to draw a fairly decent map of Micah’s realm, showing how the Crimson River, following its weird reverse flow, leads to the Underworld. He has points of interest marked that we are to stay away from—like The Pit and Kymaris’ castle—including a crude rendering of how Otaxis is laid out, although, admittedly, it might have changed over the few thousand years since Boral has been gone.
Heading into Micah’s realm means we’re dressed for cold weather, but it’s done in layers. I remember the Underworld being distinctly warm, and we’re prepared to shed clothing once we get there.
Past that, we’re packing light—essentially weapons, the relic we found in Hungary, which is queued to get us back to Micah’s realm since we don’t have Lucien, and our determination. If things go to hell in a handbasket, we’re prepared to rip the veil wherever we are and jump back into the Earth realm. Carrick spent a lot of time lecturing me on this last night as we laid naked in each other’s arms, sweat from a vigorous second round of sex still cooling on our skin.
“Finley,” he had said in a serious, no-nonsense voice. “If we get into a dangerous situation that puts you at risk, and I tell you to get back to the Earth realm, you go without question, okay?”
I love Carrick with my whole heart and soul. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.
Except… abide by this command.
I had made up my mind. I was not leaving without Zora. If it meant my demise happened there, then so be it.
The most I would promise is that I would consider his advice, to which he heaved a sigh of frustration while pulling me into his arms to hold me.
“Everybody ready?” I ask the group, but my gaze moves to Rainey and Myles. Their arms are linked, and Rainey chews on her fingernail with worry.
I walk to her, put my hands on her shoulders, and lean in to lock my eyes with hers. “I promise you that I will be fine. I’ll stay safe. And I promise you that when we come back from the Underworld, we’re going to work on the finishing touches of your wedding.”
Rainey scoffs at my suggestion, the worry in her expression not alleviated. “We don’t have time for weddings. It’s the end of days.”
“It’s not the end of days until the new moon,” I correct as I pull her in for a hug. She struggles against me, her lingering anger that I’m doing this evident, before capitulating. Putting my mouth near her ear, I whisper, “You are going to marry Myles the weekend after this, and nothing is going to stop that. It’s the one thing I have pushing me forward and making sure I’m extra careful so we can have just one day of love, peace, and happiness. Okay?”
When she nods against my shoulder, I pull back and give her a brilliant smile. “Good.”
Turning to Myles, I hug him as well. Far more stoic in his worries, he merely says, “Love you, Finley. Come back safe.”
“Always,” I reply.
I don’t bother with hugs for Zaid and Titus, but they give me reassuring smiles. While they care for me—I’d even dare say love me—they are hardened to the ways of evil and know what must be done.
Carrick steps away from the table to make room for Maddox, Boral, and me to join him. He holds the brass relic we picked up in Hungary, sets it to Micah’s realm with some beautifully ancient words, and then rips the seam open right in front of the shelves that hold Carrick’s diaries, which start in the 18th century.