Page 19 of Till Death

But she was right and I couldn’t argue with her anymore. I’d do whatever it took to get Cole back. Although finding him hadn’t exactly stayed in the position of number one priority. Not with Michael…

God, even thinking about it hurt.

Tamara pulled me to the side, shifting to make sure we were completely alone. “I have a way in,” she explained. “A back door, if you will. When Arianna found my book I re-discovered one of the old spells there.” Her lips curled up in a satisfied smirk. “I might not have all my magic but this one is simple. It doesn’t take much to work. It can help you pass through without setting off any alerts and get you exactly where you want to be. No swarms waiting for you.”

I had a feeling that the offer came with some pretty thick strings attached.

“I highly doubt you’d be interested in justgivingit to me,” I said. Though, I had to admit it made me curious. What exactly was she offering and what did she want in return?

She stepped closer and I prepared to call my light if needed, even knowing it may not come when I called. Someone help me; my curiosity was getting the better of me, just like the cat. Tamara didn’t suddenly decide to grow a conscience to help me defeat the demons.

“I will break it down for you. With Hell overstepping its boundaries, our way of life is threatened. My daughter might not make it out of here.” Her gaze slid to the door and the fuckery going on outside. “I don’t want anything happening that puts her in a position of joining me in the darkness.”

Ah. Got it.

“We’re down to the wire. If you can get your little boyfriend back, it accomplishes two things.” Tamara held up her fingers and counted off for me like I needed the visual aid. “You won’t be distracted. And if you’re in Hell, you’re in a better position to cut them off at the faucet rather than us trying to stem the flow once the water is already turned on. Get the picture?”

“I’m starting to,” I admitted.

“I’m offering you a way into Hell. I already know you aren’t in a position to give me my power back, or help release my soul from Hell once all of this is done. But your demon…” She drew in a breath. “He’s been compromised.”

How did she know that? Had she seen him during the transformation?

I took an involuntary step back, my teeth chattering against a sudden chill. All I could do was wait for something to happen. I hated the helpless feeling with a deep passion.

“There’s no easy way into Hell. So don’t think you can trick me.” It had to be a trap. I’d already threatened to send her back to where she belonged. “If therewasa backdoor, then every demon in existence would know of it and they’d have come to the living realm much sooner.”

Looked like I had to keep on my toes with this one.

What else was new?

That was the story of my life.

“I swear to you. Things might be different now with the veil down, but there’s always been a back door for those who were willing to seek it out.” Her expression turned smug.

“Give me a straight answer or I’ll be forced to show you what happens when I’m at the end of my rope and pissed the fuck off.” Anger was better than fear any day of the week. “Doyouknow of a way to save Cole?”

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t summon my last bit of intimidation.

And there was the vulpine smile back again, the one that looked so wholly at home on her face. “I have a few tricks left up my sleeve. Being dead doesn’t make me any less crafty or resourceful. You should know.”

“You want a deal, then.” I stiffened my spine, waiting to hear what else he had to say.

“Less a deal and more of a guarantee,” she said.

I worried my lower lip before replying with, “I’m not in the market to make promises.”

“I can give you a way to find your lost love. In return, I can make sure the rest of the witches and the sorcerer’s outside of the council will fight for us. They’re on their way here now but the road isn’t easy and it would be all too simple for them to get waylaid or, heaven forbid, killed on the way.”

Along with the selfishness I saw when I looked at her, no matter how she tried to cover it up, was regret. For the actions that lead her to this point. For the pain she’d caused her family.

All of it.

“How?” I asked skeptically.

“Don’t question the methods. Trust me and I can get you where you need to go. You alone, I’m sorry to say, but you’re the only one I trust to get the job done. Now, do we have a deal or not?”

Just at the end of the line. The same as me. The same as the rest of us.

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