Page 3 of Another Underworld

Without any word of warning, the crazy bitch decapitated both of us.

And then...Iwas home. Pandora was with me. My relief was short-lived. One battle had been won, but another one was already brewing.

From behind me, there was a commotion. I looked over my shoulder fast enough to give me whiplash. It didn’t surprise me to see all the people I loved in the world on my porch and ready to kick some ass on my behalf. They had my back no matter what. The love of my life, Abaddon, was front and center and looking extremely hot, figuratively and literally, with his fire sword drawn and a murderous look in his eyes. Candy Vargo’s face was furious, and her body glowed dangerously as she floated into the air for a more offensive position. It was singularly terrifying, considering she was the Keeper of Fate, and an angry Candy Vargo usually ended in bloodshed… lots of bloodshed. Fifi, Gideon, Daisy, Charlie, Tim, Cher and Heather flanked them. They were all armed and extremely dangerous.

Except my mother. She was the only one unarmed. As she stared at Pandora and me, I watched her expression transform from fear to worry to relief, and then the most amazing look of wonder crossed her beautiful face. She understood. Pandora wasn’t my enemy. Not any more.

Quickly, I got to my feet, pulling Pandora up with me. The events on the higher plane were still raw in my mind, and it made me oddly protective of my ex-evil counterpart. I put myself between her and the small army on my front porch.

“Everyone, stand down,” I ordered. “Pandora is not going to run. She’s willing to accept her punishment.”

“You sure about that, Badass?” Candy Vargo asked skeptically, chewing on her ever-present toothpick.

“Very,” I assured her. Unfortunately, that assurance hadn’t been enough. I told them what happened on the Higher Plane. I even told them about how Pandora had been willing to sacrifice her freedom to save me. In the end, it took over an hour to field their questions—of which there were many—before everyone got on the same page with me. I’d skimmed over some of the minor details, but the general gist of the nightmare had been conveyed. At least enough for my crew to stop looking at Pandora like a pinata they wanted to bash. That would have to be good enough for now.

Pandora, emboldened by the fact that they’d finally put their weapons away, stepped out from behind me and stood by my side. “Bitch Goddess Cecily speaks the truth.” She looked at me and gave me a small smile of gratitude. “My guess is that Bitch Goddess Cecily always speaks the truth.”

“She does,” Lilith said, crossing the yard and approaching the woman who had killed and rendered her mortal.

I took a small step back as the two women stared at each other—my mom and the Demon who had ended her immortality.

The air felt electric.

Finally, Pandora spoke. “I… I…” She was having a hard time.

“I forgive you,” Lilith said softly.

Pandora couldn’t look at my mother. Lilith reached out and lifted the Demon Goddess’s chin until their gazes met.

“Over time,” Lilith continued, “we’ve both done wrong by each other repeatedly. For that, I’m sorry. Sleeping with the man you loved was despicable.”

“Despicable? Yes. However, killing you trumps you banging a paramour,” Pandora said with a wince of discomfort. “But I forgive you too. I deeply regret killing you. It was a very shitty thing to do.”

“Underfuckingstatement,” Candy Vargo said.

Pandora gave Candy a flat stare. Candy gave it right back.

“Correct.” Pandora softened her gaze. “It is an underfuckingstatement,” she admitted with a shrug. “What I am grateful for is that you have the gift to live the rest of your life with love.”

“You have that chance too, Pandora,” Lilith told her. “Where there’s hope there is light. Maybe you could find him and…”

Pandora’s gaze hardened, and her eyes turned icy. Her expression made me take a step forward. It made everyone step forward. She’d killed Lilith once. Luckily, it hadn’t been permanent. This time, it would be. Thankfully, she used her words.

“No, Lilith,” she said sharply in a hollow tone. “That ship has sailed. I shall take my punishment and then do my best to do no more harm. That’s all I have left in me.”

I didn’t believe that, and someday Pandora wouldn’t either. I felt it in my bones and my heart. The day might not happen for a long time from now, but eventually, it would come. Since we lived forever, we had time. It was bizarre to hear them talk of sleeping with each other’s lovers and Pandora murdering my mom with such calm, but they were older than dirt. Maybe with age came wisdom… or maybe not. Maybe it was more akin to insanity. It was too deep to ponder right now.

I walked away from Lilith and Pandora. There was someone I needed to touch. The need to touch him was stronger than thenecessity for oxygen in my lungs. Abaddon met me halfway and held me so tightly it was difficult to breathe.

“It was crazy,” he whispered, his lips buried in my hair. “Your body disappeared. In the dream state, you should have been on the couch the whole time. But as soon as you fell asleep, you vanished.” His voice was rough with emotion, and I was pretty sure he had no intention of letting me go anytime soon. “I died a thousand deaths.”

“I love you.” I wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his chest as I inhaled the masculine scent that warmed his skin. “I’m here.” I tilted my chin up to meet his gaze. “I’m back. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

“What the fuck?” Candy Vargo bellowed as an explosion erupted in the street.

My heart sank as I reluctantly let go of Abaddon and took a more defensive position next to him.

I had been terrified that Pandora had broken her word.

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