Page 29 of Dancing With Death

“Hellfire.” It’s Cassian who answers, eyes wide. “You can wield hellfire.”

My eyes find Wraith, not understanding why everyone is freaking out. “I feel like I’m missing something here.”

“Me, too,” Brenden adds.

“There are very few who can wield hellfire. There are the six gods who live in the underworld—Lucifer, Nyx, Hecate, Thanatos, Hypnos, and Erebus—and their descendants. A few of the more powerful demons, War—I mean Octavius—hellhounds. There are a few others, but they’re all from the underworld.” Wraith gives me a grim smile.

Tee hee. The original Grim Reaper gave me a grim smile.

I bite back my laughter, understanding this isn’t the time.

This happens sometimes when I get overwhelmed. My mind latches onto something that will make me laugh. It can be really annoying in serious situations such as this.

“So, what does that mean?” I ask, still really fucking confused.

“It means, little mate, that you’re not a witch at all.” Cassian pauses. “Or at least not a full witch.”

Wraith hums. “It’s possible you’re a direct descendant of Hecate. She was the original witch, and those from her bloodline have always been more powerful.”

“But she wouldn’t be able to be more than a generation or two removed.” Cassian rubs his chin, deep in thought. “You said your mom is a fire witch?”

“Yes, and before you can ask, her fire was never purple.”

“Hellfire comes in many different colors,” Donovan informs me. “It just depends on who’s wielding it. My hellfire is green, but my brother’s is blue.”

“Wraith, is it possible that one of Hecate’s sons is roaming Earth?” Cassian asks.

Wraith shrugs. “It’s possible. As you’re aware, the gods of the underworld aren’t sleeping like the gods were in heaven. If they’re even still sleeping. Who knows with those lazy fuckers? For all I know, she could have given birth to a dozen children in the last hundred years. I don’t make it over to Elysium all that often.”

I bury my head in Donovan’s neck, sucking in lungfuls of his scent. It instantly calms me. “What does any of this mean?”

“It just means you’re just as special as I always knew you were.” Donovan wraps his arms more snuggly around me.

“But it also means we have no idea what you are,” Wraith admits.

Of course not. How many times have I heard someone tell me I’m something more than a witch since arriving in the underworld? I didn’t believe any of them, but now, I’m beginning to wonder.

I saw the burn on Wraith’s hand, and they have no reason to lie.

“Awesome. Great.” I sit up, shaking my head. “If we don’t know, then let’s talk about something else. Like why you and Cassian don’t get along?”

Wraith clears his throat. “I don’t really think that’s relevant to the conversation—”

“They used to be lovers,” Donovan murmurs in my ear, loud enough for everyone else to hear. “Well, the three of us used to be lovers.”

“Oh.” I lick my lips, my mind immediately picturing the three of them together. My thighs rub together, because the idea of the three of them together? Yeah, that’s hot as hell. “But not anymore. What happened?”

“We had some differences of opinions,” Wraith says haughtily, leaning back to stare up at the ceiling.

Cassian snorts. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

Glancing between the two of them, it’s clear they’ve never resolved whatever ended their relationship. They’re going to have to if we want this to work. Deciding that now probably isn’t the best time to bring that up, I focus on Cassian. “Earlier, I asked how you knew I was your mate.”

“Hmmm, yes.” Cassian has to tear his gaze away from Wraith. “My mother was one of the Fates. I inherited her power to see the lines of fate…or at least some of them. I’m not proficient like she and my aunts are, but our mate bond was lit up like a neon sign.”

“Oh. I…uh…I guess that means I met your mom.” At his confused look, I laugh. “Donovan found a spell for me to prove that he was my fated mate. It sent us somewhere else where the Fates spoke to me. They failed to mention that one of my mates was related to them.”

Cassian frowns. “My mother and her sisters are meant to be sleeping with the other gods. I haven’t been able to make contact with any of them. How were they able to speak to you?”