Riella keened against her and I turned, grinding my teeth to see Remnant covering her ears quickly, enveloping her body within her own.
There was anguish on my soulmate's face, a mixture of pain and death and I could feel it absorb into the power that she already radiated.
“This is…this is The Well of Souls," she breathed.
Snarling, I turned back when I felt the hum of power gather, using my soul wraith form to shield them both from the explosivebright beam that shot from the depths of Hell. The brightness surprisingly did not bother my shadowed form while the perfect beacon of light suddenly illuminated every daunting step that spiraled upwards where we were evidently meant to climb. My skin prickled and a low growl released when I felt the power within pulse and writhe, hearing Remnant and Riella whimper in unison. Then just as intensely as it came, it died down, the cylindrical confinement of light becoming duller, not as bright with its humming gentling to a soothing buzz.
Remnant stood with Riella in her arms, standing next to me, her awe palpable.
“It is alright, my cub, you can look now,”I purred toward Riella who sniffed and rubbed her face into Remnant’s chest. There was nothing malicious coming from The Well now, not yet anyway.
Our cub’s hands fell away from her ears, before she lifted her head, her eyes just as full of awe as Remnant. "It's so pretty."
Remnant looked down at her glowing upturned face, the gold in her eyes highlighted even more by the glow, and then looked back again. "It is." Her voice soft and I shivered at the sound, goddess how she affected me. "Most souls are, in their purest form."
Glancing back at me, I saw her gaze shift inward. I smiled softly at her, knowing what she was searching for.“Worried for me, little umbra?”I wasn’t about to admit I held my breath, something flickering her eyes, a slight frown pulling on her beautiful face.
"Remnant?" I said aloud this time, licking at my shadowed lips.
She blinked, "Hmm?"
I studied her briefly, my brows raised. "What’s next?”
She tilted her head, looking high up into the sky, her emerald eyes catching on the staircase once again, she sighed, "We ascend.”
Nodding, my brow still wrinkled with concern, I reached for our still stunned daughter, taking her into my arms, and placing her lovingly on my shoulders once more.
Her tiny legs immediately wrapped around my neck and I purred inside at the immediate trust she had in me.
"Ready?" Remnant breathed.
I grunted, “I am with you, Remnant. Always.”
And I meant it, despite the war raging inside of me that wanted to take them both away from this place forever.
Riella's little voice sounded above me, "ready, maedere."
Sighing, she turned and her shadows cloaked around her, looping around her arms, and I watched with baited breath when her booted foot stepped softly to the first step.
A soft exhale escaped us both when her booted feet whispered across the second glossy stone step and nothing happened. Quickly, she took two more with the same response…nothing. I quickly followed her, my body vibrating with the tension, my eyes never leaving her, alert and ready.
Another exhale of relief escaped her as she watched us join, and another whole lot of—nothing.
Then I felt it, felt the hum of power wrap around her again and my claws extended, my heart racing, while her own body tensed like a bow drawn to the end of its range, quivering with tension before an arrow was released. Her shadows twirled with increased agitation around us and her eyes narrowed and I knew what she was thinking.
We were fae.
This was the realm of Hell deep within Sheol.
We were residing in Wrath territory.
She had full access to every soul in the universe.
This was…
"Too easy,"I growled with warning inside her mind.
Chapter 47
