He growled, but I couldn’t tell if he was mad at the harpy-hounds or at me. “I have no control over the pain you feel. This realm was designed to torture mortal souls. You should not be here.”
“And you shouldn’t have had your minions lock me up, yet here we are. Let me go so I can find my parents, and I’ll get out of your hair.” I stepped toward the bars. “Oh, wait. You don’t have any.”
“You’ve done nothing but lie since you summoned me. Why should I release you?”
I focused on my inborn gift, lacing my words with persuasive magic and making myself appear confident and in charge. “You know I’m not a threat. All I want is to find my parents and take them home. If you help me, I’ll be gone before you know it.”
A deep chuckle emanated from his chest. “I can feel the silver-tongue magic you’re attempting to use through our bond, but you’re wasting your vim. Magic can’t escape your cell, and even if it could, I am immune to your wicked power.”
I ground my teeth because, dammit, he was immune. He’d have brought me to Hell willingly if he wasn’t. “First of all, my power is not wicked. I never make anyone do anything they don’t want to.”
He scoffed. “I’m sure you do exactly that all the time.”
“I do not.” I reached for the bars, but they zapped my fingertips before I could grab them. “Son of a banshee.” I shook my hands and took a step backward so I wouldn’t be tempted to do it again.
“What you call my silver tongue is passive magic. It’s not mind control, and I’m not taking away anyone’s free will. It only affects me, not the person I’m talking to, so if you’re feeling something when I do it, it’s because of that symbol carved into your skull.” I held up my arm. “And because of this.”
“Which you will remove.”
If only I knew how. Other than my bleeding on his skull, I had no idea how I’d formed this intense bond, and I doubted reversing the simple, temporary connection spell I’d cast would do it. But I couldn’t let him know that. For now, it was best he thought I simply refused.
Refusing put the power in my hands. “Are you sure you want me to do that? I can see through your disguise, thanks to our bond, and you can see through my influence glamour. If I remove the marks, you’ll be exposed to my full potential. You’ll want to help me find my parents. Believe me, I am very persuasive.”
“Hmm.” He extended a claw and ran it across the bars, making a tink, tink, tink sound. Apparently, the hex on my cell only affected the person inside it.
I blew on my palms, willing the agonizing burn to subside. My attempt only made it worse. I sank onto the stone slab and rested my hands atop my knees, breathing deeply and focusing on my thoughts rather than the pain.
I was useless inside this cell. All I’d seen in this realm so far were the massive cave-like entrance and the inside of these walls. When the harpy-hounds had whisked me away, they’d flown so quickly that my surroundings had blurred. I had no idea where my parents might be, nor how to get out of this realm once I found them.
Discord was my only ticket home. Maybe I should start being nice. “Look, I’m sorry I vanquished you. It’s just… My parents are here because a demon tricked them, and I really, really need to take them home.”
“Your role as High Priestess began because your mother made a deal and paid the price.” He leaned against the wall beside the gate. “Now you’ve attempted the same and left me no choice but to imprison you.”
“No, this is different. I never offered you my soul.” I winced at the stabbing burn in my hands and shook them.
“Yet you’ve bound mine to yours.” He inclined his chin. “You’re in pain.”
“No shit, Sherlock.” I stood and paced the width of my cell. “Your hex nearly turned me into a Kentucky fried witch.”
His brow furrowed. “I don’t understand your references.”
“Of course you don’t.”
“Stand still.”
I turned toward him. “Why?”
He inhaled deeply, his gaze locked on his sigil on my arm. The mark glowed again, growing brighter and brighter until a cooling sensation spread through my entire body. My skin tingled, my muscles contracting and then relaxing as his essence washed through me.
“Better?” he asked.
My head spun, and I rested a hand against the wall to steady myself, gasping and jerking it away when I realized what he’d done. “You healed me. How?”
“My power is immense in this realm.”
“I bet.” I laughed dryly and held my wrist, gazing at my palm. Once red and angry, my skin was now smooth and unmarred. My other hand was normal too. I rotated the ankle I’d rolled earlier, and it moved freely, without a shred of pain. The glow on the sigil subsided, and the cooling sensation dissipated from my body.
I rubbed my hands together and looked at him quizzically. “Why did you help me?”
