Torn (Demon Kissed #3) by H.M. Ward Read Free Book Online Page B

part that bugged me most was that I didn’t know how this all ended. That last prophecy was missing. There was no way to know if I could fix all my mistakes. There was no way to know if I died, and there was no way to know if Kreturus took all my powers and went on a rampage in my world and then wiped out the angel’s realm. Lorren was an ass. I hated him. But, he was a key component in how things would end. And for some reason, he was helping me.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    I wandered through the Lorren until I found the place where Eric died. The maze was much easier to navigate since it wasn’t blasting me with mind-altering mist and tempting me with Collin’s kisses. When I first stepped foot in the Lorren, I thought it was beautiful. I thought the golden flowers dripping with jewels were stunning. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. As soon as I realized what they truly were, I was horrified. How could Lorren sit in there and allow all those people to die in that place? I didn’t understand how something that was supposed to be good, could tolerate injustice. Then I paused, realizing that maybe the people who were turned into flowers were given justice. Maybe they were supposed to be there. Either way, the golden tomb made me crave the inky sky and dank air of the Underworld. I couldn’t wait to be out of the false warmth.
    As soon as I stepped outside the golden walls, I’d be a sitting duck for demons, Valefar, and other evil things. I kicked the ground with my toes, sending loose bits of rock skittering at the mouth of the Lorren. What was I supposed to do now? Pressing my eyes closed tight, I fell to my knees. I blinked hard, fighting back tears. When I looked up there was a familiar set of eyes watching me from the cavern walls. Up high between jagged spikes of black rocks was the dragon.
    I regarded him and nodded. He swooped off his perch and landed in front of me. Ignoring him, I went back to my thoughts, sitting right outside the Lorren. The beast lowered his massive body to the cavern floor, laid next to me, and curled up like a really big cat.
    The dragon. Why was this thing following me? And whose was he? Kreturus’? I looked at the beast and asked, “Why are you following me? You already destroyed me when you took Collin and gave him to Kreturus. Go away.” I rose, brushed the dirt off my shredded jeans and walked away from the beast. A few moments later, I felt a massive gust at my back and the dragon was gone.
    The bond was pulling at me hard as I backtracked further the way I had come into the Underworld. I had to get out of this place. The longer I stayed down here, the worse things became. I needed to feel sunshine on my face and breathe fresh air. I wanted the warmth of the sun to seep into my skin and get rid of the chill that invaded me since I arrived. Although the shadows were no longer shrouding me, it was still damp and cold. I could have effonated from the Lorren to the catacombs so I could leave again, but I felt so weak. I didn’t think I had enough power to keep my attention focused the way I needed to so that I wouldn’t hurt myself. Effonating wiped me out when I felt fine. No, I needed to wait a little longer until I felt I could hold my focus perfectly. Until then, I’d move about on foot.
    Walking through the Underworld alone sucked. It reminded me of everything I lost. My best friend stabbed me in the back. Shannon. I’d hoped she would have believed me. I’d hoped she would have been on my side. But she wasn’t. And the sad part was that I had no idea when she had changed her mind. It sounded like she lived the past year thinking I was destined for Hell, but said nothing to me. It didn’t make any sense. Why would she help me, then? But I couldn’t get over the rage on her face, and the words she spoke cut into me in a way that wouldn’t heal. Her words were painfully wedged there in my mind, forever.
    I shivered when I