Free Bound in Black by Juliette Cross Page B

love, but I could certainly sympathize with his position. He’d guarded me my whole life and had formed an attachment over time. He saw Jude for his flaws, his sins, not the remarkably selfless and loving man that I knew. Without a second thought, Jude had leapt into the arms of that wraithlike soul eater, knowing he would go into the pit of hell and possibly never return…for me.
    Jude.
    Jude.
    Jude.
    I burrowed deeper into the pillow, wishing with all my heart that I would see him again, that he would hold me in his arms and love me still. As grief threatened to pull me under, a warmth in my belly reminded me I wasn’t alone. I smiled as I closed my eyes.
    Soon, little one. We’ll bring him home soon.
    I wasn’t surprised the next morning, while sipping warm tea and watching snow swirl on the cliff, to see George sift onto the hillside and march up to the cottage, lowering his head and pushing into the blustering island wind.
    I’d awoken early and dressed before I’d eaten a bite. I hadn’t even tried to connect with Jude across our invisible bond. A premonition that something was coming had me on edge. Armed and ready, I stood as George opened the cottage door, his expression grave. Our gazes locked, and I knew.
    “It’s time, isn’t it? Uriel has what we need.”
    A sharp nod. He reached out his hand. “It’s time.”
    Mira alighted from her perch on the chair onto my shoulder as George took my hand and guided me outside and beyond the wards. He sifted us a shorter distance than I expected, speeding us through the Void at a dizzying pace. We arrived on a rolling hill of Dartmoor beneath the shadow of a boulder I recognized from our last visit here when we had a rather tense gathering with Prince Bamal and his lackeys.
    A brutal wind cut across the moor, the sky rolling with white clouds, the sun zipping in and out of view. I wondered if it would be hot in hell, as mythology suggested. I’d been in the Black Forest and Danté’s castle before. The air was damp, tepid, dead. This time I was going where souls were kept and punished. I shivered at the yawning gulf of the unknown opening before me.
    Standing in the stone’s shadow were Kat and Uriel, waiting. Uriel stepped forward. He didn’t use the cast of illusion outside the presence of other humans. I didn’t think I’d ever quite get used to the aura of magnificent power and the sheer beauty of his glorious gold-tipped white wings. He spoke to me as if it were commonplace to be having a covert meeting on an abandoned moor right before I went straight to hell. I tried not to giggle to myself as the lyrics of an old drinking song by Drivin’ ’n’ Cryin’ popped into my head.
    I’m goin’ straight to hell, just like my momma said.
    “You’re smiling. That’s unusual for one in your position,” said Uriel when he reached me.
    I waved a hand. “Just thinking of something totally ridiculous for a time like this. Nerves, I guess. But believe it or not, I am happy. Scared shitless, but happy. I’ll be with Jude soon.”
    George came up next to us. “Be bloody sure you return, both of you, safe and sound.”
    “I will,” I promised with sincerity, refusing to show any doubt.
    George sauntered over to Kat while Uriel spoke to me privately. He pulled from his jacket a small hourglass-shaped vial with a cork top. The liquid inside was clear glacier blue. Beautiful, yet not as fascinating as I’d expected.
    “Hmph,” I said.
    “What is it?”
    “I don’t know. I guess I expected something more…heaven-like.”
    “Which would be…?”
    I shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know. Glittery stardust or something?”
    “You do realize we don’t live in the clouds.”
    “Of course I do. Pffft. Don’t be ridiculous.”
    Uriel smiled. When he did, my stomach fluttered. It had nothing to do with any infatuation-like feelings on my part. It was simply the fact he was stunning in every way. When he smiled, a girl’s natural inclination was to