James waited until Priest was by his side before speaking up. "Are you going to continue to chastise me?"

"Would it matter?"

Glancing at the ebony man, James shook his head. "It wouldn't. Things haven't exactly been easy since I woke my soul. Did you know that the facility would have absorbed all of your energy if you had come? I would have had to risk myself to keep you alive. It wasn't a necessary risk."

"Did you know that going in?" Priest countered.

"No, but it doesn't change the fact that you wouldn't have been able to help. I would have simply sent you away the moment I learned the truth."

"What if the next rent is different?"

Shaking his head, James didn't answer right away. Instead, he walked to the edge and looked down. Darkness greeted him, but he caught sight of flaming cats on a ramp below him. They illuminated the mutated Forsaken enough that he could see Amber leaping around.

She's going all out on the remaining monsters. I wonder if she thinks she has something to prove.

Turning his attention back to his path, he said, "I doubt the rest of the rents will be different, but if they are, then you will have to be ready."

"Not going to admit you were wrong, are you?" Priest asked.

Grunting, James glanced at the man. "Why would I do that. I made a choice and it was the right one. You can't expect to come with me every time I step into danger. I will have different missions for you once we reach the first city. All of you will have different missions, just as I will be doing my own thing."

Cocking his brow, Priest waited for more.

"It's how I work," James explained. "Better get used to it now. Just as Amber is perfect at learning the truth from people. Zenaria can get into hard to reach places. I just need to learn where you fit in."

"I don't know," Priest admitted. "I haven't been to a city in a very long time."

"We'll figure it out. Most important is gaining information when we arrive. We won't be able to stay long, however. I'm assuming the Underworld is large."

"It is."

Nodding, James picked up his pace slightly. He wanted to reach the bottom as soon as possible. The goal was to find the queen and find out if it was dead or inert now that the energy had been cut off.

Priest hurried to keep up with him, not talking as they passed Mother who was in the lead. The switchback for the ramp was just ahead, and James took it without slowing. Further down the ramp, he could see Zenaria flickering in her Phantom Form as she called it.

"Which one is killing the monsters ahead?" Priest asked.

James had to remind himself that Priest couldn't see the kitsune. "Zenaria is," he answered. "She's using her Phantom Form to blend into the shadows in order to kill without being hit."

"Doesn't Amber have a Form as well?"

"Not the same." James kept his pace steady as they approached Zenaria. "Amber can Soul Shift and attack souls directly without anything stopping her. It's kind of cheating if I'm being honest."

"You literally explode a thousand souls at a time," Priest deadpanned.

Smirking, James reached Zenaria and quickly passed her, making the woman's soul bristle with worry and anger. With a small wave, he responded to Priest, "my skills were gifted to me on the blood of my family. I may be strong, but I remember their sacrifice every time I use one."

Priest didn't say anything as they started gaining on Everest, who was between Zenaria and Amber. The small dragon was breathing white flames over several monsters at a time, growing her soul as they burned.

"She's strong," Priest commented.

James agreed and hurried past her. "She is, and she'll only grow stronger."

"Why are we rushing past everyone?"

Frowning, James honestly didn't have a good reason other than being bored. He was tired of walking with the pack of dragons and animals. He wanted to punch something, and getting past Amber would solve that.

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Hurrying past the nekorian, he heard her growl at him, making him smile. With a small wave, he blew her a kiss before reaching the first clear section of the rent. A trickle of monsters were blocking his path, but the moment he started to approach, they fled back over the edge, keeping their distance.

"Oh, right," he mumbled.

"I don't think you'll be fighting that easily."

Turning to Priest, James scowled. "I believe you are right." Sighing, he kept his pace steady. "The least I can do is find an entrance to the Underworld and set up a camp."

"I'll protect you."

Rolling his eyes, James picked up his pace again. He didn't want to hurt Priest's feelings, but nothing in the rent could hurt him.

***

Amber growled as James hurried past her. Slashing her claws through the humanoid Forsaken, she felt warm blood splash on her cheek. What the hell does he think he's doing? Priest better have a good reason for why he's letting James hurry off ahead of everyone.

Snarling, she knew that James couldn't be stopped, but she liked to believe he was smart enough to stay behind when he was injured. For crying out loud, his soul was cracked from all of the energy he absorbed. If he had to fight, he'd only make it worse.

Kicking the corpse of the Forsaken off the edge, she gestured to her cats to kill the remaining monsters. She needed to hurry after James. The man was too stubborn to be left on his own.

"Did James rush past you?" Zenaria asked as she stepped up to her side.

Amber nodded. "Yes. I'm going after him."

"I'll stay near Everest. Will you kick him in the leg for me?"

Chuckling, Amber nodded. "Of course. Maybe between the legs while I'm at it."

Gasping, Zenaria shook her head. "I want children one day. Please don't."

Grumbling, Amber hurried off after her mate. With a glance over the edge of the rent, she found him a few ramps down already. How the hell are you that fast, James?

Picking up her pace, she Soul Shifted and raced past the monsters. She had a lot of ground to cover, and she knew James wouldn't slow until he reached the bottom. He probably wanted to find the queen before everyone else.

I'm still going to kick you, James. Hard. Very hard.

The run down the ramps took another half hour before she reached the bottom. Glancing back up, she marveled at the number of miles they had descended. The light of the sun was only a small pinprick of light far, far above them.

Scanning the bottom of the rent, she found that it was rather easy to see by. Somehow, the stone walls and floor were glowing with a soft light, that illuminated the three mile wide area. In the distance, she made out James hurrying toward a cave entrance.

A low growl vibrated her chest as she raced after him. Forsaken were scattered around the canyon floor, but none of them tried to stop her. Soul Shift made it nearly impossible for any but the most powerful monsters to find her.

James stopped at the entrance to the cave, and the ground started to rumble, making monsters flee in all directions. Eyes wide, Amber watched as the cave walls squared out and seemed to extend as James started building a grand building. The sheer display of Soul Energy being used made her even angrier.

It wasn't until she was closer that she noticed Priest resting his hand on James's shoulder, giving him energy.

At least that man is helping James. I'm still going to break both of them.

Without slowing, she leapt at the last moment and connected with James's back, taking him to the ground. "You idiot!" she screamed.

Rolling nearly a dozen times, James kicked up to his feet before sliding to a stop. Scratching his cheek, he tried to look innocent. "Hey, Amber."

"I'm going to kick your ass, James." Coming out of Soul Shift, she snarled at him. Marching up to him, she met his gaze of innocence with anger. "What do you think you are doing, working your magic?"

Gesturing around them, he smiled at the large building he was constructing. "I'm making us a base for the next few days!"

"Don't say that with a smile!" she snapped. "Your soul is injured and you aren't supposed to be doing anything!"

Waving Priest over, he said, "that's why I have this man. He's allowing me to use his energy to build, rather than my own. My magic passes through his soul, rather than my own."

Narrowing her eyes, she turned a glare onto Priest. "And you let him do this?" Summoning her claws, she stalked toward the man. "Any last words?"

Holding up his hands, Priest backed away as quickly as he could. "I thought you would be happy to have a private room."

Dismissing her claws, Amber turned back to her mate. "Finish quickly and then you are laying down for the rest of the day."

"But—"

"Don't you argue with me!" she growled. "You always do something like this. For once, I want you to focus on yourself, rather than me or Zenaria. Please, James…"

Sighing, he walked over and rested his hand between her ears. "I hear you, Amber. I'll wrap this up quickly while you watch over me. Then I'll set out the bedrolls and blankets for a nap. Will that help?"

"Yes," she said before letting out a tense breath. "Priest, get over here and let him work his magic."

The ebony man rushed over and touched James's shoulder again. "Sorry, ma'am."

Glowering, Amber raised her fist. "The moment he starts to struggle…" she didn't need to say more as she summoned her claws again.

Gulping, Priest nodded rapidly. James cocked his brow at her and started to smile until she glared at him. With a gulp of his own, James started in on the walls and ceiling of their shelter again. Like the dome, he was making the building large enough for all of the dragons and animals, while also creating a private section for his party. Minutes turned to an hour before the man finished. Once he was done, he stepped away from Priest and stretched his arms above his head.

"That went well!" he chirped.

Amber growled, making him wince. "Bed! Now!"

Hurrying into their residence, he opened the stone door and rushed over to a large stone bed. It was big enough that Zenaria wouldn't have a problem sharing with her and James.

Pulling out sleeping rolls and blankets, James set up the bed before kicking off his boots. Climbing in, he covered himself with the blanket while she walked over.

Kissing his brow, she whispered, "sleep, my love. I'll be back in a few hours for my bath." Turning to Priest, she added, "don't leave his side. I know he scares away all of the monsters, but we don't know how close the queen is."

"Yes, ma'am."

With a grunt, Amber walked away. She had a queen to find and learn what she could.

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