Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

234. Olivia - The Gurdian IV

The cemetery is dark, silent, and creepy as hell. I point to an old crypt. "There's a secret tunnel inside. Which leads...."

"To Hell," Ansel grumbles.

I press my lips in a thin line. "I thought Lords were not afraid of Hell. Don't you make a pact with Lucifer when you receive your demon?"

Ansel squeezes my hand. "The pact is with Cain."

We head inside the cemetery. Ansel wraps an arm around me while putting the other one on his holster.

The wind rustles some branches and Ansel swears under his breath.

"Boo," I whisper in his ear.

"Come on, let's get this over with. I just keep having this feeling that something is wrong."

"You really are scared," I grin.

Ansel tenses up. "Not for me, but for you. The demons in the Catacombs might not like me, and I might not come out alive. But I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

We enter the crypt. "What is that supposed to mean? That the ones in the Catacombs won't like you?"

"My demon is...different."

"Oh, I knew that," I say. "Your eyes are not the same shade of red as those of your blood-brothers. Do you want to wait for me here?" I joke because I know Ansel won't leave me alone. Ansel's hold on me tightens. "Hell no. I would gladly let those demons tear me apart if that means I'll keep you safe."

I roll my eyes. He's so dramatic. "I don't think that will be necessary."

Luckily, no surprises await us in the crypt and I show Ansel where the secret traps are. Camila and I had quite a hard time trying to figure them out. It takes around half an hour of carefully walking to reach an old metal door that guards the entrance to the Catacombs. I press my palms to it and it opens. We enter. The door closes behind us. Shit.

I forgot how awful this place is.

and other places were built above them to prevent people from finding a way to get inside.

I have are those of misery and absolute despair. My instincts are screaming at me to run. I swallow hard

Ansel starts to scream.

and try to find Ansel in the dark, but all I can

red eyes appear before me.

Ansel keeps screaming.

speaking to me. "I came to retrieve the box I left

more times before he finally

stole something from us-something that didn't belong to you. It was our duty to guard it. And for that,

and for that, I'm truly sorry. As for returning it, I'm afraid it's impossible. The seal was broken, as

"No, no," Ansel says.

Fallen," another

until I send my father and brother to hell or whatever place

her! She's a hellstar!" Ansel

me. Why did Ansel have to

But she still has to pay

the demons in the Catacombs

my friend, Camila, who took it. I wanted to return it, but...all hell broke loose, and she...died," I say. "Look, I only need the daggers I left here so I can make some things right. When I return with them, you can do whatever you want with me. Azael is stirring up something bad and he needs

are thinking, but not Ansel. Oh no, he has to open his mouth and speak

a Pandora hellstar? "You can't kill me either since I'm her Guardian, but you can punish me for whatever Olivia and Camila

Ansel is my what?

What's a Guardian?

Guardians," a demon says. "They are

the demon short. "My...demon was specially put inside me for Olivia. You can take from my blood so you can see my

hard. He has a lot of explaining to do when we get out of

yanked away from me. "The Fallen will pay the price instead of his mate. He

They can't

Ansel starts screaming again.