Page 100 of Snatched By the Sandman

Rising, my spine bristling, I dig my nails into the table, crouch, and bore my eyes on all of them. “Fuck. That. Give me something else.”

“There is nothing else, except…” Morpheus trails off.

A sudden cold force sweeps into the room.

Phantasos groans and kneads his eyes. “Who the fuck invited Uncle Thanatos to dinner?”

I turn and bare my teeth at the reaper with his fucking, wicked sickle and gorgeous, goddamn, black skull and hypnotic ice crystals. Seriously, a walking corpse shouldn’t look so hot!

Did I seriously just say that?I ask Eclipse. She simply chuckles.

“Zenya Alice Myre…” his voice thunders, echoing ominously through the room. “If you choose to deal with me, the most I may offer you is Purgatory.”

Phantasos shrugs. “Could be worse.” He lowers his head again, his expression troubled. I have no idea what’s going on with him, but I can’t think about that now.

“There has to be another way!” I turn and slam my hand down on the table, flicking my eyes to all the people I…love.

“Only a great sacrifice could suffice,” Thanatos replies while circling the table.

In a moment, the atmosphere in the throne room shifts. Darkness snuffs out the torches. The air is tense, charged with something…powerful coming. As powerful as Thanatos.

“Oh, gods,” Phantasos groans even deeper. “Looks like we’re having a little family reunion.” His eyes glow in the dark as well as his brothers’. They all turn their heads to something behind me, and a bone-cold chill sweeps up my spine as Phantasos raises his goblet and salutes someone. “Hello, Daddy-O!”

The whole room seems to hold its breath. Fear ricochets through me, and needle-ice crawls into my spine as I slowly turn.

Holy fucking minor god!

Chapter 36

These will be my last words to you, my little killer.

NYXION

“If You Only Knew” by Shinedown

“Take Aim” by Sleep Token

It’s the first time I rise from the table.

Zenya’s wide eyes are fixated on the towering figure of my father with his great owl wings and skull. His majestic and terrifying presence bewilders her, but I don’t believe it’s true fear. Beastie’s black eyes would merge if so, but Zenya is more dumbfounded.

The shadows deepen around him. Hypnos strides forward, his talons clicking against the marble floor.

The others stand, except for Phantasos, who slinks down in his seat and drinks his wine.

I approach Zenya, flexing my bony fingers and daring to cup her shoulders. She startles, purses her lips, and glances back at me, her eyes questioning.

My father’s gleaming owl eyes leer down at me as he lowers his powerful beak toward her, his voice echoing with power. “Nyxion, you know I do not like to leave my cave. But it is time to hold up your end of the bargain. The hyoid bone—hand it over.”

Zenya shivers at the intensity of Hypnos’s demand. She doesn’t fully comprehend what’s happening, but she holds my gaze, her breaths leaving in shallow gasps.

I ease a deep sigh, lowering my worn wings, and lift my phalanges to stroke her cheek. It’s the first time since the Abyss that I have embarked into our mental tether, sensing her mind fully open to me. Her presence is a balm within my mind.

Her brows soar to their ceilings. She parts her lips, but no words come out—my father’s command is like a physical blow.

Understanding sheds upon her, and her face contorts with outrage and shock. My heart clenches as I look at her, knowing the storm of emotions ready to unleash within her.

I reach out with my mind, touching hers gently,Give him my bone, little killer,I whisper, hoping she hears the unspoken apology. What I feel for her, the love I hold for her, it transcends any words.

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