Page 124 of The Monsters We Are

He brushed Wynter’s blood-soaked bangs aside, murmuring nonsense to her, wanting her to wake. She boasted a lot of injuries, but none were severe.

He sensed others gathering around them, including her coven, but he didn’t look at them. His only concern was for his witch.

Cain stilled as her eyes finally fluttered open. The pools of quicksilver went soft with relief when they locked with his, but they quickly turned shuttered as she studied him warily.

“I don’t care what you host,” he told her, sensing what made her uneasy. “You should know better than to think I would.” He helped her sit upright and pressed a hard kiss to her forehead.

“You’re pissed at me,” she sensed.

“I’m pissed that you didn’t mention that Noah would betray us. That’s something you should have shared. However, we’ll discuss that later.”

“Sure,” she easily agreed as she pushed to her feet. Grunting, she rubbed at her lower back. “But don’t expect an apology. Things had to happen the way they did. Kali insisted on it. And you can’t claim that Her plan didn’t come together.” Wynter caught a vial that Anabel tossed her way and then quickly chugged the potion down. “Well, to be fair, it wasn’t merely Her plan. Apep, Nyx, and Nemesis were in on it, too.”

“Why?” asked Dantalion. “What was their motivation?”

Leaning against Cain, his witch then launched into a short story that she claimed to have earlier relayed to Noah before killing and beheading him.

“I had no idea that Kali and Apep were consorts,” said Lilith. “To be separated like that for eternity . . . What an utterly cruel punishment.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Baal,” Wynter said to Cain. “I couldn’t. Kali was sure that if your focus shifted from vengeance to freeing your uncle—which would only be natural—things wouldn’t play out as they should, and many lives would be lost.”

Cain couldn’t even deny that the deity was right. He and the other Ancients would have been so determined to help Baal that they might even have made a move too soon as opposed to take the time to make a proper plan of attack. “So She hadyoufree him.”

Wynter nodded. “As an apology for the deities’ neglect that led to your kind almost being completely wiped out.” Her eyes drifted to something behind Cain. “And it seems that Abaddon managed to convince him to shift.”

A serpentine screech of pain rang out, making Cain’s head snap to the side. He watched as a silver Leviathan slumped to the ground, causing vibrations to rumble through it. It lay too still, unnaturally still. And then it shrank, altered shape, and eventually went back to its usual form.

Inanna.

She drew in a sharp, rattling breath. And another. And another. And—

Her chest stopped moving. Her body sagged. Life faded from her eyes.

Cain felt his mouth drop open, his gut twisting.

The other silver serpent stilled for the merest moment . . . and then it let out a roar-screech of agony streaked with rage and grief. A billow of flames burst out of its mouth and lit up what seemed to be the last Aeon standing. Then the serpent shifted, and Ishtar was dropping to her knees beside her sister.

“No!” She shook Inanna hard, ordering her to wake up, get up. “You can’t leave me!” Ishtar slammed a fist on her sister’s chest, as though it might restart her heart.

Lilith took a step toward her. “I’m sorry, I—”

Ishtar bared her teeth at the other Ancient, such pain in her eyes. “Don’t you tell me she’s gone! She isn’t!” Ishtar went back to shaking and punching her sister, until finally she balled up her fists, sobbing wildly.

Lilith looked as though she might make another attempt to approach her, but then Ishtar tossed back her head and screamed like a banshee, her grief still raw with fury. Jumping to her feet, she hurled power around—striking buildings, trees, dead Aeons, and even the walls.

Seth cautiously approached her, repeating her name again and again. But she didn’t seem to hear or see him, lost in the madness of her grief. He touched her arm. “Ishtar—” He cut off as she yelled in his face and punched at his chest again and again . . . until she sagged against him, sobs erupting out of her.

Seth rubbed at her back, murmuring into her ear.

Cain swallowed, pity for her swirling in his belly, grief for Inanna thick in his blood. He hadn’t been close to Inanna, but he’d respected her. Her death was a blow even for his creature. For Ishtar, it would likely be worse than losing her own life.

Wynter leaned into him in a gesture of support. No one spoke for long moments, the air alive with shock and pain and sympathy.

Cain only broke the silence when he saw his uncle stalking toward them with Baal tossed over his shoulder. “He’s unconscious?”

“Yes,” replied Abaddon. “The bastard’s creature is stubborn, so it took a little time to convince him that he was no longer in danger and would be safe with me. Baal spoke a few words and then collapsed. I suspect he will wish to Rest for some time.”

It would be the best thing for him. Baal needed time to emotionally heal.

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