Page 125 of The Monsters We Are

Abaddon looked at Inanna, his face grim. “I had told myself that no Leviathans would die here today; that we wouldn’t allow the Aeons to kill any more of us.” His gaze moved to Ishtar. “I know what it is to watch a sibling you love so dearly die. She will never truly recover from this. A piece of herself is now gone.”

Cain nodded. Inanna had been Ishtar’s anchor, protector, and—in many ways—her conscience. Without her sister at her side, Ishtar would no longer be the same person.

Wynter’s coven quietly surrounded her, insisting on trying to clean her up with vials of liquid that Anabel produced. They then just as quietly whined at their Priestess for not telling them the story of the deities. And as Cain realized they must have always known she hosted a Rephaim yet were loyal to her anyway, he developed a newfound respect for them.

Crossing to them, Azazel tipped his head back. “Much as I hate to sound insensitive, we can’t afford to stay down here—we left many of our people up on the surface.”

“I’ll be surprised if the battle isn’t already over,” said Cain. “But if it isn’t, we’ll finish it.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Wynter was relieved to discover that the battle was in fact over. The residents of Aeon were completely wiped out, but they’d first managed to eliminate a fair number of the people from Devil’s Cradle. Her chest squeezed each time she came upon the dead body of someone she recognized.

She’d known in advance that there would be casualties—it was sadly inevitable at times of war. She’d also known she might even be one of those casualties. That didn’t make the sight in front of her any easier to bear. And the loss of Inanna . . . damn, that was a heavy one for every Ancient.

Wynter would never like Ishtar, but her heart still broke for the woman. To lose someone so close to you, someone who had been at your side through the passings of eons, who was the only person you ever truly loved . . . yeah, Wynter wouldn’t wish that sort of pain on anyone.

Passing her old home, seeing it burning to the ground, wasn’t easy either. She had some good memories of that house. Memories of the time when Davina still lived.

No one wanted to justleavethe corpses sprawled around like their sacrifices had meant nothing. As such—aside from Inanna’s body, which Ishtar carried around and quite simply refused to part with—the Ancients incinerated each one . . . which sounded cruel, but it was done very respectfully, as if honoring every life lost. And no, they didn’t send the souls to hell. Some people gathered the ashes of those who were cremated, intent on scattering them back at Devil’s Cradle.

It was while injuries were being tended that some were-coyotes reported they’d found Eve and Rima in a cellar. Both Aeons were sleeping deeply, and the efforts tofullywake them failed. The clearly drugged females would stir, flutter their eyelids, mumble crap, and then fall right back to sleep. Seth gave up attempting to rouse them, sure they’d wake properly on their own at some point.

Once wounds were taken care of, the Ancients blasted the land with fire, flattening the ruins, leaving it a clean slate—just as they’d done to the underground city.

Aeon had officially fallen.

For the sake of the land itself, Wynter put a hand to the ground and halted the spreading erosion caused by her curse, knowing the rot would then die off.

Outside the walls, everyone piled into the waiting vehicles and then began the long-ass drive home. Again, Wynter claimed a jeep and rode with Cain and her coven. Not a lot of chatting went on. People were tired, achy, grieving, and dealing with adrenaline crashes.

After the two-day drive was over, vehicles were returned to the warehouse, ashes were scattered, and people went home.

Wynter followed Cain and Abaddon to the grotto, where they settled a sleeping Baal into the water. He’d slipped into a state of Rest during the journey home, and the Ancients hadn’t bothered trying to rouse him; they felt it was better to let him sleep.

“Do you think he’ll wake any time soon?” she asked.

Cain moved to stand beside her. “No. And it would be best if he doesn’t. The Rest is what he needs for his mind to heal.” He sighed. “If I’d known that he was still alive—”

“There was nothing you could have done.”

“Your consort is right, Cain,” said Abaddon. “You were just as much a prisoner as he was.”

Cain scratched at his temple. “I don’t understand why Adam never told us about Baal. Why didn’t he boast that he’d captured and tortured my uncle?”

“He got off on the fact that youdidn’tknow,” said Wynter. “It made him feel like he’d got one over on you.”

Abaddon nodded and settled a hand on Cain’s shoulder. “Take comfort in this: Now that Adam is exactly where he belongs, your father will subject him to even worse torture than what Baal received.”

Cain’s frown smoothed out, and his brows lifted. “Yes, there is that.”

“You two go on,” urged Abaddon. “I’m going to sit here awhile.”

AndCain’s frown was back. “Do you wish to Rest again?”

“No, that is not why I hesitate to leave. I simply don’t feel ready to walk away from my brother just yet.” Abaddon gave him a faint smile and settled on a stone ledge. “Go. I will be fine.”

Cain gave him a nod, took Wynter’s hand, and led her out of the grotto. They headed up the stairs and then began making their way out of the temple.

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