Page 164 of Immortal Sun

“Will you find her?” Tyrell asks.

“Get her brother,” I snap. “Reason with the dragon. Bring him here, we’re going to need his help.”

“You didn’t answer,” Tyrell says. “Will you search for her?”

“Clean up.” I walk and I walk some more. I walk until I’m in her bedroom. Bast sits on the corner of the bed, back to his usual form.

The fireplace roars, and the snake slowly emerges from the mantle slithering toward me until it rests on my lap.

“You too, huh?”

It makes no noise, just stares up at me. I know what it’s saying, I know what everyone in this damn house wants.

They want her back just as I do.

But doing so would mean possibly losing. The end.

Apep will be out for blood.

The power between us will be matched for at least a year, because I spent myself in her. I shared my blood, my essence. I gave her my fire, which means Apep was taking it all along, wasn’t he? As if she was a vessel to store more and more. How could I be so stupid? How could I fail so gloriously?

He was planning this all along, wasn’t he? Warm her up, allow us to get caught up with each other, watch me fall in love.

I hang my head in my hands. What’s the use being an immortal when you can’t even save the one you love?

“Indeed,” a voice sounds from the fire.

“Go away.”

“You’re no fun.” The feminine voice giggles. “You know, brother, I expected more of you.”

“Not now.”

“She’s here, in my realm. The punishment of the underworld has been so very pathetically lonely.”

“You saw her?”

“Somewhere, I’m sure.”

“You’re just as bad as Apep.” I look away and flick my fingers toward the fireplace. It instantly cools. “Leave me.”

Her dark chuckle isn’t helpful. It’s the same one that haunts me whenever I’m weak or tempted. That’s what she does, pounces on the dark moments to relieve her own pain, or maybe cause more.

I edge the snake away and walk out the door and down to the kitchen.

Everyone’s sitting around the table, still in full armor.

“I can go,” Tyrell pipes up. “I’ve been a few times, not my favorite trip.”

“Can’t even fly first class.” Dag tries to joke.

Tyrell sighs. “I’m the weakest, I’ll go.”

“No.” I shove my chair back and stand. “I’ll go.”

Tyrell jumps to his feet. “You have no way of finding her!”

I ignore him. “But first, we’re going to Apep.”

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