Page 98 of Immortal Sun

I chuckle. “But that was entertaining. Wasn’t he going through hisGame of Thronesphase then?”

Enki rolls his eyes. “Have I told you how wonderful it is that you have no heart again?”

“And yet I still have a sense of humor. Immortals are weird.”

He gets up and straightens his gray jacket. “If that’s all. I’ll just get going.”

Something twists in my chest. I’m probably just annoyed. “Yes. Do that.”

He walks off, black boots hitting against the slabbed marble floor, and then the door slams behind him.

Always a joy dealing with him when he’s in a mood.

And my house is instantly lonely. Dark. Sad.

I recognize it for what it is, but I don’t feel anything. It’s like observing someone living their life but having no empathy for what they’re actually experiencing.

I made the right choice. I know that now. If she was sitting in the corner in the past I would have been tempted, but right now I just feel nothingness. I feel like I have a purpose again, to sacrifice, to save and if that means it’s her, then so be it.

I look down at my black T-shirt and jeans and laugh, so different from what I used to wear, so different from my armor, and then I walk down the stairs, letting the breeze hit me in the face.

I hear Rat yelling obscenities at me and smile.

He can say whatever he wants, but this is happening, and time is ticking. I glance over my shoulder as another tally mark appears on the tree, another leaf falls.

Time has left her, now all time has…is me.

I reach the beach, walk toward the mouth of the cave, and stumble.

The cat’s in the bed.

And Cleo’s in the corner sleeping on the cold hard ground.

The cat transformed, likely to protect her now that things have escalated and she has a death sentence over her head, and that probably made things worse.

It’s almost amusing.

Bast is guarding her, and she probably thinks he’s seconds away from devouring her.

There will only be one devouring. Me.

I wave my hand across the front of the cave and walk in.

Cleo jolts awake.

Dirt coats her cheeks, and her hair is in a messy ponytail. She’s in jeans and a white T-shirt. She’s also wearing Converse like she’s twelve.

My past self might say she looks stunning even now, but she’s nothing to me aside from a means to an end. The feeling in my chest is foreign like itwantsto want her. I shut it down immediately.

“Sleep well?” I cross my arms.

She glares. “What the hell is wrong with you? This is illegal!”

“I’m above the law.” I shrug. “Some might say I am the law and always have been, but you’re welcome to run to the police… Oh wait!” I snap my fingers. “You can’t escape without my help, and even if you did, you’d be caught. And even if, by the slightest chance, you did make it to the police station, Daggon would just bring you back.”

“You’re a monster!” She screams, jumping to her feet. It’s odd how she isn’t even afraid of me when she should be petrified. Is she more scared of the cat that turned into a panther?

I can at least respect that.

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