Page 318 of Caelum

“They’re the cause of all the sin among my children,” He said, the words and His tone flat.

“So, why did you give them nine lives if you didn’t want them to redeem themselves?” I questioned, confusion lacing my words. “They have, haven’t they? There are no more Ghouls.”

“There are no more Ghoulsfor now.” Before I could fret over that, God stated grimly, “I saw a day when the end was nigh, and saw a day when hope arrived. Nine lives… even I have to have faith, child.”

My throat closed at that, but I had to speak on Adam and Eve’s behalf. He didn’t sound like He’d forgiven them, even if they’d done as He’d asked. How was that fair? “If you can forgive the others, why not them? They’re only human, aren’t they?” When it boiled down to it, beneath even theJannah, that was my species.

Human.Homo sapiens.

Flaws and all.

My words didn’t deserve an answer apparently, and this time, the anger was back in His voice as He said, “So be it.”

I wasn’t sure what to do next. Should I open my eyes? Should I slink off and hide somewhere? I’d annoyed God, and that wasn’t something anyone survived, surely?

Then, I heard a deep, loud sigh and a beard tickled my cheek. Deep in my ear, God whispered, “You know not what you’ve done with your wish, but I thank you for your sacrifice. Open your eyes, Eve.”

This was it.

I was done for.

Blowing out a breath of my own, one so loaded with regret that I’d angered the Lord Almighty, I opened my eyes, realized that I was being jostled in someone’s arms, and saw…

Caelum.

I was home.

THIRTY-THREE

FUTURE

Eve

“Why today?”

I shrugged as I grinned up at Eren and pressed a kiss to his nose. “It feels like a good day to have a birthday. I mean, it’s not every day someone is reincarnated, is it?”

He snorted. “Thank God, no.” But he squeezed my hand and said, “You won’t like it. It’s not like mine. If you’d given me more notice?—”

I kissed him on the mouth this time. “Hush. It’s great. I couldn’t think of a better birthday present.”

Reed swooped in, his sticky lips pressing to mine with an ease that came from loving someone for a long time. “I’ll give you something better later on.”

I giggled and waggled my eyebrows. “Hubba hubba.”

He burst out laughing then released me so I could get a piece of the baklava from the syrup-soaked plate on the table. As I raised it to my mouth, I caught Dre’s eye and saw the storm brewing within.

Oh, boy.

He was in one of his moods, and that meant he usually took it out on me.

Not like he did before, with harsh words and cruel looks.

Nope, he fucked me.Hard. Last time, he’d broken the bed in the cheapmotel we’d been staying in, but I hadn’t complained. It had felt good in a strange way, and I’d empathized.

Wehadjust killed the coyote who’d murdered his parents, after all.

If ever a man deserved to be grumpy, it was on that day. Being knotted together for four hours had lightened his moodandhis load.

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