Page 13 of Mystique of the Fallen
“No, I couldn’t pick a human. Although at that point Roman didn’t know about Drystan’s true past and Conley was in stasis, so they didn’t know of his existence, everything would eventually be revealed. As we know, Roman took the news that humans had murdered Drystan and Conley harder than anyone else.”
“Because he loves the men and women that work for him,” Death replied. “He knows what they face each day as they try to do their jobs. Discovering the truth about Drystan and Conley reinforced his poor opinion of humans.”
“Exactly,” Justice added. “Injustice is not tolerated well by any fallen knight, but the soul remembers. Roman doesn’t know he was killed for no reason, but it shapes him nonetheless. Humans were his downfall, as he was a human himself. Which is why a human mate will never work, Fate.”
“Grente the Green was a powerful wizard,” Fate said. “A High Arcanist. A man of great magical means. He was a scholar, a teacher, and a man far removed from Egidius’s inner circle. I knew it would be difficult for Roman to meet him straight away, but that was okay. Arvandus wouldn’t meet Albrecht for what turned out to be two millennia. Conley and Drystan weren’t reunited for centuries. And the fallen knights were busy. Roman was one of the first. It took decades to build a structure.”
“What was Grente the Green doing in those years?” Eternity asked.
“Grente was, unfortunately, growing more isolated,” Fate confided. She sighed loudly and dropped heavily on a wooden seat that hung from an oversized fruit tree. “Without the trust of Egidius, students were no longer sent to Grente. He was all but forgotten by the Circle of Wizards. Grente became a recluse, consumed with his studies. Dedicated to his magic and creating potions.”
“If you tell me right now that he has any part of this group bent on destroying the Council, I will lift this sword and add you to Death’sebirlloba,” Justice warned.
Fate’s mouth fell open. “Why would I pick a wizard with nefarious intentions? No. Do not be ridiculous. Grente was kind. Sweet. A beautiful soul. One worthy of Roman. But their lives veered farther and farther apart.”
“Tell us about the end of Grente’s life. What happened?” Eternity asked.
“You’re rushing things. I’d already feared I had erred. Roman and the Council left, and Grente didn’t follow. He stayed with the Consilium. Like Morgen the Moonbow, Grente had his head in the sand and gave no thought to politics. A continent separated them now. I was pissed. This free will thing has ruined more lives than I can ever explain.”
“We aren’t taking it from them,” Death drawled. “Let it go.”
“Of course not; who benefits from their foibles and idiot decisions?” Fate asked. “The woman who reaps the rewards of their stupid deaths.”
“None of this is Death’s fault,” Justice stated implicitly. “Do not blame her; she is dedicated to her tasks, and her commitment to her souls is enviable.”
Eternity glanced at Death and liked the blush creeping up her fair cheeks. For so long, Death had separated herself like this Grente the Green, but Eternity and her sisters had finally realized the error of their ways. Death was a wonderful friend, sister, and goddess. She deserved praise daily.
“I know, I’m just pissed,” Fate retorted as she stood to pace. “Grente died.”
“How?”
“That’s the thing,” Fate said. She turned to the viewing mirror, and a photo of sorts popped up. Instead of the modern human Grant, it featured a brunet missing the blond highlights he added at a salon, but his eyes were the same vivid green. Fate put the image into motion, and Eternity cocked her head as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. A group of strangers entered a quaint home overrun with books.
“Why can’t we hear anything?” Justice asked as the group spoke with Grente.
“I don’t know,” Fate said. “No matter what I try, nothing works to hear the conversation. Do you see how their faces are also blurred?”
“What the—?” Courage asked as Grente disappeared in a flash of light.
Justice bared her teeth. “A goddess did that.”
Fate nodded. “That is what I was afraid of. This is so reminiscent of how Rafe and Aleksander met too early. I think someone knew about Grente. That he was Roman’s mate, so they killed him.”
“I rebirthed him as a human,” Life said, squeezing her eyes shut. “Why didn’t you tell me he was Roman’s mate? I would’ve ensured he was brought back as magickind. As the wizard he was meant to be.”
“I didn’t know he was dead,” Fate retorted. “I have so many couples to care for. I assumed Grente was still moldering in some crappy house while Roman was pissed that he was single. It wasn’t until Roman met the human Grant that I realized Grente wasn’t alive.”
“Okay, okay,” Justice commented. “It doesn’t matter. We can’t figure out which goddess it is from this image. Let’s focus on the future. Is this relationship going to work?”
Death stepped away from Eternity and walked close to the viewing mirror. She swept through Grant’s life. “There is trouble here.”
“You mean because Roman is now tied to a human? A human who has committed crimes. Ones he did for the sole purpose of keeping that rat of a boyfriend of his happy,” Courage said.
“Frankly, I’m scared,” Fate confided, worry dominating her blue gaze. “This Reginald has asked much of Grant. Things he can’t let be known. It would ruin Reginald’s life. And even before Grant met Roman, he was making plans to leave.”
“Reginald cannot let Grant live,” Death stated quietly. “His soul will be in myebirlloba. I guarantee it. I have seen the same scenario too many times. Reginald loves himself only and will sacrifice whatever is necessary to continue to live as he wants.”
Eternity closed her eyes. “Should we intervene?”
