Page 60 of Gods of Prey
“Those men arenotpart of our obligations in this realm. I’ve already got plans for them in Umbraeth that reach beyond anything we can do here.”
Her green eyes light up at the thought of whatever nefarious things she’s got up her sleeve, and I have no doubt she’s telling the truth. While she’s been rather timid here in the mortalrealm, the Goddess of Death has earned a reputation in the rest of the realms. One that deems her someone that no self-preserving being wants to mess with.
“Then I’ll get my hands on them first and have them waiting for your return.” Sebastian locks eyes with her, meeting her glare with one just as imposing. He looks at Jovie. “We can end this.”
“Together,” Jovie adds, squeezing his hand.
I feel a strange mix of pride and concern watching them. Their love is so clear, so pure, that it makes the centuries of divine politics seem petty by comparison. But it also makes what we’re about to attempt infinitely more dangerous.
“Absolutely not,” Sienna cuts in, destroying the Hallmark moment. “We have days before the collapse of all the realms. There’s no way in hell I’m letting you two waste our time chasing after cockroaches in the name of honor.”
She looks toward me with widened eyes in a silent plea to agree with her.
“It’s not really up to you, is it?” Sebastian sneers back. “You’re going to do things our way, or we won’t be returning at all.”
Sienna drifts closer, only stopping once she’s nose to nose with her brother. Their divine power radiates around them, electrifying the entire apartment with a terrifying uneasiness. Silver and gold sparks crackle in the air, just as they had always done when they were younger and less mature.
It’s never been a comfortable thing to witness Life and Death going against one another, and I’ve been caught in the crosshairs of their disagreements more times than I’m comfortable with.
But I’ve never felt so torn on whose side I wanted to be on.
“You can pretend to be this wild, vengeful animal in the mortal realm all you’d like, killing tiny men and stalking after the woman you love. But I know the real you. The one that sprouts flowers where you walk and dances with little bunniesin the meadow every day.” She tilts her head and jams a finger toward his neck. “If you don’t want to come willingly, I’ll grab you up by your throat and drag you both into Nytheris myself, then return to Umbraeth like nothing happened. Let the Divine Council sort you out on your own,” she grits the threat out between clenched teeth.
I believe her.
Those glowing green eyes have shifted into a shade of black that matches the inky tendrils swirling around her protectively.
Death magic.
Something I’d never want to be caught up in. But Sebastian only matches her energy, his brow quirking up at the challenge.
“Touch a single speck of mortal flesh, and I’ll rip your soul right from your body,” Sebastian dares.
Something happens then. A shift, deep inside my chest. Where I would once laugh at his threat and encourage him to follow through—I could never stand Sienna’s arrogance—I’m overcome with rage instead.
“You won’t lay a finger on her,” I seethe, stepping between the twins.
Their divine power zaps my mortal skin, but I ignore the burn to push Sienna behind my back subtly. She stumbles a few steps, her shadows pulling back as confusion mars her face.
“Is that right?” Sebastian’s voice is lethal. Where Sienna’s shock has disarmed her, his has only emboldened him.
“Don’t fucking try,” I warn, refusing to step down despite every atom of my being insisting on it. This is the god I vowed to serve for my entire lifetime. Defying him in this way feels like taking my skin off and putting it back on inside out.
His darkened eyes glance between the two of us, and I’m afraid of whatever he sees in Sienna’s face that makes hip lips tip up in a taunting smile. By the grace of the gods, he takes a stepbackward and reels his divine power back in. My shoulders don’t relax until Sienna follows suit.
“All right,” I say. “We prioritize Jovie’s preparations for the divine realms. If there’s time, we’ll take out some of these mortals.” I pause, meeting each of their gazes in turn. “But I need you all to understand—if this doesn’t work, if they refuse to compromise?—”
“They won’t,” Sebastian interrupts. “They can’t. Because I’m not going back without her, and they need me more than I need them.”
I hope he’s right. Because if he’s wrong, we could all end up paying a price none of us are prepared for.
“The longer we wait, the worse our position becomes,” Sienna explains, her voice still filled with ice. “Revel’s right. We need to be strategic. And part of that strategy is controlling the timing.”
“We’ll get there when Jovie is ready,” Sebastian insists, tension lingering.
When Jovie is ready. Perhaps I’ve just found the loophole I was looking for.
“All right then,” I say, looking at him. I see my own determination reflected in his eyes. “Then we go change the rules of eternity.”
