Page 95 of Gods of Prey
“ . . . no longer fit to rule Umbraeth . . . ”
I clench my fists at my sides. “I stand by my offer. I’ve already proven myself through your trials. And I suggest an addendum to your final ruling. Allow Jovie to live out the rest of hermortal contract in Aurelys with her family. Sebastian has found something rare with her. Something that makes him a better god, not a lesser one. He deserves the chance to build that life with his child and mate. Besides, it’s not fair to deprive their child of a mother.”
Caelum steeples his fingers. “And what of you, Goddess of Death? What becomes of Umbraeth while you serve these additional punishments?”
There’s a scuffle behind me, and I turn my shoulder the smallest bit to see Revel struggling against his invisible gag. Sebastian is waving his arms around, silently begging me to stop.
But I can’t. I’ll always do what needs to be done for my family.
“Erebus can maintain the balance of Umbraeth in my absence, if he’s willing.” The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I push forward. I’ve seen the way this punishment has worn on Erebus. Out of all of us, he deserves a break. Yet here I am, adding time to his punishment. “When I return, I will resume my duties.”
“Seventeen additional lifetimes,” Aethon, Goddess of Truth muses. “You would experience seventeen more brutal deaths than necessary for your brother’s happiness?”
I can feel her gaze penetrating my soul, dissecting my words to find a shred of insincerity in them.
“Yes.” No hesitation.
“And what of your own happiness?” This comes from Lyralei, her voice unexpectedly gentle.
The question catches me off guard. Happiness has never been part of our sentence. Never been something I thought I deserved. Revel’s face appears in my mind. The softer, happier version than what is fighting for my attention behind me. The way he looked at me last night, when he thought I couldn’t seehim watching me. The warmth in his eyes that made something long dormant flutter in my chest. The way he made love to me the night he confessed his true feelings.
“My happiness is not the concern of this council,” I reply carefully.
Aethon leans back. “Perhaps it should be. The Goddess of Death finding joy...there’s balance in that too, is there not?”
Nyx must release her gags on the others mouths at that moment, because Sebastian and Jovie’s protests echo throughout the open chambers. Revel takes a deep breath when he feels them fall away, then steps forward to stand beside me. My gaze flits up to where Nyx sits, a mischievous smile playing at her lips.
We’re all just puppets controlled by their strings.
“What are you doing?” Revel demands in a growl that somehow reaches me louder than Sebastian’s and Jovie’s shouts.
“This is a matter between the Divine Council and the Goddess of Death,” Caelum snaps at the same time Lyralei asks Nyx to replace their gags. “You have no right?—”
“I have every right,” Revel counters. “You’re discussing the future of both realms. As interim God of Life, whose fate is being discussed, I should have an equal say.”
I glare at him. “This has nothing to do with you.”
He responds with the same fervor. “It has everything to do with me.” His eyes meet mine, intense and unyielding. “You’re not doing this, Sienna.”
“It’s not your decision to make.”
“Isn’t it?” He’s out of breath. He fought so hard against me sacrificing myself for Sebastian’s happiness that he can hardly take in air. Still, he turns to address the council, breaths sawing in and out.
I hate the way that makes my heart constrict.
“I propose an alternative solution. One that doesn’t require further punishment.”
My mouth drops open. “What are you doing?” I hiss.
Revel ignores me. “The issue at hand is balance, correct? Sebastian’s absence from Aurelys disrupts the natural order. But what if there’s another way to maintain that balance?”
Caelum looks intrigued despite himself. “Speak plainly, Revel.”
“I will permanently remain in Umbraeth, sharing rule with Sienna.” His words stun me into silence. “Life and Death, coexisting in the realm of endings. A perfect balance, just as we suggested.”
“And Aurelys?” Lyralei asks.
“Absolutely not,” Myelle finally chimes in, earning a sharp look from Lyralei for the interruption.
