Page 32 of Dead to Rights
Unless he crossed the river. It had been Hades only stipulation for allowing him to stay.
So, of course, his decision to make the crossing had sparked weeks of heated arguments between him and Keegan. Eventually, however, Rune had been able to convince him it would be best for both of them.
Not an easy feat, to be sure. Not once in their lives had Noah ever been able to convince his brother to do something he didn’t want to do.
“Oh, my god,” Keegan breathed. “The sun.”
Standing beside his brother in what appeared to be a massive park with lush green grass and colorful wildflowers, Noah tilted his face skyward and smiled. “I know, right?”
Laughter rang out from a playground on the far side of the grassy field where a group of children played under the watchful eye of their guardians. Couples strolled along the paved walkways, hands clasped together, and heads bent in secret conversation.
An actual fucking unicorn with an iridescent horn and a mane of pastel blue grazed beneath an enchanted willow with sparkling leaves of silver and gold.
It was absolutely magical.
“It doesn’t hurt,” Finn said, coming up beside him and resting a hand on his nape. “I didn’t think I would ever see the sun again, but it doesn’t burn.”
A lump formed in Noah’s throat at the joy and pure gratitude that resonated in his mate’s voice. Finn deserved this, maybe more than any of them. He’d had so much taken from him because of one vampire’s selfish obsession, and though he’d had every right, he had never complained.
Despite everything Karleigh had put them through, all the harm she had caused, Noah had genuinely hoped she could make a fresh start. Sadly, it hadn’t taken long to realize some problems couldn’t be changed by simply forgetting the past.
It had taken less than a week for them to figure out that rather than trauma or conditioning, her issues had been deeply entrenched, baked into the very fabric of her DNA. She hadn’t known her name, where she came from, or how she had gotten to the Underworld. None of that had stopped her from forming an unhealthy and even dangerous obsession with Orrin, though.
No one really knew what to do with her, either. So, in the end, they had chosen to let fate decide.
Orrin had escorted her across the river and to the misnamed Gates of Judgment. No one really knew what had happened to her after she had stepped into the fog, but Orrin speculated she had been sent to the Silent Valley—a place of endless monotony where souls lived out the same day over and over and no one ever spoke.
It seemed kind of harsh, but it could have been worse. She could have been sent to the Tombs to suffer for the rest ofeternity. And at least this way, she could never hurt anyone again.
“Okay, but what now?” Rune asked, hands resting on his hips as he watched a group of young men toss around a frisbee. “I mean, this place is beautiful, but we can’t exactly live here.”
Rune, always the practical one, unable to enjoy the moment without worrying about logistics.
“I believe I can help you with that.”
They turned as a group, glancing between each other, then back to the young woman standing in front of them. Tall and slender with a beautiful umber complexion that practically glowed in the sunlight, she greeted them with a radiant smile.
Dressed in a sage green pantsuit with her hair slicked back into a smart bun, she looked kind of like a bank manager. Or maybe a realtor. So, when she explained she was there to escort them to their new homes, he didn’t even question it.
“My name is Tia, and I’ll be your case manager. If you need anything or have any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know. As you might have already guessed, this is the Glade.” She motioned with a sweeping gesture to encompass the park. “Now, if you two will follow me—” She nodded at Rune and Keegan. “—I will show you to your accommodations.”
The smile slid from Noah’s face, his gaze darting between his mate and his brother. “What about us?”
“Don’t worry, someone else will be along shortly to take you to your new home as well.”
“But…” He looked at Keegan, his chest tightening with anxiety. “How will we find each other again?”
Tia’s practiced smile softened into one of kindness and understanding. “You have access to all of the Glade. You will be able to visit each other as often as you like, and you can meet right back here once you’re settled in.”
“Tomorrow morning?” Keegan said.
All four of them nodded in unison.
“Tomorrow morning,” Noah agreed.
“Wonderful.” Angling to the side, Tia motioned for Rune and Keegan to follow her. “Right this way, please.”
“Where do you think we’ll live?” he asked as he watched the trio disappear through an opening in the hedge on the other side of the park. “Do you think it’ll be a building like the Tower?”
