Page 90 of Empire of Death
“No one has been released from the Underworld,” Raul said. “Nor will anyone ever be released from the Underworld.”
Except for Talon Rotschild…A new wave of resentment that I thought I’d overcome swept over me at the thought.
“Your position is hereby revoked. We’ve already found your replacement. You will be an eater.”
The turmoil that swept through me nearly broke me in two. I didn’t care about the outcome for me, but what this would mean for Lily above. “I will rectify my ways. If you won’t let me go, then let me earn your confidence by fixing my mistakes?—”
“You just said you weren’t sorry,” Raul said. “How stupid do you think we are? Your powers will be revoked, and you’ll never return to the surface to continue your…meddling.”
My heart dropped like a sack of iron nails.
“This takes effect immediately.”
“No,” I said quickly. “Let me return to the mortal world and explain?—”
“You will explain nothing.” Raul reached his hand forward and slowly pulled his fingers toward the inside of his palm.
I felt nothing, but I knew something had changed.
“The command of the dead has been passed to your successor.”
No… Lily.
“You’re excused, Wrath.”
I remained rooted in place, staring at the demons far taller and stronger than I was. Without my strength as a god, I had no chance of defeating them. Even if I did possess it, I still couldn’t.
They didn’t seem to understand that I’d granted that strength to Lily, that she still had it because it hadn’t been taken away, and I was still alive…or at least I existed. I’d rather be ejected to the void than spend my time as an eater, but if I ceased to exist, she would lose my strength.
And she might not survive the battle.
I hadn’t anticipated any of this, and now I was trapped in this dark world without any way to explain to Lily what had happened. She would wait for me to appear before her, share her bed in the evenings…and I would never come.
And she would never know why.
What if she thought I left her on purpose? That I walked away from her because I wanted to? That I would leave her to fight this battle on her own? That this was all a plan to get her killed…and I really was an evil god.
That I planned this since the moment we’d met?
“Out of all the service I’ve done for you, please just let me tell her?—”
“You’re dismissed, Wrath.” Raul left his throne and stood to his full height, a demon with fire that erupted from his flesh and set him ablaze, a foot and a half taller than me, with more strengthin a single arm than I possessed in my full body. “Leave—and never return.”
29
LILY
I got a late start that morning.
I was disappointed Callum wasn’t there when I woke up, but I understood he had his own responsibilities. I got ready for the day and stopped by my parents’ bedchambers to visit my dad.
Mom was at his bedside as always, holding his hand as he lay flat on his back, deathly pale but somehow still alive. She wordlessly gave me a hug then left the room so I could have my time with him.
I took her seat in the chair, which was warm from where she’d been seated, and reached for his hand.
Like the last time I touched him, he stirred slightly. A subtle twitch of his hand, a flicker of his eyelids. Then a grimace of pain, like just a glimpse of consciousness gave him a tidal wave of pain from his injury. Then he went still again.
He can sense you,Zunieth. Khazmuda’s powerful voice boomed in my head.
