Page 62 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Yes.”Envysmiled.
“No, worse.She’sa demigod.”Aurorabrushed by the half-god and pushed into the dim interior of the next room.Mr.Addisonlounged on a stack of cushions and pillows.Hewas handsome enough.Hestill had a head of dark hair, though too long for a man of his age.Anage that was starting to show in the softness of his midsection and in the corners of his eyes.
“You are not whatIexpected.”Mr.Addisonsat up. “Pleasejoin me.”Hemotioned to the food and drink that were spread before him. “I’msure you’re tired from your travels.”
“I’m not.Youhave given your soul for my lord to keep—”Aurora’swords were cut off with a sharp pain that tore from her temple and across her jaw.Shegripped her jaw, running her tongue over her teeth to make sure they were still in her head.
“Wait.”Mr.Addisonstood. “Makeme a deal.Anything.Justlet me have a few more years.Ten.Five.Anything.Mywife is with child, andIwould like to see the birth of my son.”
Aurora opened her jaw, stretching it, worried she wouldn’t be able to speak. “She’snot with child.”Thankthe stars that demigods could not produce offspring. “Youknew the price that would need to be paid.Youhave given your soul for my lord to keep.Nowlie down to sleep, for your soul,Ishall reap.”
“No—”Mr.Addison’swords spilled out in the bright red blood that dripped from his nose.Hefell across the table of food and drink, his blood mixing with the deep reds of the wine.Herolled over, clutching his chest, trying to hold in his soul as his lifelines withered.Hissoul shivered as each line turned black.Andthen it was done.Aurorainhaled the soul.Hisgreed and lust filled her.
“Fucking mortals.”Aurorapushed into the room.
Cadel stood alone in the space.
“Where’sEnvy?”Auroraheld her jaw.Thepain radiated up her cheek.
“She left.Ididn’t know.”Hisfaded blue eyes foundAurora’s. “Ithought she loved me.”
“Yes, well, gods will do that to you.Nowlet’s go beforeDeathkillsThane.”Aurorabarely made it out of the tent before she vomited blood.Sheswayed on her feet, staggering through the thick sand, falling to her knees.
Cadel hauled her to her feet. “Ihate you gods.”
Aurora leaned against him. “SodoI.”
CHAPTER30
AURORA
Aurora had never been happier to feel the cool night air ofManereon her face.Thesouls she collected tumbled out and were absorbed by the shadows that waited.Shesagged against the wall, trying to find a moment of peace before dealing with the god whose pain had finally lessened.Sheopened her eyes, grateful that her sight had returned.
She trudged up the stairs.Themoon was rising, and the stars watched from their place in the heavens.Whenthis was all over, she would find a place where no god or star could find her and sleep for days.Thane’sbedroom door was open.Hewas sprawled out on his bed, the furs and sheets tangled around his legs.
From here the damage didn’t look so bad.Shecould let herself believe the sore muscles were from overuse.Theexhaustion from a night of too much indulgence.Butthe closer she got to the bed, the harder it was to believe that.Therewas a large gash over his left eye, his neck and shoulder a mess of dark bruises.
She carefully crawled into bed and studied the dark lashes that lay against his skin.Bitsof stardust still clung to his dark hair.Shehad never loved untilThane.Beforehim there had been gods to pass the time, to fill a need.Butshe had never loved them.Hermother wouldn’t let her.ShetoldAurorato enjoy all the things gods had to offer but never fall in love, for her heart would break.
AndAurorawas prepared to live with that.UntilThane.Shehad caught a glimpse of him once when she and her mother had visited the underworld.Heand three other gods, one who she now knew asPain, were leavingDeath’sfortress.Theywere all dressed in dark leather.ButThanestood out.Hewas laughing at whatever was being said and caught her eye for just a moment before her mother whisked her away.Butshe couldn’t get the thought of him to leave her alone.Sothat night she wished to see him again.Fordays she waited, and yet he didn’t appear.
Then one day after she and her father had fought, she foundThaneasleep at the edge of her father’s realm.Thestars above him whispered their warning thatFatewas playing games.ButAuroracouldn’t resist.Soshe stepped right to the edge of the heavens and watched him for a moment.
Silver drops of dew shimmered in his dark hair.Hereminded her of a fallen star.Onethat had burnt out, leaving a dark smudge on the bright colors of the morning.Hismouth was busted then too, and a dark bruise marred his cheekbone.He, too, had fought with his father.Aurorawould later learn they fought over her.Shewouldn’t realizeFate'scruelty until the curse.
His eyes fluttered open now, just as they had that morning.
“You’re back,” he whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I am.”Herfingers fluttered over the gash above his eye and then down to the bruises on his jaw.
Thane captured her hand and kissed her fingertips. “It’snot as bad as it looks.”
“Deception is not your realm.AndIfelt it all.Icouldn’t see out of my eye.Ithought it fell out.”Shesmiled at him. “Wouldyou still love me ifIlost my eye in the hot sands of the mortal world?”
“You have to ask?”Heran a battered knuckle over her cheek. “Howdid it go?”
“Fine.Envywas there.Cadelsaw her.”Cadelhad disappeared the moment they landed inManere. “Whydid you not tell him?”
