Page 48 of Mortal Desires

My head cast down and I took a breath. “Brumas can’t leave the underworld. They are tethered to me,” I roared.

“We need to know how they managed to detach themselves from you, my lord.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Most importantly we need them back.”

“We can send an informant to the other gods,” he suggested.

I growled and he stepped back. I didn’t need the other gods knowing I had a problem. We kept ourselves from each other and rarely talked. Caring, loving, or helpful… we were not.

The immortal gods were flawed, powerful, and envious. We plotted against one another even though we were all linked to our territory.

Typhon got involved with them once and now he was stuck in the past watching a volcano like a mortal for the rest of his days.

So…

I had to keep them from finding out. Which meant I needed to get my Brumas back before anyone else could.

“We need to send someone outside without alerting the rest,” I said.

“All souls from the underworld can be easily identified,” Lagus informed me unnecessarily. “They carry the mark and the scent.”

“If we can’t send someone out, we need to find them from here. Either way—”

The doors opened with a flourish and my wife stepped in, a long black dress trailing behind her on my marble floors, her chin up, daring.

“That’s it for now, Lagus.” I waved him away without taking my eyes off her.

“Of course.” He bowed to me and Pilar.

Once he left, she frowned. “You didn’t need to send him away.”

“My court has already seen too much of you.”

I felt satisfaction when her cheeks reddened and she brushed her hair behind her ear, seemingly nervous.

“I actually wanted help.”

“Help doing what?”

“Navigating the underworld?” She looked down. “It’s not like we have phones here and I can’t ask Penny. I was wondering if I can see more of the underworld now after…”

“After the second ritual. Yes, you can.”

She could see practically everything now. There was only one ritual left, the eternal bond. I doubted we would ever be able to complete that one, but I said nothing. As it was, she was as stuck as the rest of us. I purred, satisfied.

“You’re right not wanting to wander alone,” I told her instead.

“That’s not what I said—”

“Let’s go.” I flicked my wrist and materialized a long cloak.

“Oh, I didn’t mean you needed to go with me.”

I marched to the door without looking behind. “Come on, Pilar.”

She hurried my way and I threw the cloak over my head. Directly opposite the throne room, there was an anteroom with a passage to the gates. Pilar kept up with me, even though she needed to move quickly until we passed the gates and they closed firmly behind us.

“So, you really do the grim reaper thing,” she asked.

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