Page 33 of Darkest Need

I touch it again, and my fingertip burns.

My body is covered in dust and water as she tosses me toward the cave’s dark entrance.

This is it.

We failed.

And she’s going to survive again and again.

I have no knife.

I have no way of hurting her.

And my curse continues.

I press my hands against the earth and pause as rocks start shaking.

The power of the Earth. The power of a prince of the Earth. The star. I look up and grin. “Bet you weren’t expecting this.”

I slam my hands down so hard the earth beneath us begins to crack, causing an earthquake so loud and big that Danu starts screaming as it gives way beneath her feet.

“You’ll free him!” she yells. “You’ll free them both. Stop!”

I look up at her and grin, keeping my hands planted on the ground. “I heard he’s the worst Fallen Angel of them all. I heard Medusa hates you.AndI heard they have three more chained beneath this very soil. Try to survive the Ancients. I dare you.” Rage burns in my soul. This is what she deserves. And if I’m ended, what better way to go than with the goddess who wields what should have never been hers to control?

Danu jumps on me. My body burns where she touches. She rips my hands from the dirt, rolling me over onto my back. Her eyes are black with fury, her weight so heavy across my chest that it’s hard to breathe. I suck in a sharp breath. It really is the end. How tragic that I was the beginning, and now this is how my story reaches its completion—being killed by someone who, by all measures, should be weaker than me. “I will live forever. You are going to die right now. I’m putting you out of your misery. Isn’t that what you wanted, dearest Lilith? I can feed off another being. I’ll make it slow and painful. I mean, I wanted you every year, but now you’ve just become a nuisance. So, what are your last words?” Black claws extend from her fingertips toward my neck. “Before I slit your throat.”

I smile as tears run down my dirty face—at least they’re warm, at least I know how it all ends, right? Should I be thankful? I look up at the stars. They’re so pretty. Creation always has taken after the Creator. I want to reach for them; instead, I just smile. “My last words? Sometimes, the world doesn’t need a hero. It needs a sacrifice.“

I look away from her and at the stars again. “Thank you…for choosing to fall for someone like me.”

They shine.

And all I can think again is,how pretty.

How very pretty.

I open my mouth to say “thank you” when the earth trembles a second time. But I’m no longer touching it.

Footsteps slam loudly against the ground, shaking Danu right off me. Slowly, I get up while she screams.

It’s the Council.

With all their wives by their sides.

Cassius is in front with Timber and Horus. They join hands as something gold flickers between what they touch. In an instant, they kneel.

Why are they suddenly kneeling?

Everyone lowers themselves behind them as if they weren’t just trying to go to war.

“Uriel,” Cassius calls out. “Danu has the apple. Send them down!”

The stars shine so brightly that it’s hard to focus. When I look to my right, I see the golden apple—what started the Fall, the war—Danu has it in her hand.

I use all my strength to reach for it but can’t quite get close enough. Then, another hand grabs it.

“Tarek!” I yell.

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