Page 136 of Hell-Bound

His talons dug into his palm, and blood was dripping onto the already ruined carpet.

She wrung her hands together nervously.

“Brother,” she whispered, “maybe it’s time we surrender. Just—let Nainaur have his way. He will only make it harder on us and our people if we resist. You have enough to worry about with the sleepers and now the broken contracts.”

His red eyes flashed with warning, and he bared down on his sister.

“I willnever.”

His voice was deep and seemed to take on two differentlayers. One high and menacing, the other low and thunderous.

“I would rather raze the planes myself than let him win. Or before—”

Before I let him hurt her again.

Ziemia signed deeply and got to her feet.

“Then you know I will offer as much support as I can.” She approached her brother and placed a delicate hand on his shoulder. “But you cannot let your wrath control you. You have responsibilities toyourpeople. Ren is my creation, not yours.”

Azur locked his jaw and snarled at his sister, her words unable to reach him through his fury. He knew that it was misdirected, she was only trying to help, but he wanted to banish her from his presence so he could revel in his sins. Let them feed his power.

“I want to help, Azur. I can’t say I’ve always agreed with your decisions. But despite what you think.” She lowered her hand to his chest. “You still have goodness inside. Light cannot exist without darkness. It is the way of our planes.”

Azur scoffed in response.

“I no longer want goodness.” He backed away from his sister. “I will destroy him, Zem, and thosefuckingAngels. I want to see the light fade from his eyes as he begs me to end it. And I know that when it happens, I will finally be happy. I will cherish his screams, and at last, my heart will be full. I will take everything away from him as he has taken everything from me. And she will be by my side.”

Azur steadied himself, closed his eyes, and let the image flood his mind.

The goddess nodded slowly, acquiescing.

“Does she know? Now that her memories have been restored?”

Azur opened his eyes with a start.

“I don’t know, Zem. I don’t know what Nainaur chose to reveal.”

“This will change everything—this was never something I had even considered possible.” She paused. “But Ishouldn’t be surprised.”

Azur smiled small to himself.

“So, you’ll help me? You’ll help me find my wife?”