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“Ha,” Pricilla guffawed. “Not only are you a murderer but a liar too. Valeen being innocent is the best joke I’ve heard in a long time. And where is your wife? She should be here for this negotiation.”

“Far from here.”

“Where ismine?” Atlanta snarled, slamming the hilt of his trident on the ground. “Give her to me and you’ll get your immortality.”

“Well, now, that is tempting.” But no doubt a lie. Pricilla squirmed in her saddle at his words, ready to object to them. “Would that be only mine?”

“Onein exchange for Katana,” Pricilla added. “The other will not be given without Soulender in exchange.”

“Other orothers?”

Pricilla smiled, her bright pink lips spread wide over her too-white teeth. “You destroyed War’s immortality when you murdered my son. And you have no one to blame but yourself.”

A heavy stone seemed to drop into his gut. Hel gripped the reins until his hands ached.Fuck. “If immortality can be taken and given, then what’s to stop me from taking yours.”

“You don’t have enough power to do that,” she sneered.

“I have two primordial goddesses and the god of war on my side, I think we could pull it off.”

“Give me my wife, now!” Atlanta jumped down from his hippogriff and marched toward Hel. His eyes were alight with an aquamarine flame. The ground beneath his feet turned watery.

This prick was truly starting to get on his nerves. First, he showed up in Palenor demanding things from Valeen and now he was stomping around like a great man child. Any god as old as Atlanta who couldn’t control his temper was no one to fear. It made him easy to toy with. He gave away too much.

Starborn reared up, Hel tightened his thighs and gripped the saddle horn. Starborn’s wings flared out, then he slammed down and snorted at Atlanta. “She’s not here. Last I checked she was in bed… with my cousin.”

“What?!” he boomed. “I will gut you where you stand.”

“Why, that isn’t very nice. I’m not the one humping her. War is. She has a sort of glow about her now. I’m certain she’s never been happier.” Hel couldn’t help but smile. People simply were too easy to piss off.

“How dare you, you filthy little–”

“Atlanta,” Pricilla chirped. “Don’t fall for his games. You will get your wife back. Let us continue in a civilized manner.”

“I will march right past you and go take her from the elven realm.”

“You will not.” Hel pulled the golden sword from his hip and pointed the tip of it at him. “You will not take another step forward until this negotiation is over. You can’t start a battle until after. These are the rules of engagementyouprimordials set.”

“Fine.” He stared at the weapon all of them feared and backed up several paces.

“The immortal blade and Katana, for yours and Valeen’s immortality,” Pricilla said. “That’s a simple request. Soulender doesn’t belong to you. If Valeen had given us the sword two thousand years ago, as was required, none of this would have ever happened. You don’t need to keep dying for this weapon.”

Thunder cracked to the west drawing Hel’s gaze to the dark clouds rolling in. It would rain soon. “Iwillsee my immortality and Valeen’s before any agreement is made.”

“I thought you might say that. After you killed my son, I had to place them somewhere safer. I could have let you keep destroying your own chances of ever being a god again but?—”

“You need the bargaining chips.” And she knew Hel and Valeen would have nothing to lose and burn everything down if theirs were gone forever. Thunder rolled quietly. Birds took flight from the trees. Hel glanced back, searching among the woods for a sign of Thane and the dragons. They were well hidden if they were here.

His stomach began to knot. If Thane didn’t show or the dragons refused because of the pale ones, he was on his own against three gods.

“I have the authority to give them to you, if you agree, but you must agree.”

He glanced at Atlanta. The prick was practically foaming at the mouth. “Katana isn’t mine to give?—”

“Without your protection, she won’t have a choice,” Atlanta snapped. “Just don’t interfere when I come for her.”

“As I said, I won’t agree to anything until I see my immortality.”

“Yours and Valeen’s immortality is safe, I give you my word,” Pricilla said.