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Rogue’s throat bobbed. “I went to the archives and Pricilla followed me. She didn’t know why I was there so I made something up, but she was suspicious especially after the fire at my house. She moved the record book.”

Hel tsked and wagged his finger. “Don’t lie to me.”

“Rogue,” the lady whimpered. His wife if he assumed correctly. “Tell me what is going on.”

“Your husband has made some very bad, very unforgiving enemies.” Hel slid his boots to the floor and stood. “Rogue, I’ll give you one last chance to tell us the truth.”

Rogue looked downright ghostly for one who normally had chestnut skin. “I’m telling you the truth. I could either wait for my turn to be a keeper of the knowledge or look for the recordsagain in a few days, but I need time to not draw suspicion. If she suspects you’re blackmailing me, I’ll be out, and I won’t be able to help you.”

“Ifmylife was on the line, I’d have gotten the record, Rogue.”

Rogue stopped breathing and clutched at the wall behind him. “I tried.”

Thane shook his head and something dark flashed across his eyes. Hel hummed, the god of war might come out to play. “You didn’t try hard enough,” Thane snapped.

“Please, give me another chance. Just one more day.”

“For an immortal you’re pathetic.” Thane’s hands were fisted at his sides.

“He always was,” Hel added.

“I never wanted Valeen to get hurt?—”

Heat flooded Hel’s body as he charged him, gripped his throat, and slammed his head into the wall, cracking the stone. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

The wife in the kitchen started blubbering and Hel shot her a glare. “Shut up!” Her chin wobbled and the tears silently flowed but not a sound came from her.

“They have spies,” he gasped. “They’ll know she’s there alone…”

Hel pulled the golden blade from inside his jacket. It hummed with an otherworldly power, a power even immortal gods could not survive. With one quick thrust he shoved it into Rogue’s chest, cracking through chainmail, bone, and cartilage. Rogue wheezed out a breath, and gripped onto Hel’s shoulders, while fear filled his wide brown eyes.

“Maybe Serenity will be beautiful or maybe you’ll find the ugliness of the underrealm.”

“Hel, please.” Blood slid out of the corners of his mouth. “My wife.”

He leaned in close to his ear. “Don’t worry, she will follow you into the afterlife and you can be together.”

“No,” he groaned, then one more ragged breath was all he had left before he slumped forward. Hel jerked Soulender free and let him fall to the floor where a pool of red quickly stained the white floors.

The wife screamed and ran for the balcony. Thane caught her around the waist before she made it outside. She kicked and fought in his grasp, screaming and clawing at his hands. There was a moment he waited for Thane to take care of the problem. Her screaming like a banshee would draw attention, bring people up here. But Thane hesitated. He always did when it came to the fairer sex. It was up to Hel to do the dirty work, as usual. He crossed the room and stood before the wife, taking in her tears and feeling nothing. He knew he should have the same hesitation Thane did. Somewhere in his black heart he thought it would be better to let her go, but then he thought of Valeen and what was done tohiswife by these people. She was innocent. She shed tears too and found only savagery.

“I didn’t do anything!” she wailed. “Please, have mercy.”

Hel took hold of her head with both hands. “Mercy is not something I possess anymore.” One quick jerk snapped her neck.

With a frown, Thane gently laid her body to the floor. His fingers brushed over her eyelids, closing them for eternity. She wasn’t an immortal, not even a demigoddess but an elf brought to this world of gods and monsters long ago. Too bad she was caught in the crossfire of the worst monster of them all.

“We need to get back now,” Thane said as Hel hurried across the room and stopped beside Rogue.

“I know.” He quickly checked his pockets and inside his jacket and found a small, folded note. Hel opened it and read:Their immortality isn’t hidden; it’s been given.He set fire toit and tossed it onto the ground while the curling edges turned black.

Chapter 19

VALEEN

Fire crackled in the hearth covering the third-floor balcony of the library in orange light. The place where Presco had taken up residence. It wasn’t cold out, he just liked the sound of a fire burning while he studied. Stacks of books covered the edges of the desk while Presco poured over an old scroll laid out before him. The large stained-glass arched window behind him was a mix of swirling blues and violets. He looked right at home with his beakers bubbling in the corner.

He lifted his chin as Valeen and Katana strode off the spiraling metal staircase. Gold-rimmed glasses reflected off the candlelight, hiding reptilian eyes that unsettled many. “Valeen, Katana,” he said as a greeting. “How are you both?”