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Simon’s mouth twisted into a semblance of a smile, but it never reached his eyes. “I can do that.”

“Don’t look back. Ever. Remember Lot’s wife.”

“That’s a bedtime story to scare kids and the self-righteous pricks of the world.”

“That’s a true story born of a very talented Death Dealer,” Brooke said from behind them. “We need to go, Mr. Blane.”

Trevor let his gaze linger on Soleil one final time. Her coloring leaned toward gray, and he wished he hadn’t looked. The sight of her lifeless body was a commotio cordis blow to his heart, and he bent double in his agony.

“Trev!”

When Simon would’ve assisted him, Brooke stepped in his path. “I'm sorry, sir. You’ve said your goodbyes.”

“But—”

Trevor slowly straightened and used his forearm to swipe at the dampness on his cheeks. “I want to speak to my father first. Will you allow me to do that? Please, Ms. Ellis?”

“Make it quick.”

She gestured Ben over. Her generosity earned her a reprimanding look from the Council, but she lifted her chin in defiance. Trevor frowned as he watched her. Either she knew something they didn’t, or she felt terrible for the trouble they’d caused him. Both would see her called on the carpet and punished if she didn’t do her job to the fullest.

Feeling he owed her a warning, he said, “Don’t risk anything on my account, Brooke. They don’t fuck around when it comes to disobedience.”

“I’m well aware, Mr. Blane. But I’ll run my command as I see fit. You have two minutes. Don’t waste it.”

She stepped back to allow him privacy.

His father eyed everyone as if he wanted to explode their brains in one fell swoop as he closed the distance between them.

“Don’t let them fuck with my head, Dad. Please.”

“I’m not going to take your life, Trevor.”

“I’ve never asked you for anything, but I’m asking now.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve seen what their rehabilitation is like. Seen how others return. Saw how you did.” Trev swallowed hard. “It’s no better than a lobotomy. I don’t want that.”

“You’ll still be alive,” Ben snapped.

“But at what cost?” he asked softly. “She’sgone. You and I both know they aren’t bringing her back. Not without help from the Goddess. And if there’s nothing in it for her, why would she?”

He hated the begging in his voice, but his father was the only one with the power to end his suffering.

“If I take your life, I take your soul, Trevor.” The tortured expression in his father’s eyes was reminiscent of when their mother died, and hewas forcedto endure Ben’s explanation of why. “I can’t do that, son. You need the chance to be reborn if you can.To live a normal existence.And what do I tell Simon?”

The truth was a punch to the head.

There would be no swaying him. Not if he thought he had to answer to Trevor’s brother.

“Yeah, okay. Thanks anyway.”Ashe shifted to tell Brooke hewas done, his father embraced him.“I love you, Trevor. If there was any other?—”

Trev jerked away. “Don’t say you love me when you can’t be bothered to show it, Benjamin,” he replied coldly. “We both know there’s only room in your heart for one son, and it’s not me. It never was.” To Brooke, he said, “I’m donehere.”

As they ledhis eldest away, Ben fought the urge to demand they come back.To grant Trevor his last request.Denying his son anything, especially when he was tortured by what he’dbeen compelledto do, was unbearable. But he wouldn’t go against his promise to Gloria. Since her death, he’d been a shell of his former self. His primary reason for remaining on this plane was the care of his sons, although they weren’t aware of it. He’d do whatever it took to make their lives better, fuller. Remove any strife from their path if it was within his power to.

Resigned to his current course of action,Ben met the Aether’s obsidian eyes.The manalwayspeered into his soul and pulled the best out of him, even when Ben believed he had nothingleftto give.This time,hewould do whatever Damian demanded because the stakes were higher than ever.He also needed to break Deni's hold over Trevor. If it meant killing a roomful of Authority members, so be it.

Ben jumped into action as soon as his son cleared the doorwayandhis back was to the room. Knowing it was now or never, he rushed to Soleil’s side. Pressing one palm to her chest and the other to his,hedrew out the spark he’d stolen from her the first time he’d healed her. With great care, he infused it back inside her, bonding it to her cells.

Soleil woke, gasping and choking as she sucked in a breath. Her eyes flew wide as they locked with his, and her hands flew to her throat to feel for damage.