Page 36 of Gods of Prey (Parallel Prey #3)

Sienna

T he air in Revel’s apartment crackles with divine energy before they even arrive. I feel it first—a prickling sensation across my spectral form, like lightning about to strike.

“They’re coming,” I whisper, materializing fully beside Revel, who stands by the window watching the Seattle skyline turn green with sunset. I don’t want to acknowledge the subconscious need to be close to him in the face of danger.

We’ve run out of time.

Bash and Jovie sit on the couch, hands intertwined. My brother looks up, his eyes meeting mine.

“The Divine Council?” he asks, though he already knows the answer.

I nod, drifting closer to the center of the room. “Everyone, prepare yourselves.”

Revel moves to stand beside me, his warmth radiating against my cold essence.

We’ve barely spoken since last night, when he drank too much and confessed feelings I’m still pretending I didn’t hear.

Feelings I’m terrified to acknowledge might mirror my own.

When Sebastian and I returned from the roof, he was already talking to Jovie in their kitchen.

“What can we expect?” Jovie asks, her voice steady despite the fear I can see in her eyes. She’s handled all of this remarkably well—learning her lover is the God of Life, befriending the Goddess of Death, accepting that their time together began in a timeline that no longer exists.

Before I can answer, the air splits open with a sound like tearing silk. A blinding light fills the apartment, and when it fades, Councilor Seraphina stands before us, her form shifting between human and something far more terrible and beautiful.

“Divine Siblings,” she addresses Sebastian and me, not bothering to look at Revel or Jovie. “Your absence has been noted with increasing concern.”

I straighten my spectral form, summoning what dignity I can. “Councilor Seraphina. We were just?—”

“Disobeying direct orders,” she interrupts, her voice like ice. “Manipulating timelines. Neglecting your divine duties. We see all.” Her gaze fixes on Sebastian. “And for what? A mortal distraction?”

Jovie flinches, but Bash tightens his grip on her hand. “She’s not a distraction.”

Seraphina’s form flickers with anger, momentarily revealing her true appearance—a being of pure light with countless eyes. “You have no idea what you’ve done. The balance between Life and Death frays with each moment you remain here.”

“We’re aware of the situation,” Revel steps forward, his voice carrying the authority of his temporary position as God of Life. “And we’re working to resolve it.”

Seraphina turns her gaze to him, and I resist the urge to move between them. “Interim God Revel. You were meant to retrieve them, not join their rebellion.”

“It’s not a rebellion,” I say, drawing her attention back to me. “We needed time to help Sebastian remember his divine nature. Forcing him back would have been counterproductive.”

“Time?” Seraphina laughs, a sound like breaking glass. “You speak of time as if it belongs to you. Your punishment is fifty mortal lifetimes. The terms were clear.”

Sebastian rises to his feet, and even in his human form, I can see glimpses of his divine being shining through. “The terms were unjust from the beginning.”

“That is not for you to decide.” Seraphina waves her hand, and the walls of the apartment seem to fall away, revealing visions of the chaos our absence has caused.

I watch in horror as scenes flicker around us—newborns taking their first breath only to wither moments later, elderly people lingering in painful half-death, plants sprouting and dying in the same instant. The natural order in disarray.

“This is what happens when Life and Death abandon their posts,” Seraphina says quietly. “This is the consequence of your selfishness.”

Guilt washes over me. Hearing about these horrific things is different from seeing them for myself. I’ve been so focused on Sebastian and Jovie, on my complicated feelings for Revel, that I’ve allowed myself to forget what’s truly at stake.

“We’re requesting an audience with the Divine Council—” I begin to say, but Seraphina shakes her head once and cuts me off.

“No.” Her voice booms through the space. “The Divine Council’s decision is unanimous. You will both return to your realms immediately, or the consequences will be severe.”

“What consequences?” Sebastian demands, stepping forward. The room hums with his power as his anger rises.

Seraphina’s form grows, towering over us. “Fifty lifetimes was merciful. We can make it five hundred. Five thousand. We can strip you of your powers permanently and appoint new gods in your place.”

I feel the blood drain from my face—or would, if I still had blood in this form. “You wouldn’t cause so much disruption over a small act of disobedience.”

“We would.” Seraphina’s voice softens slightly. “But we don’t wish to. You were chosen for these roles for a reason, Siennara and Sebastian. Your bond as twins creates a natural balance that no other gods could replicate.”

Jovie stands now, placing herself beside Sebastian. “There has to be another way.”

Seraphina looks at her, really looks at her, for the first time. Her brow quirks up in disapproval. “The mortal speaks.”

“Her name is Jovie,” I say sharply, moving to stand on her other side. “And she’s right.”

Seraphina studies us—the strange quartet we’ve become. “What alternative do you propose? The divine laws cannot be broken without consequence.”

Sebastian looks at Jovie, and I see centuries of love in his eyes. “She’s returning to Aurelys with me. I won’t leave her.”

“Absolutely not,” Seraphina responds immediately. “Mortals cannot become immortal. It upsets the?—”

“Balance, yes, we know,” Revel interrupts, moving to stand beside me. His proximity gives me strength. “But what if we propose a new balance?”

Seraphina narrows her eyes at his interruption. “Explain.”

Revel takes a deep breath. “If the Divine Council agrees to a meeting, we’ll explain further. But you can start by telling them I’m willing to leave Aurelys and offer my assistance in Umbraeth.”

My heart would stop if it were still beating. I stare at him, unable to conceal my shock. He’s officially offering his help in Umbraeth. What would that make us? The enemies turned reluctant allies turned...what exactly?

Seraphina considers this. “You would give up your position in Aurelys?”

“It was always temporary,” Revel says. “I was only filling in for Sebastian.”

“And what of your duties there?”

“I’ve trained others,” he says. “Sebastian will have support when he returns.”

She looks at me and Bash. “You still owe us seventeen mortal lives.”

I find my voice. “We’ve got more changes to propose. But not until we’ve got the full Divine Council before us.”

My eyes roll across her body in open assessment before they return to her face. I flatten my expression, making my feelings toward her crystal clear.

“The Divine Council will not approve this easily,” Seraphina warns.

She ignores my obvious dismissal, but I can tell it bothers her based on the stiffening of her shoulders and the frown pulling at her mouth and a small part of me hums in delight.

“To grant immortality to a mortal, to restructure the divine realms. These are not small requests.”

“Then let us prove it can work,” I say, growing more confident in the plan. “Test us. Test Jovie’s worthiness for immortality. Test our ability to maintain balance under this new arrangement.”

Seraphina’s form flickers as she communicates silently with the other Divine Council members. The air around us vibrates with divine deliberation.

“Very well,” she says finally. “The Divine Council agrees to consider your proposal in person. But be advised, you will be tested— all of you.”

Relief washes through me, but it’s short-lived.

“However,” Seraphina continues, “until these tests are complete, you will return to your respective realms. Immediately.”

Sebastian’s face falls. “No, I won’t leave Jovie alone here.”

“She won’t be alone,” Seraphina says, a venomous smile now curving her lips. “She will come to the divine realm immediately for her testing. But you and Sienna must resume your duties while the Divine Council deliberates on what your tests will be. That is nonnegotiable.”

I look at Sebastian, seeing the war within him. He’s only just remembered who he is, only just reconciled his mortal life with his divine purpose. And now he must choose again.

“How long?” he asks, his voice tight.

“The tests will take as long as they take,” Seraphina replies, unhelpful as ever.

I drift toward my brother. “We don’t have a choice, Bash. You know that. At least this way, there’s hope.”

He looks down at Jovie, touching her face gently. “I can’t lose you again.”

“You won’t,” she promises, fierce and determined. “I’ll pass whatever tests they give me.”

I watch them, these lovers who have defied time and divine law to be together, and feel a strange ache in my chest. Then I feel Revel’s eyes on me, and when I meet his gaze, I see the same longing I feel reflected back at me.

“When do we leave?” I ask Seraphina, forcing myself to look away from him.

“Now,” she replies, opening her arms. Light begins to pour from her body, filling the room. “Say your goodbyes.”

Sebastian pulls Jovie into a desperate embrace, whispering promises into her hair. I want to give them privacy, but there’s no time.

I turn to Revel. “Did you mean it? About ruling Umbraeth together?”

His soft, smoky eyes hold mine steadily. “Every word.”

“Why?” I need to know, even as the light grows brighter around us.

A small smile plays at his lips. “You know why, Sienna.”

I do know. Even if we’ve both been too stubborn to say it properly. Even if he only admitted it while drunk and we both pretended it never happened the next day.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “For standing with us.”

He reaches out, his hand passing through my spectral form, but I feel it anyway—a warmth that penetrates the cold essence of death I’ve carried for millennia.

“I’ll see you soon,” he promises.

The light engulfs us completely. The last thing I see is Jovie’s determined face and Revel’s eyes, fixed on mine as reality tears apart around us.

Then I’m standing in Umbraeth, my true form restored. The familiar shadows embrace me, whispering welcome to their goddess. Erebus appears at my side, surprised but pleased by my return.

“My lady,” he bows. “We’ve missed you.”

I look around at my realm—the soft darkness, the quiet waters of Shadowmere Lake, the peaceful fields where souls rest after their final journey. It’s beautiful in its way, this kingdom of endings. Yet for the first time in all my existence, I find myself longing for something else. Something new.

“The Divine Council will summon you shortly,” Erebus informs me. “All the gods have been advised to attend.”

I nod, already dreading the coming battle. “I’ll be ready.”

As I move toward my throne room, I feel a strange confidence rising within me. For centuries, I’ve accepted my punishment, my duty, my isolation. I’ve been the obedient daughter of divine law.

But no more. If Sebastian can fight for his love, so can I—for him, for Jovie, for my niece or nephew, for Revel, and perhaps most surprisingly, for myself.

The Divine Council wants to test us? Fine. Let them see what the Goddess of Death is truly capable of when she has something worth fighting for.