Page 44 of Gods of Prey (Parallel Prey #3)

Revel

Six Months Later

T he throne room of Umbraeth has never looked more beautiful than it does right now, bathed in the soft silver light that emanates from Sienna’s presence.

She sits beside me on the twin obsidian thrones we had crafted—symbols of our shared rule over the realm of Death.

Her ethereal form has solidified since we took control together, becoming more substantial, more real.

When I reach over and take her hand, her fingers are warm against mine.

“The Divine Council’s messenger should arrive soon,” she says, but her voice lacks the tension it would have carried months ago. Now there’s only calm certainty.

I bring her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “Let them come. We’ve more than proven ourselves.”

And we have. The cosmic balance hasn’t just been restored—it’s stronger than it’s been in millennia.

Death and Life flow together in perfect harmony under our combined oversight.

Sebastian and I have found a rhythm that surpasses what either of us could accomplish alone, even across the divide between our realms.

“Sebastian sent another message this morning,” Sienna continues, and I can hear the warmth in her voice when she speaks of her twin. “Vale was able to stay in the air for a full minute yesterday.”

I smile at that. Sebastian’s son is half-divine, half-mortal, and completely perfect according to his overprotective father.

The Divine Council had been skeptical about allowing a hybrid child to exist, especially one destined by the Oracle to be the next God of Chaos.

But my mother and the Fates had seen something in the timeline threads that convinced them.

Vale would grow up to bridge worlds in ways we couldn’t yet understand.

“And Jovie?” I ask.

“Adapting beautifully to immortality. Sebastian says she’s already asking when she can visit Umbraeth.” Sienna’s laugh is like silver bells. “I think she misses the excitement of hunting down cultists.”

“Well, she’s welcome anytime. I doubt she’ll find Umbraeth as thrilling as mortal adventures.”

She turns to look at me fully, and I lose my breath the way I do every time she focuses those emerald eyes on me. “You know what I find thrilling?”

“Tell me,” I murmur, leaning closer.

Before she can answer, Erebus appears in the doorway, clearing his throat. “My lords, the messenger from the Divine Council approaches.”

I sigh, reluctantly pulling back from Sienna. Erebus has been an excellent second-in-command, handling the day-to-day operations of Umbraeth while Sienna and I focus on the larger cosmic balance. He’s also developed an unfortunate talent for interrupting private moments.

“Send them in,” Sienna says, straightening into her regal bearing.

The messenger who enters is the same one who delivered our ultimatum in Seattle—wings of pure light, voice like harmonized thunder. But this time, there’s no threat in their presence.

“Revel of Aurelys, Sienna of Umbraeth,” they intone. “The Divine Council sends greetings and satisfaction.”

Satisfaction . From the council. I have to resist the urge to laugh.

“The balance you have achieved surpasses all expectations. The council formally recognizes your joint sovereignty over Umbraeth and commends your innovative approach to divine governance.”

“Innovative approach,” Sienna repeats under her breath, and I catch the hint of amusement in her tone.

“Furthermore,” the messenger continues, “Sebastian of Aurelys sends word that he and his family will visit for the Festival of Eternal Twilight next month.”

After the messenger departs, Sienna and I sit in comfortable silence for a moment. The Festival of Eternal Twilight—a celebration that occurs when our realms align most closely. It will be the first time Sebastian, Jovie, and Vale visit Umbraeth together.

“I suppose there will be a family reunion in the realm of Death,” I muse. “How wonderfully morbid.”

Sienna laughs, the sound echoing through the vast chamber. “Says the man who decorated his private chambers with flowering vines.”

“Those vines happen to be very practical,” I defend. “They help purify the air and?—”

“They’re beautiful, and you put them there because you missed Aurelys.” She stands from her throne, moving with fluid grace toward the tall windows that overlook our domain. “Just like I’ve been experimenting with shadow gardens because I want to create something that bridges our worlds.”

I follow her to the window, wrapping my arms around her from behind.

Below us, Umbraeth spreads in all its dark glory.

Not the terrifying underworld mortals imagine, but a realm of peaceful rest and gentle transitions.

Souls move through the landscape like wisps of light, guided by our servants toward whatever comes next.

“Do you ever regret it?” I ask softly, my lips near her ear. “Choosing this instead of ruling alone?”

She leans back against my chest, and I feel the tension leave her body. “Never. Do you regret leaving Aurelys?”

“Aurelys is in good hands with Sebastian. Besides,” I press a kiss to the side of her neck, “I was growing tired of all that sunlight. I found something better.”

She turns in my arms, and the look in her eyes makes my divine heart race. “Did you?”

“I found my match,” I whisper against her lips. “My equal. My other half.”

“Revel,” she breathes, and then she’s kissing me with centuries of pent-up desire and newfound freedom. Her hands tangle in my hair, pulling me closer, and I lift her easily, her form solid and warm in my arms.

“The throne room isn’t exactly private,” she murmurs against my mouth.

“No, it’s not,” I agree, lifting her by her thighs to carry her over to her throne.

Once I gently set her down onto the soft leather seat, I drop to my knees and push her thighs apart to make room for my shoulders.

“But I don’t really care. Let all of Umbraeth know I’m fucking you.

That you belong to me, and me only. My goddess. ”

Her black dress disappears in an inky cloud of smoke, revealing her glistening center.

Our throne room reflects both of us—my love of living things and her affinity for elegant darkness.

Flowering vines twist around obsidian pillars, and silver moonlight filters through windows that show different views depending on our moods.

Tonight, they reveal a garden where luminous flowers bloom in eternal twilight.

I lean back on my heels and take a moment to just look at her. White, wavy hair falls around her shoulders, her skin glows with inner light, and when she smiles at me like this—soft and trusting and full of love—I can barely believe she’s mine.

“What are you thinking?” she asks, reaching forward to trace her fingers along my jaw.

“I’m thinking,” I say, catching her hand and pressing it flat against my chest, “that we’ve waited long enough.”

“Long enough for what?”

Instead of answering with words, I kiss her again, pouring everything I feel into the connection between us. Love, desire, gratitude, wonder—all of it flows between us as naturally as the cosmic forces we govern.

She responds with equal passion, her divine nature calling to mine.

A whimper sounds in her throat when I pull away, leaving a trail of kisses as I make my way down her naked torso.

When I reach the apex between her thighs, I wrap my palms around each one and pull them apart, making enough room for my shoulders.

I blow a cool breath across her pussy, chuckling when her fingers dig into my scalp, urging me forward.

Flattening my tongue, I run it across her waiting center, lapping up every drop of arousal before I suck her clit into my mouth.

She squirms beneath me, bucking her hips forward to give me easier access.

When I slide a single finger in, she groans her approval.

Then, I add another, and her breathing picks up as I pump them in and out of her, working the soft bundle of nerves with my tongue.

Almost too soon, she falls apart beneath my touch, and I lap up every drop of arousal she leaves behind before climbing to my feet.

She captures my mouth into a sloppy kiss, then tries to pull away too quickly.

I wrap my palm around the front of her throat to hold her in place, shoving my tongue deep inside her mouth.

There’s something so addictive about dominating the embodiment of Death—of holding power over such a formidable being.

She hands it over reluctantly, never one to fully submit the way I wish she would.

We take turns with control, neither one willing to give it up one hundred percent of the time. There are instances where she has me on my knees, begging her for mercy. Other times, I push beyond all her boundaries until she’s teetering on the edge of madness.

When I’m finished with her mouth, I grab her hips and spin her around on the throne, positioning each knee on the arm rests to give myself open access. Rubbing my erection against the soft, white skin of her behind, I lean forward until my lips brush against the shell of her ear.

“Are you ready for me, goddess?” I ask, noting how wet she’s already gotten against my cock.

She whimpers, and I take that as her answer.

I line myself up with her center and grab hold of her hips.

In one long stride, I push inside of her until our bodies are completely flush and there’s no place left to go, then slowly, torturously, pull back.

She fights against my grip on her, circling her hips in an attempt to control the speed, but I’m not budging.

A frustrated growl reverberates off the walls of the throne room when she twists her head back to glare at me. “What are you doing?”

“You’ve done enough commanding today. Relax and let me handle things for you.”

I can tell she wants to argue with me more, but she bites her tongue.

I watch her shoulders lift as she inhales a large breath, then releases it in one smooth motion.

Her body relaxes against me, her hips going lax in my hands.

When I’m sure she won’t fight me anymore, I push myself back inside, then fall into the quick rhythm I know she likes.

When we come together, it’s not just physical—it’s spiritual, elemental, a joining that sends ripples through the very fabric of our realm. Outside, I can sense the shadows growing deeper and more welcoming, the boundary between life and death becoming softer, more beautiful.

She comes around my cock with a howl that I’m positive can be heard all the way through Nocthollow, and I spill my orgasm inside of her shortly after. As soon as I pull out, I lift her into my arms and carry her into our private quarters, settling her onto the bed to start all over again.

Later, as we lie entwined on sheets that shimmer like starlight, Sienna traces patterns on my chest with her fingertip.

“The council was right about one thing,” she says thoughtfully.

“What’s that?”

“We are innovative.” She looks up at me with mischief in her eyes. “Who else would think to govern the realm of Death through love instead of fear?”

I laugh, pulling her closer. “Well, when you put it like that, we sound positively revolutionary.”

“We are.” Her expression grows serious. “We’re proving that duty and love don’t have to be enemies. That choosing happiness doesn’t mean abandoning responsibility.”

“Sebastian would be proud.”

“Sebastian is proud. He told me so in his last letter.” She settles her head on my shoulder. “He said watching us find each other gave him hope that his sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”

“It wasn’t a sacrifice,” I correct gently. “It was a choice. Just like this is.”

We fall quiet, listening to the soft sounds of Umbraeth settling into its eternal rhythm around us. Somewhere in the realm, souls are finding peace. Somewhere else, new life is beginning in Aurelys under Sebastian’s care. And here, in our sanctuary, love rules alongside duty in perfect balance.

“Revel?” Sienna’s voice is soft, drowsy.

“Mm?”

“I love you.”

Three simple words that reshape my entire existence. I tighten my arms around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“I love you too,” I whisper into the darkness. “For eternity.”

And as sleep takes us—yes, even gods need rest—I know that we’ve found something rarer than perfect cosmic balance. We’ve found perfect happiness.

In the morning, there will be duties to attend to, souls to guide, and realms to govern. But tonight, there is only this: Sienna in my arms, love in our hearts, and forever stretching ahead of us like a promise.

The Goddess of Death and the God of Life, ruling together in harmony.

It’s a better ending than any of us dared to hope for.