Page 5 of Gods of Prey (Parallel Prey #3)

Sienna

M ost think Aurelys is a place straight out of a dream, but I find it to be lacking any real allure.

At first glance, the realm of Life unfolds as a vision of paradise.

Golden spires pierce the azure sky, their surfaces shimmering with ethereal light.

Lush gardens bloom with flowers of impossible hues, and melodious harmonies drift through the air, soothing all who hear them.

The very atmosphere seems imbued with serenity, inviting weary souls to rest and rejoice.

Yet, beneath this veneer of perfection lies a carefully constructed illusion.

The radiant structures are but facades, where impressive exteriors mask a lack of substance behind.

The harmonious melodies are orchestrated distractions, designed to lull visitors into complacency.

The vibrant flora, while captivating, are synthetic, lacking the fragrance and vitality of true blossoms.

Or maybe, I'm just not meant to be enthralled with it all.

I step through the veil between realms, the familiar ache of transition rippling through my essence. The cold shadows of Umbraeth dissolve around me as I materialize in Sebastian’s study in Aurelys, and I immediately squint against the brightness.

Everything here is too much—too vivid, too warm, too alive.

I hate it.

Sebastian’s home has always been the opposite of mine in every way. Where Umbraeth embraces the cool comfort of shadows and quietude, Aurelys assaults the senses with its perpetual golden light and the constant hum of life energy.

I find Revel standing beside a young maid propositioning him with flowing auburn hair.

The maid jumps back as if burned, her eyes widening in terror as she takes me in. “My...my lady,” she stammers, immediately dropping into a deep curtsy. “I didn’t realize?—”

“Leave us,” I command, not bothering to look at her. Her lord has already dismissed her, but she ignored his gentle tone.

She doesn’t need to be told by me twice. As she scurries past me, I catch her name from her fleeting thoughts—Lyra. A relatively new addition to my brother’s household staff. Interesting that she’s already so comfortable.

When the door closes behind her, I turn my full attention to the man standing in my brother’s study like an impostor.

Revel. Sebastian’s so-called best friend and second-in-command. The interim God of Life in my brother’s absence. And the apple of Myelle’s eye.

My least favorite person in all the realms. This exact moment is why I’ve dragged my feet about propositioning him to enter the mortal realm with me.

“You took your time,” he says as his golden eyes assess me with their usual arrogance. “I summoned you hours ago.”

“I’m not one of your servants to come running at your call,” I reply, moving deeper into the room, closing the distance between us.

“And I certainly don’t appreciate being summoned to this.

..place.” I gesture vaguely at our surroundings, at the ever-present light that seems to seep from the walls themselves.

He shifts on his feet, and I’m annoyed as always that he’s taller than me. In my realm, I can adjust my height, my appearance, anything I wish. Here, I’m constrained to my true form—still imposing in my own right, but lacking the advantage of towering over him as I’d prefer.

Revel doesn’t have any imposing features.

He just is, and somehow his mere presence is enough to garner respect.

Soft, honey-glazed waves ripple atop his head and a permanent copper tan marks his skin.

White robes leisurely drape across his body, covering the parts that matter while leaving almost nothing to the imagination.

His wings are made of translucent amber with golden veins running throughout, catching and refracting light in hypnotic pattern.

He looks soft and fair, like he was born to rule Aurelys.

The only feature that gives him away are those striking silver eyes—a mirror of his mother’s.

They glow in contrast to all the gold adorning his body to distract from the truth.

But the truth is always right there: A reminder that while he’s been tasked with overseeing the realm of Life, the Fates once had other plans for him.

I doubt I’m the first to wonder what those would have been if Myelle hadn’t intervened.

“Sebastian didn’t return,” he says without preamble.

I keep my face carefully neutral. “I’m aware.”

And what are you planning to do about it?

“It’s nearly been a week since your mortal deaths.” Revel moves around the desk, putting distance between us. “He should have returned immediately. Where is he?”

I shrug, examining my nails. “Perhaps he needed extra time to recover. Our last life was quite unpleasant. Mommy Dearest sure did a number on us this time.”

It’s hard to miss how upset the jab makes him. Myelle’s little boy certainly doesn’t like being associated with her.

“Bullshit.” Revel’s usual polished demeanor cracks. “Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”

Of course he can. The balance between Life and Death is delicate, maintained primarily by Sebastian and me fulfilling our duties. With Sebastian remaining in the mortal realm instead of returning to Aurelys, that balance is already beginning to waver.

What Revel doesn’t know—what I won’t be telling him—is that Sebastian has done more than just delay his return.

He’s manipulated the very timeline of the mortal realm to stay with Jovie.

Infiltrated his own mother’s duties. My foolish, lovesick brother is risking everything for a mortal woman, and only I know the full extent of his transgression.

“Perhaps you’re not as good at your job as you think,” I say instead, moving to examine a crystal globe on Sebastian’s desk.

It pulses with life energy, a map of the mortal realm etched into its surface.

“Maintaining balance in Sebastian’s absence should be well within your capabilities.

That is why you were chosen as his second, isn’t it? ”

Revel’s jaw tightens. “The Divine Council and the Council of Elders are beginning to sniff around. They’ve noticed the fluctuations.”

That gets my attention. I couldn’t care less about Sebastian’s Council of Elders. I don’t understand why he gives those old crones a voice in his realm to begin with. But the Divine Council?

That, I’m afraid of.

“What have you told them?”

“That Sebastian is taking longer than expected to transition back. That it’s under control.” He runs a hand through his dark hair, frustration evident in the gesture. I can’t help the quiet sigh of relief that passes my lips at his words.

He’s helping. For now.

“But they won’t accept that excuse much longer. We have seventeen more lifetimes to complete our punishment, Sienna. If the council discovers Sebastian is deliberately delaying his return...”

He doesn’t need to finish. We both know what would happen. The Divine Council could extend our punishment, or worse, assign someone else to take Sebastian’s place permanently. My brother would be stripped of his divinity, possibly even destroyed.

I move to the window, looking out over the lush gardens of Aurelys. “What do you want from me, Revel?”

“Help me find him. Bring him back.”

I turn, raising an eyebrow. “You want us to work together?”

This is easy. Erebus has been pestering me to propose this exact thing for days. I couldn’t figure out how to do it without running the risk of Revel turning me down and running straight to his mother with his tail between his legs.

“I want Sebastian back where he belongs,” he firmly corrects. “If that means tolerating your company, so be it.”

I laugh, the sound sharp and cold in the warm air of the study. “You always were loyal to him. Like a dog to its master.”

Revel’s eyes flash with anger. “And you’ve always been jealous that he found someone who actually cares about him, unlike his cold-hearted sister.”

The barb stings more than I let show. Revel has never understood the complex relationship between Sebastian and me. The bond of twins who have shared divinity, punishment, and countless mortal lives together. He sees only what he wants to see: The Goddess of Death, incapable of true affection.

“If you think I don’t care about my brother, you’re even more of a fool than I thought,” I say quietly, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “I have died thirty-two times with him. I have held him as he took his last breath in countless lives. Don’t presume to know what I feel.”

For a moment, Revel looks taken aback by my intensity. Good. Let him remember who he’s dealing with.

Unfortunately, he recovers quickly.

“Then prove it,” he challenges. “Help me bring him home before the Divine Council discovers what’s happening.”

I turn away, pretending to consider. In truth, I’ve already made my decision. Sebastian may be a lovesick fool, but he’s my brother. If anyone is going to drag him back to his divine duties, it will be me—not Revel, and certainly not the Divine Council.

And Erebus will kick my ass if I walk away from Revel’s offer for help.

“Sebastian is in Seattle,” I say finally. “In the mortal realm.”

Revel’s eyebrows rise. “Seattle? Not New York?”

“He moved after our deaths.” He’s done quite a bit after our deaths, but I leave that out. “He’s found a mortal woman.”

“Found? What, like a stray cat?” Confusion contorts his features.

My expression flattens. “He fell in love,” I clarify in annoyance. What is it about these men in Aurelys that makes me want to slam my fist into their face?

“Love . . . ” his repeats disbelievingly.

I nod. “He’s hunting the remaining members of the Loyal Order of the Serpent. The cult that killed me in our last life.”

Revel paces the room, processing this information. “Hunting?” he repeats skeptically. “That doesn’t sound like him. Why hasn’t he returned? What’s holding him there besides her?”