Page 27

“Ardella, you are a sight.” He gave me his boyish grin, but I knew what lay beneath his smile. The heavens had made him beautiful on the outside, but his insides were dark and cruel. His red hair fell just above his dark red eyes.

“May I come in?”

“You are welcome in my home anytime you’d like.”

I rolled my eyes as I walked past him. I stopped dead in my tracks when a naked woman walked in front of me and disappeared through a door.

“We're not in your precious palace anymore, sweets.” He chuckled.

When I glared at him, he gave me an odd look before ushering me into a side room.

His home was all dark tones, with red and gold accents.

It was beautiful, from the black marble floors to the red tapestries on the wall.

There were new paintings on the walls that seemed so out of place here because of how colorful they were.

Those definitely weren’t here before. He poured some sort of drink and handed it to me.

I could smell the liquor before I even tasted it, but I drank the entire drink in one gulp.

“Alright, Ardella, you never drink. Why are you here?” He rounded the leather armchair and sat across from me. Sweat beaded on my forehead. If he didn’t agree to this, then I would never make things right. Ezra could refuse me, and then I would have no way for Mikel and Haden to be happy again.

“I need a favor.”

His eyes gleamed because Ezra loved three things: bargains, others' pain and suffering, and control.

“Oh, sweets, I’ve waited an eternity for you to need a favor from me.”

I swallowed hard because I had no control over this. He could demand anything, and I would give it to him.

“I need a soul back.”

Ezra’s eyes snapped to mine, and uneasiness filled the space. He had not expected me to ask such a monumental favor. He said nothing as his handsome face watched me, observing. He drank his drink in one gulp.

“You are asking me to break the god laws,” he spoke calmly, but I knew I had surprised him. One thing Ezra hates: surprises.

“I am.” I nodded and stood, grabbing the bottle of liquor from its place and pouring us both another drink.

“Little Miss Perfect wants me to break god laws,” he chuckled humorlessly. “Fuck, Ardella, what did you do?”

I hated that he called me perfect. I was far from it.

“I kept a soul alive that should have died and sent a soul who was meant to survive in his place.” I downed another glass of liquid. “Essentially, I changed fate.”

Ezra froze with uncertainty. Like I would lie to you, fuckface. He glanced around the room like he was contemplating his choices.

“You need me to let her back through,” he muttered as his big hands ran over his face. I nodded. “What if she moved on already?” He raised his brow.

“She hasn’t,” I said confidently.

“How can you be so sure?” he asked, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

“The stars told me she is waiting, and it is my responsibility to bring her back.”It wasn't technically a lie because Malamay told me to tell Ezra this.

“The stars told you to do this?” I could tell he thought I was lying. “They asked you to break laws?”

“Yes.”

He stood up and grabbed the bottle of liquor before filling his cup up. He turned to me, his eyes assessing and trying to determine if I was a damn liar.

“I’ll make you a deal. If I can prove that you are a liar, I will still let her soul through, but you must come stay here and let me have your pain and suffering. It is radiating off of you in waves, Ardella.”

“And when you learn that I am not lying?” I glared.

“I’ll give you her soul with no bargain attached to it.”

I nodded as I leaned back in the chair.

“Deal, but how will you know if I am lying?”

His eyes gleamed. “I have my own little secret weapon. I’ll be right back, but brace yourself because she’s going to be pissed.”

She?

His red star mist circled around him, and within a few minutes he was back. I watched as he smiled at me. There was a woman over his shoulder; she was pounding her fists against his back, demanding to be let go.

He slid her down his body in a way that let me know this was not just any woman.

It had to be his mate if he was touching her like that.

Her bright red hair fell in fiery waves down her back.

She was wearing a pretty blue dress. She looked like the complete opposite of Ezra.

She looked feminine and soft compared to his overbearing smugness.

But I jumped back when she swung at him, smacking him across the face. He grabbed his cheek and gave her a flirty look.

“You son of a bitch!” She was enraged.

Ezra lifted his hands, desperate to try and calm her down. He gave her a pleading smile that I had never seen from him in my life.

“Farris, please.”

My gods above, this woman had the God of Souls using his manners.

This made me sit up a bit straighter so I could enjoy this side of Ezra.

I watched, amused, as he backed away from her.

She didn’t let that deter her. Immediately, she lifted a vase off the side table and threw it at him.

He ducked, and it hit the wall, shattering.

He stood up and looked at the broken glass on the ground before looking back at her.

“I told you to quit kidnapping me,” she seethed at him.

Ezra looked pleased with himself. I couldn’t help my smile as he looked at her like she was everything.

“Heavens above, please tame this monster in front of me.” He held up his hands as if he were actually praying.

“Me?” She pointed to her chest. “You just kidnapped me from my own party.”

“What can I say, Farris? I just missed you and that sassy mouth.”

Her cheeks instantly flushed, and I could not hide my grin as they stared each other down. Farris turned toward me when I chuckled softly. She stilled and looked me over before a small hint of jealousy flared in her eyes.

“This is my friend, Ardella, Goddess of Life.” Ezra slowly approached Farris, worried she might attack him again. Her dark eyes traveled over me, and I saw the disappointment in them. She tugged at her dress and looked away from me.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Farris.” I smiled, trying to be polite. It was clear that she was upset by my presence.

“You as well.” She barely was audible.

Ezra frowned at her, not understanding the shift in her mood. “Farris, my little monster, I need you to tell me if Ardella is lying to me.”

“Okay.” Farris looked up at me, and I felt her magic pulsing from her. “Go ahead and ask your questions.”

“Did the stars really ask you to save this soul?”

“Yes.”

Farris studied me and looked at Ezra. “Truth.”

He looked at me with surprise. Ezra really thought I was lying to him, and I gave him a smug smile.

“Who did you save?” he asked.

“My mate.”

Ezra glanced at Farris before meeting my gaze.

“Truth.” Farris looked at me oddly. Her big brown eyes widened when she processed what I said. “Mate?”

“Every god gets a fated mate.” I answered her, and Ezra’s jaw clenched when I said it. He didn’t want her to know this.

She stilled before looking at Ezra. Her eyes bounced between his, assessing him.

“Do you have one?” she asked.

“Jealous, little criminal?”

What was he doing? Clearly this was his mate.

“Tell me now.” She was pissed. Her eyes flared with her jealousy as her hands fisted at her sides. Ezra’s eyes glided from her pretty face down to her clenched fists. There was a sadness that flickered in his eyes.

“Yes, I have one.”

“You’ve met her?” she asked.

“Yes.” His eyes held a challenge in them as she stared at him. He gave away nothing as he watched her, clearly seeing that this was upsetting her. Why was he being a dick?

“Is she here in your home with you?” Farris asked like she didn’t actually want to know.

Her gaze looked around like this other woman would pop out.

Fuck, I could feel her sadness radiating off her.

I looked at Ezra, who did not give her any indication that she was his mate.

He didn’t look like he was enjoying this, so why make her upset?

“She is here right now.” Ezra smiled at her. “Do you have something you’d like to say to me, Farris?”

She turned to me and frowned when he couldn’t see her face. “I would like to go home,” she said so softly that I barely heard her.

Ezra looked at me, and I saw the sadness in his eyes now. He stared at her like he was in pain being close to her. I did not understand why he was doing this.

“Right, after all, what is an engagement party without the bride-to-be present?” His voice was laced with anger. “How is your lovely fiancé? Lord Phillip, or whatever you said it was.”

Oh, fuck. His eyes were red as he spoke. Ezra did not even try to hide his jealousy.

“He’s wonderful.” Her voice was angry, but her face was full of pain and regret.

Ezra was lucky that Farris was not looking at him because the look of pure hatred and jealousy was not hidden well on his face.

“Yeah, I bet he fucking is,” Ezra muttered.

Farris whipped around, her pale skin red with anger or jealousy; I couldn’t tell which. Her fists were clenched tightly as she glared up at Ezra.

“You never told me you had a mate.”

“I don’t have to tell you shit, Farris. Let’s not forget who betrayed whom. Besides, you chose to leave and marry another man.” He took a step toward her, and she didn’t back down. “I am nothing you desire in a male, is that not what you said to me?”

For fuck’s sake, I wanted to get up and sneak out of here before they remembered I was in the room.

I watched her face fall at his words. Gods, if Haden ever tried to marry another woman, I would have gutted her.

Why was Ezra, a god known for being a complete asshole, not doing that to this man she was marrying?