Page 31

Without another word, Della summoned her star mist, which was now midnight black, and disappeared. Once she was gone, Thea pulled her magic from around us and regarded me like she didn’t want to say what she was about to.

“I could hear her thoughts, Haden. She did not recognize you. She kept calling us disgusting heavenly gods. She was going to hurt you.” Thea sounded panicked. “I couldn’t see her soul anymore.”

Because she gave it to Remiah.

Cassius rushed up to me when I began to sway. My mind was racing with so many things that I couldn’t catch my breath. My wife did not know who I was. Della had fallen from the grace of the heavens to bring Remiah back.

?★★★?★★★?

I did not remember coming into Ezra’s castle and sitting down. All I could think of was Della’s eyes full of hate and evil. She would’ve killed me if Thea hadn’t intervened. I was staring at the fireplace, trying to understand what was wrong with her.

“Haden.”

I looked up to see Brim staring at me.

“Brim.” I let out a deep breath. “Please tell me you know what the fuck is going on.”

He nodded as Thea and Cassius shuffled into the sitting area with Ezra. They all sat down and stared at Brim expectantly.

“She has fallen in a spectacular fashion, which means the gates of Hell are now opened to your brothers and sisters.” Brim frowned. “I have seen your future, Haden. And you must kill your siblings. They won’t realize she’s fallen until they enter this realm and aren’t pulled back to Hell.”

“When will that happen?”

“I’m not sure, but I would guess after the blood moon, which is in three days.”

I nodded but then stared at Brim, confused. “I can kill my siblings? Since when?”

He smiled.

“You completed the mating bond with Della, so now you can use her powers, as she can use yours. But we will need help because you are not versed in this area of magic.”

Brim rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he paced back and forth in the small space. He was mumbling to himself, and I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“You will visit the gods of Valynth,” Brim spoke cautiously.

“The God of Death there can also rip souls from gods.

You may need him to be there just in case.

You might not be strong enough to kill six gods at once.

He is the only other god I know that can rip souls out of other gods.

Besides, your siblings have somehow found their way over there and are trying to get the God of Destruction—Death's brother—to help them take over everything. Death needs to know that is happening."

“Valynth?” Thea frowned.

“Our world is made of more than our realm. There is Elloryon, Valynth, and Gilyx. Each of those realms is broken into their own courts or kingdoms. Each realm has its own set of gods, but they differ. For example, Elloryon gods are born from the heavens, Valynth gods are family-born—there is one bloodline that rules as gods—and Gilyx is power made—they battle for the gods’ power. ”

“That is so odd.” Cassius looked at Brim. “How do you know this?”

Brim gave him a pointed look. “I don’t simply look this old for fun, Cassius. I have been around for a very long time. I used to live in Valynth, until…” He got quiet. “Until everything went to shit because of his brother.”

“Will this god help?”

Brim waved his hand.

“Yes, I’m sure he will. You just have to find him first. He will probably be hanging out in Nightfall Court,” Brim said with a smile full of secrets. “I cannot go with you; I am a wanted man in Valynth. I will be killed on sight. But you can travel there because you are a god.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“The realms are separated by magic barriers that do not allow just anyone to pass through. Usually only gods, and sometimes creatures such as myself if a god takes them. The God of Death allowed me to pass through so I could… escape. You can go there and find him.

“They live at God’s Peak, but do not go there. His brother will see, and that won’t be good. Instead, go to the Nightfall Court; he likes to lurk in the woods.” Brim gave me a smile.

“Why does he lurk there?” Cassius asked.

“A certain woman lives there.” Brim grinned wider.

“He has a terrible attitude, though, so be prepared for that.

You need to tell him I sent you, and you need to tell him you found your mate.

I know him; he will help if you tell him those two things.

However, there is the risk he just rips your soul from you immediately.

Make sure you tell him that your siblings contacted his brother Artemis, and he agreed to help take over everything.

“Wonderful.” I rubbed my forehead. “What about Della? We need to find her. Brim, you did not see her.”

“Actually, I had a vision of her. She is about to go on a killing spree. The stars will likely step in.”

“No, they probably won’t,” Ezra said. “Did she not tell you who gave her the Book of the Dead to save Remiah?”

“No.” I stared at him.

“The stars did. They told her it was her fate.” Brim peered at Ezra with a look that scared me, then began doing his godsdamn pacing that always made me anxious.

“The stars knew she’d fall from their grace. Why would they ever allow her to do that?” Brim asked us. “She is the stars’ favorite goddess.”

“Well, how do you know that?” Ezra scoffed with jealousy.

Brim observed me with an odd expression. “The leader of the stars has a soft spot for her. He will tell everyone she is his favorite. He does not hide it.”

“Should I be jealous of the stars?” I asked with no humor. “Does he want her? I will fucking end him.”

Brim’s cackled laugh startled me. “That is hilarious. No, he doesn’t want her. At least, I don’t think he does.” He seemed to think that over again in his mind.

“You’ve met the stars?” Thea stared at Brim oddly.

“My gods, children, you all need to brush up on your knowledge of the stars and the realms. It is annoying to be the only one who knows these things.

The stars are a real governing entity over Elloryon.

They have no power in Valynth or Gilyx because those gods are not born of heavens.

Yes, I have met the stars. There are only a handful of them. I was there when they were created.

“They must have known that the Gods of Hell were trying to escape. Maybe this is part of their plan. I do not understand it, though. I find it hard to believe that they would choose Della to use.”

“Wait, you were there when they were created?” Cassius asked Brim.

Brim’s face paled like he had said too much. “Yes, the stars are dead gods. They have not been around that long. I am older than the star counsel.”

“Dead gods.” Ezra stared at Brim. “Gods can’t die.”

“Yes, they can—when they no longer possess a soul. I do not know why all the gods think they are invincible. Everything can be killed by something.”

I stood up and walked over to the wall of windows. There was an overwhelming sense of dread filling me, like somewhere deep in my mind and soul I knew this was not good.

“I will go find this God of Death and convince him to help me kill my siblings. But what about Della?”

“We will try and capture her.” Cassius stepped forward. “She is family; we will always figure out how to save her. You focus on the god. Thea and I will not stop until we find her.”

“I’m going with Haden.” Ezra stood.

I looked over at him and almost refused, but something told me that he wouldn’t take no for an answer. That, and I had been having visions of Ezra for a long time. I knew we were going to be good friends.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Yes, Della is my friend.” He smiled. “She is my only friend, so I will help her in any way I can.”

“Okay, Ezra and I will head to Valynth.” I nodded before looking at Thea and Cassius. “Please be careful with her, and call me immediately if you need me.”

Brim grabbed my arm and stared at me. “You do not need to feel guilty over this, Haden. Maybe this was always going to be her fate, even if she did not mate with a God of Hell. I still cannot see her future.”

I glanced at Brim and saw the guilt in his eyes.

“I can’t either.” I frowned. “Brim, I do not know if I can promise that I will not destroy everything in my path if she is taken from me.”

“I do not see that in your future, Haden.” Brim hesitated. “She does not possess a soul anymore. That is why she seemed so… dead in the eyes, void of anything.”

“Then I will rip my own soul from me and give it to her, Brim. I will give her every piece of my broken self so that she can fill the holes inside of herself and become whole again. She can have all of it—all of me. I will not lose her.”

He nodded and let me go. Ezra and I looked at each other before we headed to Valynth to find the grumpy God of Death and beg him to help kill my siblings.