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Her face lifted immediately, and I saw the black tears falling from her eyes. She looked like she was in pain.

“I love you. I’ll spend the rest of our existence making up for my stupidity. You are mine— my wife, my goddess, my everything. I will let you do whatever you need to as long as you do not leave me. Is that why you did it? You didn't want me anymore—you don't see me as worthy of you?"

She didn't say anything and I panicked.

“No matter what the cost is, Della, I vow I will bring our bond back. I will climb the heavens, and I will destroy the stars myself if they do not give it to me. You have always been my purpose. You have always been my reason for living. I will not waste or take this second chance for granted. I will build a life for us that even the heavens could not tempt you to leave. I vow that when I get all of you back, I will never let you go again. You are everything to me. I will make myself a man worthy enough for you. I will love you so intensely that we become one and your soul comes back, and if that doesn’t happen, I will rip my own chest open and give you mine.

Please, let me try and change your mind before you decide I am not worth loving. ”

Della looked at me with tears in her eyes. Her head tilted to the side as she frowned. There was a longing in them that I knew she saw reflected back at her. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to smell that familiar scent of home and safety.

“I have felt what the heavens are like, and they do not compare to what it feels like when I am with you. You have already given me a life that cannot be compared to anything, Haden. I love you. I loved you the very first time you looked at me. And each day that followed, that love only grew.

“If something happens, I need you to know that I will always come back to you. I have vowed in front of the heavens that I will always find you, and they cannot take me from you. Only you have the power to tell me to leave. It is you and me, Haden, for all of our existence.”

Fear laced me. "Is that why you made me reject you—you think something bad is going to happen?" I asked.

"Yes. I do not want you to hurt if something happens."

“Crazy woman, I would feel it even without the bond. The bond does not make me love you. And if anyone takes you from me, I vow that they will not know another day of peace until you are returned to me,” I said, my voice dripping with venom.

She smiled at me, but it did not reach her eyes. “God of Wrath fits you so well, Haden.”

"Was my father part of the reason you made me reject you?" I asked.

“Yes.” She leaned forward and kissed me. “Please forgive me.”

Her fingers traced my face slowly.

“I forgive you. I am always all in, even if I am angry at all the lies you’ve been telling. And I will always love you more.”

Storm hugged me, and I felt better. I felt closer to her. After this, I would do everything I could to show her that I love her, and I knew no one would ever compare to her.

“Alright, lovebirds, can we save the gods so that we can get out of this ugly place?” Ezra asked.

I glanced around the place that used to be my home.

The sky was black, with swirls of red and silver in the clouds, like it would rain down misery at any moment.

The trees were all dead, the ground charred and slightly burning.

Della’s hand gripped mine as she gasped.

I looked to see what she was looking at and smiled at the field of red lilies growing beside us.

I turned to the black castle that stood nearby.

It was the only building in Hell, and it dominated the space.

It had seven towers, one for each of us gods.

My tower was split into three levels: the living area, my art room, and my bedroom at the top.

I glanced at Della and couldn’t help but think how out of place she was here.

Something this beautiful should not be in Hell.

“Alright, we need a plan.” I turned to them.

“You will go in and tell them that you know what they are doing,” Della started. “You will make them believe that you like the idea. You will use Thea and Cassius as a fake offering to join their plans.”

“What are they even doing?” Cassius asked.

“They are taking the souls of gods and their mates, using dark magic to bind them and consume them for their power, taking it as their own. Because the Gods of Hell do not have magic or any real power. They need both to take over Elloryon.”

“Fucking hell, what kind of siblings do you have, Haden?” Ezra sighed over dramatically.

“They are literally made of sin.” I stared at him.

“Right.” He nodded.

“They can’t take their souls for themselves until they have everyone they want. The magic can only be done once. So, the missing gods and their mates are in there somewhere. While you convince them that you are like them, Ezra and I will be getting the gods out of there.”

That was actually a good plan.

“I called for the God of Death in Valynth to come. I don’t know if he will make it in time to help me rip their souls out, though.”

“He’s almost here.” Della smiled.

“How?” I asked.

“I saw you and him killing your siblings.” Della turned to Thea and Cassius. “Are you two alright with the plan?”

“Yes,” they said together.

Something odd passed over Della’s face, like she knew something we didn’t.

“Alright, let's get this over with,” Della sighed.

I pulled her to me, giving her forehead a kiss. When I pulled back, my gaze danced over her face, and I frowned.

“I love you. Is there something you are still keeping from me?”

“I love you more,” she whispered as she leaned up and kissed me. “He is here.”

We turned to see the God of Death smiling at us. Somehow, he looked like he belonged here with his shadows circling him and his red eyes glowing.

“You called?”

“It’s time to rip souls from gods.” I nodded. “This is Cassius, Ezra, Thea, and my wife, Della.”

Cassius immediately stepped between Thea and the good-looking god dressed in all black.

“I’m not interested.” Death smiled at Cassius.

“Miss me, friend?” Ezra smiled. Death rolled his eyes and looked at Della. His head tilted to the side, and I stepped forward, blocking her from his gaze.

“Again, I’m not interested in your mate.” Death sighed. “She really has no soul.”

“No.”

“Interesting.” Death’s eyes stared intently at Della, and I still didn’t like it.

“You can see souls? Like, all the time?” Thea asked.

“Yes.” He nodded.

“Do you have a name?” Cassius asked.

“You can call me Death; in my realm, gods' names are sacred. We do not share them.”

I filled him in on the plan. He agreed to go with me, hidden by his magic. As we made our way to the castle together, Death’s eyes gleamed with excitement about what we were about to do.