Page 29

CHAPTER 29

AURORA

T he soul of Mr . Addison took them to a far-off land where the scorching sands didn’t cool under the setting sun. He had fled by horseback, by sea, and finally on the back of a humped animal. But there would be no hiding from Death in the land of sand and odd trees.

“We don’t have much time,” Cadel said as they stepped onto the scorching sands. “ Make this one quick.”

“Right, because I’ve enjoyed this—” Aurora cried as a sharp pain radiated from her shoulder to her fingertips. “ What’s happening?” She tore off Cadel’s jacket, looking for the cause of the pain. Angry welts formed and faded. They migrated to her chest. It felt as if she had swallowed fire. “ Thane’s hurt. We have to leave.”

“No.” Cadel grabbed her arms. “ You must collect this soul.”

The pain worsened. Her bones felt as if they were being broken and mended. “ Gods below, move.” Aurora pushed Cadel away before vomiting on the sand. A sharp pain radiated across her cheek before the vision in her left eye went dark. She touched her face to make sure her eye hadn’t fallen out of her head. “ I can’t see.”

“Aurora.” Cadel shook her. “ Listen to me. If we don’t collect this soul, you will fail and Death will win.”

The pain racing through her body proved a bigger worry than the soul calling to her. Aurora clawed at some unseen hand around her throat. “ He’s going to kill Thane . We have to go.”

“No,” Cadel cried. “ Listen to me. It’s not real. He’s doing this on purpose. Thane is fine.”

“No, he’s not. I can feel it.” She frantically felt for her eye. It had to be gone. There was too much pain and darkness.

“And I can’t. Thane and I are also connected. That’s why I am still here. Trust me.” Cadel’s voice was strained.

She knew Cadel was lying. She could hear his ragged breaths and see the sheen of sweat that coated his pale skin. “ I have to save him.”

“Then the curse will never be broken. You will fail. Death will not give you another chance.”

The pull of the soul was as strong as her pull to Thane . Death was not playing fair. She was not some stupid mortal for him to play with. “ I hate this. I am a god. You do not get to play with me!” she screamed at no one and at any god that was listening.

“Aurora, we need to hurry.” Cadel pointed to the sky that the sun would soon be rising in.

“I know,” Aurora snapped. “ But right now I can’t see out of my left eye. I feel like my skin is on fire. Can you give me a moment?” Aurora took a deep breath, sucking in the warm, dusty air. “ Fuck .” She gagged on the taste of blood in her mouth. She pressed her fingers to her eye. She could feel it flutter under her lid. But no matter how much she willed it, her vision would not return. She turned to Cadel . “ Do I have both my eyes?”

Cadel frowned. “ Yes . Of course.”

“Are you sure?” She blinked a couple times.

“Aurora, we are running out of time.” Cadel pointed to the horizon and the darkness fading.

“Fine.” She stomped into the large tent. The cloth walls flapped in the wind, causing the brass lanterns that hung from the ceiling to sway. They cast jewel-toned shadows on the lavish interior. The floor was covered in rugs and furs from animals that didn’t belong to the desert. Mr . Addison had filled his life with every bit of excess he could fit into it. Including the woman who stood before Aurora .

Rubies adorned her dark hair. Her lips were brushed with copper, and her eyes spoke of her true identity. One green and one dark as night. “ Envy ?”

“Ah, daughter of Life , what a surprise. Are you, too, one of Death’s pets?” Envy moved to the ornate sideboard that held glass bottles filled with different colored liquids. “ May I offer you a drink?”

“No. Why are you here?”

“Because he is my husband. Why else would I be here? Are you sure I can’t offer you something to drink? It will be a moment before he’s ready.” Envy rolled her eyes. “ He thinks he can talk his way out of his bargain with Death . Where is Thane ?”

“How do you know Thane ?” Aurora’s eyes watered from the thick scents that filled the closed-off space.

“We go back.” Envy smiled. Her one green eye shimmered in the low light. “ Well , not that far back. Such an eager lover, that Darkness . Always in such a hurry.”

“Thane, in a hurry?” Aurora laughed. “ Now I know you lie. Because my Darkness loves to take his time. He loves to spend all night doing what he does best.” Envy was a creature Fate made with a mortal. And since Envy was a demigod, Aurora could read her little tricks like written words. “ I’m here for the mortal’s soul. You are free to go wherever your kind runs off to.” Aurora waved the woman off.

“Aurora, what is taking so… Cassandara ?” Cadel stepped into the tent. “ How ? I mean, you should be dead. It’s been years.”

“Oh, you. What was your name, Cabel ? No , Caleb . Caden ? It doesn’t matter.” Envy waved off Cadel .

“That’s the woman you traded your soul for. Envy ?” Aurora pointed to the demigod.

“Envy? You’re a god?” Cadel frowned.

“Yes.” Envy smiled.

“No, worse. She’s a demigod.” Aurora brushed by the half-god and pushed into the dim interior of the next room. Mr . Addison lounged on a stack of cushions and pillows. He was handsome enough. He still had a head of dark hair, though too long for a man of his age. An age that was starting to show in the softness of his midsection and in the corners of his eyes.

“You are not what I expected.” Mr . Addison sat up. “ Please join me.” He motioned to the food and drink that were spread before him. “ I’m sure you’re tired from your travels.”

“I’m not. You have given your soul for my lord to keep—” Aurora’s words were cut off with a sharp pain that tore from her temple and across her jaw. She gripped her jaw, running her tongue over her teeth to make sure they were still in her head.

“Wait.” Mr . Addison stood. “ Make me a deal. Anything . Just let me have a few more years. Ten . Five . Anything . My wife is with child, and I would like to see the birth of my son.”

Aurora opened her jaw, stretching it, worried she wouldn’t be able to speak. “ She’s not with child.” Thank the stars that demigods could not produce offspring. “ You knew the price that would need to be paid. You have given your soul for my lord to keep. Now lie down to sleep, for your soul, I shall reap.”

“No—” Mr . Addison’s words spilled out in the bright red blood that dripped from his nose. He fell across the table of food and drink, his blood mixing with the deep reds of the wine. He rolled over, clutching his chest, trying to hold in his soul as his lifelines withered. His soul shivered as each line turned black. And then it was done. Aurora inhaled the soul. His greed and lust filled her.

“Fucking mortals.” Aurora pushed into the room.

Cadel stood alone in the space.

“Where’s Envy ?” Aurora held her jaw. The pain radiated up her cheek.

“She left. I didn’t know.” His faded blue eyes found Aurora’s . “ I thought she loved me.”

“Yes, well, gods will do that to you. Now let’s go before Death kills Thane .” Aurora barely made it out of the tent before she vomited blood. She swayed on her feet, staggering through the thick sand, falling to her knees.

Cadel hauled her to her feet. “ I hate you gods.”

Aurora leaned against him. “ So do I .”