“Does he know you have your crown, and you killed the one responsible for his sister’s death? Of course. He knows all.”
“I only need a few minutes with him.”
Other than with my little witch, it was the closest I’d ever come to begging. Charon sent me an icy look. That look softened as I glanced back at the water, swallowing around the lump in my throat.
“You would call him back from peace and love? Make him leave the other side, leave the people he hasn’t seen for so long? To reassure you?”
The disappointment in Charon’s voice was heavy. There weren’t many people whom I would allow to give me that look of grave consternation, and yet it had been the ferryman who was sent to find me after my family was slaughtered. The ferryman who’d ensured I could grow into the man I would become and one day take my throne. And, more importantly, live to find my bondmate.
I turned to walk away, unable to speak. Behind me, Charon heaved a sigh.
“You cannot speak to him, but I will pass on a message.”
I whirled and caught the hint of sympathy on his face before it went carefully blank.
“Agaliarept says Mammon is with him, and to stop feeling guilty. He asks you to protect Vas. Allow him his vengeance, but do not allow the rage in his blood to make him risk everything. Your friend wishes you a life full of love and happiness, and instructs you to guard that happiness with everything you have. And he says that if you ever become close to being a ruler like Lucifer, he will find a way to take you out, even from the other side. Although he has a feeling your witchling would never allow that to happen.”
I opened my mouth, but my throat had closed up. I clamped my mouth shut once more and nodded, but the ferryman wasn’t finished speaking.
“Your father says it wasn’t your fault. He says you need to release the guilt you have carried for so long. He should never have expected you to be able to keep Alette alive.”
I cleared my throat, but my voice was thick. “She was my sister.” I was her big brother. It was my job to keep her safe.
“And she wants you to know that she couldn’t have had a better brother. She wishes for you to finally let go of the past and embrace the future with your beautiful bondmate.”
I shuddered, longing to see her just once more. I opened my mouth, but Charon smiled at me.
“And your mother…” he frowned, then burst out laughing.
“She says you have lingered here too long, and need to get back to your bondmate. And she looks forward to watching over your grandchildren.”
My mouth dropped open, but the thought didn’t terrify me. No, the thought of my little witch, heavy with my child… it didn’t terrify me at all.
One day. When we were both ready.
Charon’s eyes cleared, and I knew they were gone. All of them. He gave me a faint smile. “Go, your majesty. Go and rule in peace. I look forward to a time where I will have far fewer souls to take to their final resting place.”
I nodded, the fracture in my heart healing, even though a part of it would always remain bruised, always long for those who’d left me too soon.
I turned, and Charon cleared his throat behind me.
“And tell your mate her father knows she is angry. But he trusts that she won’t let that anger consume her. He loves her more than he could ever have imagined loving anything or anyone. And,” he lowered his voice, “if you make her unhappy, he will find some way to make you pay.”
I was torn between laughing and scowling. But I merely nodded at Charon, certain he could see the gratitude in my eyes. He nodded back, and I went to find my mate.
24
DANICA
Iglanced at my bondmate, who raised one eyebrow at me. We sat on twin obsidian thrones, and I was making a mental note to find a cushion. Samael had ordered the second throne to be found and pulled out from where it had been hidden away in storage. He’d run one hand over it, murmuring that his mother had sat on it the last time it was in use. Other than ten of Samael’s demons, the throne room was empty.
And yet there was a huge, yawning space next to Samael’s throne. A space where Ag should have been standing. All of us felt them–the people we loved. Still here, butnothere.
Samael was still pissed about my whole almost-dying thing. I’d explained to him multiple times that since I was only half demon, it had been worth making Lucifer stab me so the Spell of Three would hit him. I hadn’tplannedto die, but at that point, it looked like I was going to die anyway.
Samael had beendispleasedby that argument. I’d then snapped at him that he should have told me about the fake artifact. We’d agreed to talk about it later, since Kazbiel was currently standing in front of us, his head bowed.
As soon as I told Samael who the demon was, and who had marched behind him, he’d promised we would carve out territory for those who had no one and nothing to return home to.
