Chapter 1
Elysia shotthrough the realms like a fallen star, leaving garnet specks of blood in her wake. She hurtled, steel still stinging against her neck, from certain demise to the sanctuary of death’s realm.
Crashing against a cold stone floor, her head bounced helplessly, her body thudding against the long burgundy rug. The wet gurgle of her breath betrayed how close she was to entering the Deathlands traditionally. An oil lamp chandelier swung above her, its light flickering as her vision stuttered in and out.
Hot sticky blood ran from her neck and nose, staining the rug a deeper shade of violence. Beneath the blood, cold swept over her skin, shivers wracking her body. Somewhere in her awareness was the grim reality that she was losing too much blood. She needed to move, or to call out, but her eyes fluttered shut as her hand twitched uselessly in the direction of the imposing double doors. The chill on her skin grew heavier, her bones weighted down to the floor.
Alarmed voices entered the throne room, and dim relief clawed inside her chest despite how the world faded around her. Straining, she managed to loll her head to the side. Worn black leather boots strode closer, pounding against the stone and coming to crouch beside her.
A dark and soothing presence washed over her like a gentle rain. She relaxed into his familiar atmosphere, the endless onslaught of pain growing more distant. Gods, she was tired. She wanted so very much to go to sleep.
“Don’t you dare.” The words were a harsh order, startling her eyes back open. Though she couldn’t see his face, she recognized Aidan’s masculine voice, forcing her back from the brink of darkness.
The god of the dead’s warm body settled behind her, as strong but sure hands slipped beneath her hair, carefully placing her head onto his lap. He pressed something firmly against her neck, and then his smooth voice took on an undercurrent of anger that heightened as he spoke to someone else.
“Get Maya now.” He hesitated. “And bring the dirt.”
Elysia stared up at him, mumbling incomprehensibly. “It worked.”
One strong, dark brow arched at her.
“Your name,” she tried again, still unable to speak clearly.
He didn’t respond at first, the lines on his face deepening as his eyes carefully catalogued every injury and spot of blood from the crown of her head down to her toes.
“But what if it hadn’t?” The quiet words seemed to be more to himself, but she still caught the here-then-gone whisper of fear.
Her blood stained the whorls of his fingers, but in her half-coherent state all she could think was how much she liked his hands, and how nice it was to have someone touch her so softly. No one ever touched her like this. His hands continued to stroke her hair, and a gentle ease sunk into her body, muting the pain to the point her whole body sighed against him.
Maya, the woman she’d first met in the Deathlands’ gothic woods, dropped to the floor beside them, her large, sturdy leather work bag hitting the floor with a smack. Without word or delay, she inspected Elysia. Muttering to herself, she noted her findings. “Concussion. Shattered nose. Chipped teeth. Broken ribs andbruised kidneys. Older half-healed injuries. More blood loss than is sustainable from her neck.”
A growl tore through Aidan’s chest. “Can you do it or not?”
“Got the dirt,” a softer bass cut in, half out of breath.
Aidan spoke again, harsher this time. “Maya.”
“I’ll fix what I can, but she’s too far gone.”
Aidan grunted while continuing whatever magic that dripped deeper and deeper into Elysia, turning her to mush. She floated away unaware of the sharp slicing pain on her palm, or how terribly Maya’s healing hurt.
The relaxing anesthetic of Aidan’s power cut off abruptly. “Elysia, listen to me. Can you hear me?”
She bit back her cry of pain. Bones were knitting, lungs reviving, and none of it was something anyone should ever be awake for, but blue eyes of flame bore down on her, demanding she hear and answer. He squeezed her hand, and blood and dirt wept from the edges of their palms.
“Tell me I can heal you or you’re going to die.”
Her face scrunched and she mouthed the word.Yes.
“Whatever it takes?”
Concern flashed through her, but then her neck became fire as skin sealed, and veins closed. She choked out another yes. Instantly, Aidan’s power overtook her, and she sank against him, consciousness fading as he murmured lilting words of promise and petition.
Deep in her own abyss, she never heard his quiet rumble.
“Welcome home, love, I’ve been waiting for you.”
Chapter 2
