“Here with us…” I finished softly.
Shit. I hadn’t expected that. Louis seemed so sure they’d break free in hours, and it felt like we’d been in the underworld for so long.
Maybe time didn’t move the same in this world.
Also… “The gods have been in the same section as the Hellbringers all along?”
Asher nodded. “Looks like it. They can’t control them, though, so their focus would have been on escaping only. They need to control us to control the Hellbringers.”
Their plan was complicated and full of holes. Not huge holes, but decent sized ones. I guess they hadn’t expected to lose touch with us for so many years, hadn’t expected we would be strong and independent and think on our own. They’d lost the advantage of not raising us to be evil and power hungry like they were.
No doubt they’d had Plan B’s on how to ensure our cooperation, which probably involved killing our loved ones if we didn’t, but nothing had worked out for them. Something I was going to be super grateful for. Maybe the Fates didn’t completely hate us.
Maddison. Come to us…
The voice again, at the end of the golden path, which was leading straight into the lava that ran like a river across half of the land here. In the distance I could see cliffs, and something told me that was the edge I’d stood on very long ago. The world had been dark to me then, my powers locked away, so I hadn’t seen what lay beyond. But now I could. I could see it all.
I wasn't going to reach the lava in time though, because a bunch of fucking gods had just exited from those cliffs, and they were rocketing toward us. There were more than I expected. Ten at least. Were they multiplying down here like fucking rabbits?
“We need a plan,” I said quickly. “Some way to contain them so one of us can get to the Hellbringers.”
Deep in my heart, I knew I had to be the one to deal with the Hellbringers. How I knew that was anyone’s fucking guess, but it had to be me. I was the one they called. I was the one to take the risk. That meant I had to convince Asher to try to buy me some time.
He heard my thoughts, and his were dark and angry, but he didn’t spill any of that out into the world.
“I love you, Maddison,” he said so fast it was almost a blur of words. “This is … wrong. I don’t want you to be the one to control those beasts, but … it’s the path.” He pulled me closer, expression fierce. “I will kill every god here and destroy the worlds above and below if you’re hurt. Don’t die, okay?”
My heart. My fucking heart.
Asher’s lips crashed into mine, one last kiss. “Find the Hellbringers. I will keep the gods away from you.”
Storms raged around him as everything lit up gold, his skin, eyes, hair. He was my golden god, and despite the urgency, I needed one more second to stare at him, to drink in everything that was Asher, just in case this was the end for all of us.
“I love you,” I whispered, and his face tightened. He brushed a gentle caress across my cheek, turned, and took off, heading for the gods. One versus ten. It was not great odds, so I needed to move my ass. He could maybe buy me a few minutes.
I wouldn't waste them.
Chapter 31
“Maddison! You belong to me. I’m your mother, and you will stop what you’re doingright now.”
Lotus’s voice blasted across the world but I paid her no mind. She was my mother, but she had not raised, loved, or wanted me. I was a means to an end, and even if I had thought of her as a true member of my family, there was no way I’d be on board with her plan.
I wouldn’t bend to the will of others.
I heard the gods clashing. Storms raged around, fueled by Lotus, Asher, and me. My power was stronger than ever, lightning bursting from my fingertips when I swirled my hands too fast.
There was no time for me to play with electricity though. Asher wouldn’t be able to hold them off for long. I needed to kick my ass into high gear and find those Hellbringers.
Keeping my mind locked with Asher’s, I saw that he was hitting them with everything he had. I gave him as much help as I could, our energy drifting almost seamlessly between us.
Just as the Atlantean text said. True mates that were also gods could share power.
Enough,Asher said, cutting off the flow.You need all your energy.
He was probably right, but the urge to send more his way was strong.
Focusing on the path again, I followed it straight to the river of lava, hoping that when I got closer I’d know how to find the creatures. Surely, they didn’t expect me to plunge into that river of red, oozing, spitting lava, clearly hotter than the fucking sun itself.
