Della looked at Diath and sighed.
“Wait, if only gods can read that book, then how did I?” Cassius whispered to Thea. Abe and I glanced at him, his lips twitched.
“You became a god when yours and Thea’s souls fused in Hell. You are the God of Blood and Vengeance.” Abe chuckled softly when Cassius’ face fell. Thea grinned at Cassius.
“I could never figure out why Diath hated Haden so much when she loved all of her other children. It was also odd that Malamay hated all of thembutHaden.”
Avesh’s face fell.
“Haden was the only true son of Malamay. The only one created of both his star and Diath's, unfortunately you still used theBook of the Deadto create him.” Della stared at Avesh. “You and Diath created six of the seven children. You told her how to do it with theBook of the Dead.And you used mostly her star to create them because you didn’t want a high chance that they’d be heavenly. Malamay figured out what you and Diath did, but instead of turning you in, he begged her for a son. That was all he wanted, but by then it was too late. We already figured out what had happened, but Diath used her magic to bind Malamay’s tongue about the parentage of her other children.
“You were the mastermind behind all of this. You were going to become Diath’s mate when they took over Elloryon. You had the knowledge to pull this off. You betrayed us for power and greed. I hope it was worth it, Avesh.”
“Fuck you,” Avesh sneered as he thrashed around like a wild animal caught in a trap.
“All of the old gods who are in favor of his punishment being death, please raise your hand.” Della glanced around as every single one of them raised their hand. Della raised her hand as well as she smiled. “I will take great pleasure in this, Avesh.”
Della looked at Thea and gave her a smirk that I didn’t understand until she wrapped her star mist around his wristsand ankles, lifting him high in the air. Della lifted her hands and began pulling his body apart slowly—just like Thea had done with Luren.
Avesh’s screams echoed around the dead silent field. No one dared look away from what Della was doing. Gods, her power was suffocating all of us. It pulsed like Abram’s did, demanding that we all bow to it. Avesh was begging for mercy, and every time he did, Della would stop pulling for a moment before starting again.
She was toying with him. Then suddenly she yanked her hands apart, ripping Avesh apart so his body splattered in pieces on the ground. Storm stood with her back toward me. Her breathing was labored, and I thought it was because she was angry. But she turned toward me with a look of fear.
“Haden,” she muttered as her eyes rolled back and she started to fall to the ground.
“Storm?” I called for her as I caught her with my star mist. She didn’t answer me as I slowly laid her head in my lap.
“Abe!” I called out, but he was already next to me. Mikel came running over too. Della was breathing, but it was shallow. “What’s wrong with her?” I asked.
Thea was shooting her healing magic out toward her but pulled it back quickly.
“Nothing,” she said.
“She isn’t sick; she’s fading because she was a star and wasn’t reborn. She shouldn’t be in the realm this long, but she sealed the stars off with her decree.” Abe looked her over before looking me dead in the eyes. “She also used a lot of magic without her soul; that could be adding to it too.”
“She needs part of your soul,” Mikel demanded.
I didn’t hesitate. Lifting my hand, I summoned my soul forward and ripped half of it out of me, yelling to the heavens at the searing pain coursing through me. My orange soul was stillsurrounded by the silver glow of Della’s soul. The two of them were so intertwined that it looked like they had always been together. I supposed, in a way, they had.
The clearing was silent as the gods and goddesses watched with worried eyes. Abe looked up at me.
“Take a small part of mine too; she will need a lot of energy to stay with us.”
“What happens if she can’t wake up?” Ezra asked.
“I do not know, and that is not good.”
“Take part of mine too,” Ezra said quickly.
Then gods and goddesses began lining up to offer parts of their souls to Della. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride that my mate was cared for by so many.
“I can’t see her fate anymore, Haden; she is fading too quickly.” Abe urged me to quicken my movements. I took turns summoning a small sliver of each god and goddess willing. Panic filled me as I tried desperately to make sure Della did not leave me. I already knew that I would not survive if she died.
“Take a big chunk of mine.” I looked up at Remiah, who knelt in front of me. “It was her soul to begin with.”
Mikel opened his mouth to protest because she was with child, but I acted quickly, pulling a large part of Remiah’s soul out and giving it to Della. To keep her safe and strong for the baby, I summoned Mikel’s soul out as well and slammed them together to make one whole soul before ripping it back in two and putting them back into each other. Mikel gave me an appreciative look. Remiah would be stronger with his soul inside of her.
I looked down at Della when she began glowing like a damn star in the sky. Everyone stepped back, watching her with wide, anxious eyes. But I held her hand tightly, rubbing her face with my other hand.
