There was a long pause before he sighed heavily. “You gave the Gods of Hell theBook of Dark Magic?” he asked. “So they can use it against the gods?”
“Yes. I left it in Hell for them.” I swallowed hard at my treason. “Just like I promised, unlike you, who is making me search for the fucking book. I should go back down there and take it back until I have theBook of the Dead.”
“Careful,” he warned.
“I am not scared of you.” I glared. “I am helping the Gods of Hell escape, and you couldn’t get the book in your greedy little hands and give it to me? You only gave me half of your side of the bargain.”
He chuckled softly. “You said to find it. I found it—you’re welcome.”
“Maybe I should only let half the gods out of Hell.” I stepped toward him with anger.
The others just sat in their chairs watching the exchange. I didn’t need to see their faces to know who they were. Disappointment coursed through me; they had all turned their backs on Elloryon, the old gods, and the heavens. And for what, power and greed? They would all die for it.
“Gods, Ardella, you are not like the other gods and goddesses. What will the gods say when they learn that you are their villain—that you helped the Gods of Hell because you fell in love with one of them?”
I needed to calm down. These guys couldn’t be aware that I was on to them.
“I do not care what they say. You promised me that no harm would come to Haden from you or his siblings if I did this. I want to hear you promise it again.”
He took a step forward, and the scent of a frosty, winter morning filled my lungs. Haden’s face popped into my mind at the smell, and it made my throat tight with longing.
“Do you not trust me?” He sounded offended that I didn’t. I didn’t answer him.
He sighed heavily when he realized I would not be answering him. After a moment he slid his hood off, and stormy blue eyes gazed at me. My chest stopped moving. My heart wasn’t beating. Everything was at a standstill. I knew it was him, but seeing him stand in front of me felt surreal. He trusted me enough to show me it was him. The idiot was falling straight into my trap.
“Malamay.”
He gave me a smile that resembled everything about Haden. God, he and Haden looked nearly identical except for the hair. Malamay’s hair was brown instead of dark blonde.
“I appreciate how much you love my son, but there is a lot at stake here.”
Malamay had been made a star because the gods thought he shouldn’t be punished for eternity for his mate’s mistakes. The stars had been created to help the heavens and the old gods, but what they hadn’t realized was that Malamay was just as corrupt as Diath had been. He was supposed to be in charge of gods that died. He gave them a choice—be reborn or become a star with him.
However, he had been collecting gods and goddesses up here without allowing them to be reborn. Malamay was being selective about who he kept here, though. Malamay wanted to take over Elloryon with his children. He thought we were all oblivious to his plan. But Abram and I figured it out a long time ago.
“I’m sorry, but you need to explain why the hell you are here pretending to be a star.” I narrowed my eyes. Malamay stared at me oddly before standing up and walking toward me.
“What do you think stars are?” he asked. “Dead gods. The old gods really do not share much with you lower gods, do they?”
Lower gods, that term pissed me off. The stars did not hold power over the gods, not really. I glanced at the hooded figures as they each took off their hoods, revealing faces that could only belong to gods.
“But…”
“Della, I appreciate your passion for loving Haden, but he is not the god we are concerned for.”
I didn’t understand. “Promise me now, or I will end your children.”
His eyes flashed with his frost magic. Malamay reached out and grabbed my shoulders, staring at me intently.
“No harm will come to Haden, I promise.” His eyes did the same thing that Haden’s did when he was sad. Anxiety squeezed the air from my lungs. “But he will not forgive you when he finds out what you did.”
“That is fine.” Yes, he would. He loved me so fucking much that he would forgive me for anything. But Malamay didn’t understand that.
“Are you going to tell me what you are using theBook of the Deadfor?” His stormy eyes traced over my face.
“Are you going to tell me what you are using theBook of Dark Magicfor?” I asked.
“No, and you better not tell Haden about our deal. He is unaware of who the stars are and that his siblings are planning something big.”
