“Alright, let's get this over with,” Della sighed.
I pulled her to me, giving her forehead a kiss. When I pulled back, my gaze danced over her face, and I frowned.
“I love you. Is there something you are still keeping from me?”
“I love you more,” she whispered as she leaned up and kissed me. “He is here.”
We turned to see the God of Death smiling at us. Somehow, he looked like he belonged here with his shadows circling him and his red eyes glowing.
“You called?”
“It’s time to rip souls from gods.” I nodded. “This is Cassius, Ezra, Thea, and my wife, Della.”
Cassius immediately stepped between Thea and the good-looking god dressed in all black.
“I’m not interested.” Death smiled at Cassius.
“Miss me, friend?” Ezra smiled. Death rolled his eyes and looked at Della. His head tilted to the side, and I stepped forward, blocking her from his gaze.
“Again, I’m not interested in your mate.” Death sighed. “She really has no soul.”
“No.”
“Interesting.” Death’s eyes stared intently at Della, and I still didn’t like it.
“You can see souls? Like, all the time?” Thea asked.
“Yes.” He nodded.
“Do you have a name?” Cassius asked.
“You can call me Death; in my realm, gods' names are sacred. We do not share them.”
I filled him in on the plan. He agreed to go with me, hidden by his magic. As we made our way to the castle together, Death’s eyes gleamed with excitement about what we were about to do.
Chapter 22
Haden
There was something odd lingering in the air as I headed from the main floor to the bottom story. I dragged Thea and Cassius along with my star mist. I hated being in this fucking place. Now that I had been out of here for so long, I could feel the way the walls, the air, everything here sucked the life from me. It was suffocating and reminded me of a life I never wanted to remember ever again—one filled with loneliness and misery. The castle walls were bare—no decor, rugs, or tapestries anywhere.
I don’t think I had ever really noticed how unpleasant this home was until I lived with Penelope and Henry. They knew how to make anywhere feel like home, but even they would not have know how to bring life to this dead, black castle. I paused when I heard my siblings talking.
I descended the black marble stairs, noting the shift in the warm air, which now felt frigid. Gods, it felt like winter down here. I paused, taking a moment to make my eyes red and slide my arrogance into place. When I reached the bottom of thestairs, I had to squint through the blindingly white lights at the end of the hallway. There were four doors on each side of me, but I didn’t go into any of them. Instead, I followed the faint murmuring at the end of the hallway.
Della and Ezra would be sneaking down after me, going into those rooms where I was sure the gods and their mates were at. I swallowed hard as I stepped forward.
“Miss me?” I smiled at my siblings when they jumped back. I saw Avesh strapped to a table, unconscious, and a small woman next to him with bright blonde hair.
“Haden,” Daya said, confused.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Elra hissed.
I looked at her and gave her a pointed look. “You really thought I wouldn’t notice the gods and goddesses going missing with their mates? I’m pretty quick to piece things together.” I glanced at Sydra. “It’s not like I am a sloth. I can do things in a timely manner.”
“Fuck you,” she hissed.
I looked over my brother and his ridiculous outfit, making sure to give him a look full of disgust.
