“Alan?” Kirill asked. “Vhat about you?”
Sweet, soft-spoken Alan stepped forward and hugged Kirill as his answer. Kirill hugged him back and the other men joined in until it was a celebratory huddle.
“What do we have to do?” Rick asked eagerly.
“I offer you a home for your soul—a place to live on forever,” Kirill declared with the tone of ceremony. “Do you accept me as your god in exchange for zis afterlife?”
The dead lions looked at me, eyes filling in concern. I don't know what Anubis said to them when he offered them a place to live, but I doubt it was this. I was a little surprised myself, but I wasn't worried. I knew Kirill well enough to guess at his intentions. This wasn't about taking from me, it was a way to share my burden and a way to make sure our brothers were safe.
“You aren't betraying me,” I assured them. “I can't give you what Kirill can and his connection with you will allow him to take you with us in case we ever have to leave the territory.”
“But, Tima,” Hamish said, “youare our goddess.”
“And I will remain so. Kirill and I will become a pantheon; we'll share you. You will not lose me by accepting him; you will regain your home and family.”
I didn't tell them the other benefit of Kirill accepting allegiance from the Intare—that if I should ever die, he could keep them alive and sane; the burden wouldn't fall solely on Lesya. That gave me peace, as Kirill had known it would. As much as I hoped to live forever, it was good to know that if I should die, I could go into the Void without looking back.
“I accept your offer.” Hamish held his hand out to Kirill. “I'm your lion.”
Kirill grinned and clasped his brother's hand. Light started to seep from between their fingers. It extended up both of their forearms to shimmer into their bodies. But while it settled into Kirill, it only grew brighter in Hamish until he seemed to be made of light.
“I give you into my brother's keeping for now, Hamish,” Kirill said solemnly.
Azrael stepped forward then, his scythe in hand, and swept the blade through Hamish's glowing soul. The scythe siphoned the illuminated phantom of our lion into itself like medicine into a syringe. The writing on the blade came alive, brightening into a gleaming pale blue. Soul onboard.
“Is that safe?” Alan asked hesitantly.
Everyone looked at him in surprise and he grinned.
“Just kidding. I'm next.” Alan stepped forward. “Beam me up, Azzy.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Azzy,” I repeated Alan's nickname for my angel as we stepped out of Pride Palace's tracing room. “I like that.”
“Please, do not call me Azzy, Carus,” Azrael begged. “It makes me sound like an old, British rock star with bad hair.”
“Well, now you've ruined it,” I've grumbled.
“Kirill.” Azrael held his scythe out pointedly—pun intended.
“Vhat must I do to free them?” Kirill looked at the scythe as if it might have a release button.
“Just reclaim them,” Az instructed. “Place your hand on the blade. I will release the souls to you.”
Kirill pressed his palm against the widest part of the scythe and the glowing blue writing began to pulse. Light flowed into Kirill's palm until the writing on the blade went dormant. Kirill removed his hand and turned his palm upright to cradle a shimmering ball of sky-blue light. Within the light, there was movement—brighter lights swirling like fishes in a bowl.
“Now, release them.” Azrael lifted his scythe and it vanished.
The Black Lion extended the ball of light before him and its blue light paled. It turned white, then the sphere lifted from his hand. The swirling shapes separated from the orb and flowed forward into four columns. The pillars took the shape of men and then the light faded into colors. Rick, Hamish, Noel, and Alan stood before us looking as vibrant as they had in Aaru. They stared around themselves in amazement, then gave a great, united whoop of excitement.
Noel ran to the dining hall to use the intercom. “We're back, lion bitches! Get your asses down here and welcome us home!”
“Noel!” I snarled.
Noel's eyes went wide.
“It's nearly midnight and there are children in the palace now.Youngchildren! I don't want them to hear foul language. You are not living with jackals anymore. Is that understood?”
