The heirs erupted into excited chatter, proposing increasingly ridiculous places to portal-dump my father.
“We should talk to the other two ancient gods first,” I said, rubbing my temples. “They battled Ruin eons ago and survived.”
The room was shocked into silence. Five pairs of predatory eyes locked onto me.
“Twoothergods?” Silas narrowed his amber eyes. “And you’re just mentioning this now?”
“My mate doesn’t owe you any explanation,” Killian snapped.
“Isis and Nephthys dragged me through time to show me their battle with Ruin,” I said, cutting off the brewing argument.
“What?” The word exploded from multiple throats at once.
“I was shocked too.” I nodded. “It wasn’t pretty. Imagine Earth when it was mostly sand and bad weather. Three gods duking it out: my father, who went by Ra back then before his ‘Ruin’ rebrand, against the other two in a death duel.”
“You should not risk yourself,” Killian growled. “You should have come to me.”
“It’s a little late for that now,” I said defensively. “Didn’t I say they dragged me across time? I didn’t have much choice.”
“Barbie came to check if Killian was with another woman,” Sy chimed in. “Then the gods from behind the red door called her. They’ve been harassing her for a while.”
“We can use them,” Rowan said.
“Not in the way we’d want,” I said. “They’re trapped, broken, and half-dead. Shadows of their former selves. That’s no way to live, and I wouldn’t wish it on any enemy, except for Ruin.”
Killian narrowed his eyes. “They’ve been inside the Red Room this whole time?”
I gave him a non-committal look. “Mm-hmm.”
“When my men reported that only you could access the Red Room,” Killian drawled, “I assumed it was because the Queen’s Suite chose you.”
“The ancient ones witnessed Ruin’s first rising. Their knowledge could be the key that unlocks our victory.” Rowan circled back.
“Then why were they defeated?” Silas countered.
“They were tricked,” I said. “They underestimated him and thought Earth magic would work on an evil space god. Look, do you want to meet them or not? They’re cranky, half-mad, and speak in riddles, but they want Ruin dead just as much as we do.”
“Take us to them now,” Silas demanded.
“Not now,” I said.
“Why not?” the other heirs asked, their eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“I’ll have to talk to them first and ask them to allow me to bring friends,” I said. “They don’t like surprises. Last surprise they got was my father eating half their essence.”
“We should prepare properly," Cade said. "Research their history, formulate relevant questions, perhaps bring traditional offerings. I would rather not offend primordial deities through ignorance.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Bea chimed in, her face flushing. She worshipped her mage prince.
“No more secrets,” Rowan stated. “If there are other ancient powers in play, we need to know.”
The door burst open before I could argue. Cami led a flood of scouts into the penthouse, the smell of fear and blood clinging to them. Vampires, shifters still half-transformed, mages with trembling hands, fae scouts who’d lost their otherworldly grace to pure terror—they crowded into the space, their panic thick enough to choke on.
The fae scouts gravitated toward Rowan despite his exile, as if the fae prince’s presence could anchor them.
“Report,” Killian commanded.
The heirs abandoned the table, forming a semi-circle. Power radiated from them—princes and kings braced for war, yet dreading the news they were about to receive.
