Not even anger at her for throwing him into Hell for a century, or for being at her mercy for millennia.
Straightening, he strolled over and stopped in front of her. With his last oath to Inanna null and void since Eve had broken the binding, Reynner made a new one. “Listen to me well, you foolish female. I will say this only once. You ever come near my mate or me again, I will end you, and that is a promise.”
Her eyes widened when he finally let her see the truth of exactly whom she was dealing with. Not the bound male she’d tormented, but a powerful Empyrean, one who could crush not only her, but her pantheon, too.
A muffled sound was her answer.
“Good. We understand each other well.”
A tremor in the air distracted him. Reynner frowned at the male who came around the bend of the balcony. Aerén followed behind.
So, his prince was responsible for this latest guest and for bringing Eve here.
Not that he needed any help. Inanna wouldn’t try her shit now that he was released from her.
Aerén grinned, gave him the thumbs-up sign, and vanished.
Reynner studied the male approaching. Swarthy skinned, dark-haired, the male’s narrow face was set in rigid lines. Dumuzi, the God of Fertility and the Underworld was not a happy man.
With a terse nod at Reynner, he stopped in front of his wayward consort. Inanna’s restrained movements became frantic. Of all her liaisons, her consort was the only one whom she had a thread of fear for, it seemed.
“What’s going on?” Dumuzi asked him.
Reynner wasn't surprised the male had no idea what she was up to since he spent most of his time in the underworld.
“It will bode well for the future of the Sumerian pantheon if you keep her leashed.” At his warning, Dumuzi pinched the bridge of his nose then dropped his hand, his gaze hardening.
Reynner released her, and she stumbled forward. Dark fire burned in her eyes. She glared at him. “Youdare trap me?”
Dumuzi grabbed her arm. “Enough. I put up with a lot, Inanna. But this goes too far. You would put our pantheon at war with the Empyreans when it barely thrives?”
She shoved at her mate. Dumuzi didn't let go. Anger rolling off him, he escorted his wayward consort back to their pantheon.
The gods were a scandalous lot, but Dumuzi had to be admired for putting up with Inanna’s shit. The idiot must be blind with love to have agreed to spend half his life in Hell for her.
Inanna, however, was no longer his problem.
Reynner smiled when he thought of Eve waiting…no, not waiting, more likely ready to tear into him. Her safety was all that mattered, though. When he thought of her going against a crazy bitch like Inanna, he broke out in a cold sweat all over again. Yeah, best she was out of the way while he dealt with this problem.
Now, time to go release his mate, and face her ire.
Chapter 29
Reynner took the stairwell to the dungeon. The air carried the slight smell of mold. A cool breeze drifted over his bare chest and he remembered that Eve still wore her damp clothes from her fall into the fountain. He jogged down the steps.
It would be a while, hell, a damn long time before he got rid of the sheer terror seizing him every time he thought about her lying broken on the floor.
He rubbed a hand over his face. Eve had to understand that she couldn’t place herself in danger like that again. Fighting Inanna to save him... He frowned. How had she known what to do? For millennia, he’d tried everything to get rid of the curse.
He walked into the dungeon and nodded at his servant. Izzeri rose from the ground and flashed out.
Eve sat on the dusty floor, her face hidden in her knees, her arms wrapped around them.
His leathers creaking, he crouched in front of her.
“Go away, you fiend.” The words were muffled. Ah, so she was aware he’d come back. He slipped into her mind, surrounded her with his love and kissed her bent head.
I love you, Eve,he said through their mind-link.
