Pain is part of the tapestry of life. The dark strands only stand out against the light.
“Find her!” I bellow.
My cadre blinks at me as I run my hands through my hair and stride to the spot where the impossible just disappeared. It can’t be her. I would have felt it. I would know if she resided in the afterlife. I rub my temples and relive the moment her eyes flamed with lightning and her wings burst from her back. Glorious wings doused in the same colors as her aura, with a shimmering gold on the underside. Gods haven’t been made in eons for a reason. They are an unstable, volatile race. The primordials are different, made by Kay from the fabric of the universe. We are steadfast, no matter the storm facing us. But it’s a fifty-fifty chance whether the other gods remain sane after being around a few generations. I’ve killed more of my race than I care to admit, and I’ve captured and imprisoned those that proved difficult to kill. They no doubt plot and scheme my demise from their thrones in Tartarus. It isn’t only mindless beasts that are being unleashed. It’s terrifyingly organized and intelligent gods with centuries of pent up anger.
“Archan,” Jed whispers. I glance at him as we both realize what we’ve done. Hurt the woman who rules my heart and owns its loyalty.
Jed tilts his chin at Zac. “Search her known residences. I will check the cave.”
Michael rubs his jaw with his hand. “If it’s her, then Kay kept her hidden from us on purpose.”
“It’s her,” Jed and I say. Her aura, her scent, her voice, her body, her kiss. Damn, I should have known; no wonder she is angry. But, that has nothing on the rage rippling through my body. She tore out our hearts that night, and won’t be easily forgiven or trusted by anyone. She’s not stupid, she knows—meaning she’s tried Duncan already, or I was her first port of call, and now she’s hiding somewhere, licking her wounds. They still don’t compare to the way she ripped my soul apart. No, Natia Waterford needs to pay for her sins, and I’m the only person going to deliver that punishment.
“Phone Duncan,” I state just as Lucifer strolls into the room, twisting a silver cufflink through the cuff of his shirt.
“What did I miss?” he drawls. My brother isn’t evil, he’s just in charge of hordes of foul beings. In fact, he probably has fewer sins than the rest of us. Being the King of Hell doesn’t allow for much downtime to get into shenanigans.
Jed’s phone echoes around the room. Once, twice, three times. Come on, Duncan. Somehow, it’s important to know if I was the first person she sought when she returned. “Jed?” Duncan answers. “Did you find her?”
Fiery anger pours into my veins. I glance at Jed, who catches my eye and grimaces. “So you’ve seen her?” Jed asks.
“No, I said I would call if I found her. We agreed. Who are you talking about?”
My shoulders relax as understanding dawns. “We have Marsha in protective custody. She’s at the tower. Lawrence can’t reach her,” I state.
“Good, so who were you talking about?” Duncan pushes.
Wherever she’s gone, she’s alone. I suck in a breath at the thought of her suffering. She will suffer for her actions, but not alone. No, I want every tear that falls, every scream that echoes, and every shudder that ripples under her skin to be because of me. I will be there every step of the way as she pays back her pound of flesh, and she will both love and hate every second.
Questions whirl through my mind. Where was she? Why did Kay hide her? Why is she back? The last answer is obvious; she’s here to prevent the end of the world. Even in death, she can’t escape the burden of responsibility.
Jed runs his hands through his hair, leaving it sticking out at odd angles. His pain radiates from him like a beacon. Hurting her will take its toll. But she’s strong, like a beacon of light and hope in this fucked up universe. She will forgive him. Me? I’ll make her forgive me.
“Archan?” Duncan says.
The words get stuck in my throat. If I say her name, she might disappear. Jed sighs. “Natia.”
“What!” Zee roars from down the phone. There’s a scuffle in the background.
“It’s not funny, Archan,” Duncan grits down the phone.
“Because it’s not a joke,” I state, glancing at Lucifer. Who is staring at me with a slack jaw and unblinking eyes. “She appeared today.”
“It’s a trick. Lawrence tried coming at us with force. Now he’s trying to find a more subtle yet more devastating tactic.”
“We tested her. It is Natia.”
“How?” Duncan shouts.
“A blade which draws the truth from demons. Wards which only the gods can pass through. A net created to hold anything but a god.”
“You stabbed her?” Zee bellows.
“I meant, how is she back?” Duncan chokes out. “She’s a god? Does that mean you were wrong about being obliterated when killed by a god?”
“No, it means we were wrong about her demise. A god did not kill her, she died by her own hand.”
Silence stretches between us.
