I felt Samkiel laugh down the bond.“I love you.”
But it was Eryx that held my attention, his hands tucked into his pockets. “I wondered if those rumors were true, and now I have my confirmation. A god in love with an Ig’Morruthen.” Eryx tsked before taking a step back. “What a tragedy.”
“I wouldn’t say so,” I defended myself.
“No?” He tsked. “Didn’t you hear what happened to the last?”
That got my attention. “What?”
“I wouldn’t worry about old history right now. I think you all have bigger problems,” Eryx said, waving me off, clearly not interested in pursuing the topic any further.
Kaden and I stood straighter at his tone. We knew a threat when we heard one.
“Is that so?” Kaden asked.
Eryx smiled and ran his thumb along his lower lip, his yellow, vertically slit pupils glowing a fraction brighter as he looked at me. “I wonder if you would feel the same about your World Ender if you knew what he has done.”
“What he’s done?” I asked. “You mean age-old battles started by those above him? Or the burden he carries in the form of a crown he didn’t ask for? Be more specific.”
Another spike of emotion hit our bond, this one filled with gratitude and pure admiration.“Only my wife would stand up for me in a realm surrounded by enemies. You mad woman, my love for you knows no bounds.”
“He’s a fool to think I won’t rip his throat out. You don’t deserve the disrespect, but I can show him someone who does.”
“Behave, my love,”he gently admonished.“Words mean nothing when you don’t respect those who toss them. He is nothing to us. I only wish for your safe return.”
“Oh, you are protective of him, it seems.” Eryx’s eyes shimmered with amusement.
Kaden snorted as he tossed a glance my way. “Oh, you have no idea.”
“Listen, I get it. He and I didn’t necessarily see eye to eye when we first met. I actually tried to crush him with a building, but I won’t tolerate any disrespect to him, regardless of some ancient blood feud and past transgressions. I know, he slayed monsters, etcetera, etcetera, but—”
Eryx shook his head, cutting me off. “Oh, he slayed plenty, yes, but I think his first mistake was taking the head of Umemri’s wife.”
“What? No. You must be mistaken. We haven’t killed anyone. We’ve fought …”
Fuck. Otherworld beasts. I swallowed as realization hit. This wasn’t going to be a productive visit at all. From the sounds of an approaching horde echoing through the cavern and the look on Eryx’s face, he meant for it to end in violence.
“Continue,” Eryx said. “Fought what, exactly?”
“Any monster that my husband has slain either attacked us first or was rampaging through innocent towns and villages. None wore the face of a woman.”
“You and I both know not all monsters need horns nor fangs to be one, Ayla. Some manage perfectly without.”
My mouth set in a tight line as bone clacking against stone came from behind us. It really was a disturbingly gross sound.
“Dianna.”
“Wait,”I said in reply.“I want to see where this goes before you barrel in and we do more damage than good. I don’t believe Death would send us here willingly to die. He needs something from us, and I want to find out why.”
“I need you to understand how hard this is for me and what you are asking.”
“I know,”I said.“And for that, I am sorry, but please, just wait.”
“Five minutes.”
I sent him a small laugh, amused at all the times he had given me that same time frame.
“Four minutes,”he said again.“Or I reduce the Otherworld to waste.”
