“H-him. Only him.”
“He is innocent and won’t come to any harm while he’s in my arms. Pray for yourself.”
A watery smile trembles across her lips as her eyes flutter closed.
“I pray to you, God of Death. Take me as well, please. Allow me the opportunity to beg the Valories for forgiveness so I may watch over my son.”
My eyes soften on her as I wipe the bloody tear streaks from her cheeks.
“I will do that for you.”
“Thank you,” she gasps out on a shuddering breath that’s laced in agony and blood. “Prepare yourself. He has plans for the Valorian Veil.”
My power pours out of me as I latch onto her soul as it splits from her vessel.
I don’t waste any time pondering her words or giving her body a proper burial like I usually would.
I can’t.
Time isn’t on my side right now. I left him behind.
I stand rapidly as my power holds onto the piece of her while my large arms bounce her baby. The blood trail she left to get to safety leads my way out of the dilapidated building. I wouldn’t need to follow it, but right now, I feel it’s the only way I can pay respects to what she went through to get here.
Little Ezra’s cries continue to grow louder as my feet maneuver us faster. I can’t think about the fact that not only is this infant missing the connection to his mother, but he’s in pain because his power is attempting to settle.
Thirty-three minutes is all I have to get him to the Gods Veil.
“H-hold on for me, little one. This is going to be uncomfortable and painful. I’m so, so sorry.”
My voice cracks with my emotions that are darkening like the clouds before a destructive storm. My power wraps around us and we starshoot all the way to the Gods Sanctum.
It’s only because he has no power yet that I can do this with him, but it’s a double-edged sword.
Since he has no power, this isn’t natural for him or his body. It doesn’t feel as smooth and as normal as it does for me. It’ll hurt, make him dizzy and ill. I’m not sure how a baby twenty-seven—fuck. Thirty minutes now—will handle it. He may have already had to do this once if his mother had the strength for it.
His cries are stabbing as soon as we appear out of the starshoot and I race down the hall that leads to the Gods Veil. The whispers of the dark souls I’ve destroyed remind me of my failures. They laugh and taunt that I won’t make it.
Listen to his screams. He’s dying.
Might as well consume the little soul now.
I shake my head viciously as I tear through the Goddess of Illusion’s power that’s in place, blocking the entrance. My knees nearly crumble as I enter the room.
In front of the white swirling wall stands not only Ellian but Annalise as well. The sight of her lightens my dread slightly, but it also causes a ball of emotion to form in my throat.
I shouldn’t be surprised she’s here. Although I bring back more adults than I do children, she always shows up, ready to support or step in, but still…
I have to tell her, once again, I brought her another abandoned child to care for.
“Creed, my boy,” she says with worry and tears forming in her eyes as she looks me over, then at the little bundle in my arms. “The mother?”
All I can do is shake my head.
“Ellian,” she commands.
“Right. Here, let me have the little one.”
They both step toward me and I take a step back before forcing my body to stay still. They ease their approach, and I inhale deeply.
