“Be that as it may, he was still given to me. He’s to stay with me.”
“I think the fuck not.”
A nasty sneer curls Zareb’s nostrils as he eyes Thayla up and down.
“Watch your mouth with me, girl. You have no clue who you’re speaking to.”
I step forward, but Amick grips my shoulder, and Creed cuts his eyes at me. My fists ball at my sides, but I listen to the request in his gaze.
“She can say whatever she damn well pleases. You watch your mouth when speaking tomyBinder,” Creed warns.
“I take this level of disrespect you’ve shown me today and your complete disregard for your duties here lately very personal, Death. I believe you’ve forgotten how sacred and crucial my responsibility truly is. What would become of you if I withdrew my power and allowed the souls to go free? Hell would descend on the realm. So put some respect in your tones when addressing me.”
His shout echoes off the walls, mingling with the giggles slipping from Riven’s mouth. Thayla laces her fingers through his, pulling him back as he prepares to pounce.
Creed prowls forward, and I follow a few feet behind him. Ready…waiting. His power flows from his skin in a wisp of darkness as he stands face-to-face with Zareb.
“I haven’t forgotten, but you, like the others down here, seem to have developed this idea that your responsibilities put you above me. Follow through with your threat, and I’ll remind you all why only one being at a time can command the power of Death. Not only will I consume every soul you set free, but I will lock yours in the abyss with any new ones that join. How long do you believe it could stay whole before they devoured it?”
Whatever that means strikes a nerve. The first sign of uncertainty flinches across Zareb’s face.
“You know as well as I do what that would do to you.”
“I do, but it’s a risk I’d be willing to take to protect the realm from facing the hell you’re threatening to release on them. Think long and hard about whether you truly want me here more than I am.”
The two of them stare at one another for a long, intense moment. I can’t tell if Creed’s contemplating killing him or not. I honestly don’t know or understand what the consequence of that would be.
Zareb finally tilts his head and grunts.
“Very well.”
“Very well, what?” Creed grits out, tightening his leash of power.
“I’ll continue fulfilling my role to your expectations.”
“Good. Get out of my sight. I’ll clear the clutter today and the Attendant will be returning with us.”
The second his feet touch the ground, Zareb wordlessly, with a flick of his robe, stomps down toward one of the halls. He doesn’t spare his—shouldn’t be his—Attendant even a glance.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t sir me. The others will walk out with you and introduce themselves.”
“But we haven’t—”
“This is who you’re looking for, Doren. Everyone just do as Creed said, okay?” Thayla suggests calmly, but her gaze continues to flicker over at Creed.
“Oh, my.”
“I’m sure an Attendant as your Valtrue member isn’t at all what you expected, but I swear, there’s more to my situation that’ll clear that up.”
We all freeze as we stare at him in utter disbelief.
“How did you know you were in their Valtrue?” Thayla asks.
“I believe there’s a better time for that explanation.”
Yeah, yeah, there is.
