I love you, she told him.
Thats because youre smart. Further prooflook who you ended up with. Me, rather than that shithead Paris.
She chuckled. Did her good to hear him discuss his friend with amusement rather than resentment or jealousy. Didnt you have something else to tell me?
Yes. He sighed. Here goes. Speaking of Paris, I have to head up to the heavens to help him find his not-so-dead girlfriend. I promised him. I told you that before, right?
You did.
Good. I want you to go with me.
As if she had to think about it. And her willingness didnt just spring from a desire to remain by Striders side. She wanted Paris happy. Of course.
Thank you. And I love you, too. Not only do you make me happy, you make my demon happy. You feed him in a way I hadnt known he needed, making me stronger than ever. Thats why Im challenging myself to make sure youre blissed out for the rest of your days.
She groaned. You have to stop doing that. If he was hurtagainbecause of her
Dont worry. Ill let you convince me of the merits of not challenging myself, baby doll.
And just how will you let me convince you, hmm?
Dont be silly. With your body, of course.
She planted little kisses all over his face. And I will. But didnt you have something else to tell me?
Yes, but how do you know that?
She tapped a finger against her temple. Smart, remember?
He sat up, reached down and dug into his discarded pants pocket. When he straightened, he held out his hand, a chain dangling from his fingers. Here.
Whats this? she asked, sitting up beside him as she claimed it. A thin wooden disk hung from the links. In the center was an intricate, if lopsided, blue butterfly, matching the one tattooed across his stomach and hip.
A flush colored his cheeks. Its a necklace. Well, a medallion. Its not the same as your moms or the one she gave you, but
The cuts on your hands, she gasped out. You carved this yourself.
He nodded.
Her eyes filled with tears as she removed the one Tabitha had given her, placed it on the nightstand and donned the new one. This is better than my mothers. She threw her arms around his neck. I love you, Strider. I was just kidding before, but now I mean it.
He gave a warm, husky chuckle. Actually, I prefer Bonin. And I seriously love you, too, Red. More than I can ever say.
All Sabin did was tattoo Gwens name on several parts of his body after they got married, the loser, she said, fingering the medallions surface. Im so lucky.
He stiffened. Uh, yeah, speaking of married
Finally, she said on a laugh. But if youve got something to confess, theres a better time. Like, when youre about to be inside me.
You know were hitched, he said, studying her intently, and she nodded. He relaxed. How?
Some people make bad secret-keepers and would be better served spilling everything to their doting wife.
Kaia.
Fine. I felt the connection.
Because of the mind-speak, Im betting. I should have known. He grinned at that. And you dont mind?
Mind? I want to be your wife. You remember my goals as a young girl, dont you? She nibbled on her bottom lip. Butmaybe you should get my name tattooed all over you. I mean, I adore the medallion so the ink would just be icing on the cake, proving were a better couple than Sabin and Gwen.
Consider it done.
As she straddled his waist, he reached up and cupped her jaw. Now, Im not doubting you, you understand, but Im gonna need you to prove your love. You do remember promising to do so, dont you?
I do. Just tell me how, she whispered, breathless, knowing exactly where he was headed with this. I mean, I love you for your mind, of course, so I guess I could sit here for hours, describing how I delight in your every genius idea. And then I could
Just for today, were going to pretend you love me for my body. He lay back down, pulling her with him. So, you can start up top and work your way down. Okay, okay. You can also show me how grateful you are for my brilliance while youre at it. I mean, your sister is safe because of me. Its the least you can do.
She barely cut off her laugh. Youre not afraid Ill challenge you?
Those navy eyes gleamed. Baby doll, Id be disappointed if you didnt.
EPILOGUE
KANE CAME AWAKE IN AN INSTANT, jolting upright. Panic swam through him, perhaps left over from the falling bouldersand deepened when he saw the iron bars around him.
Bars? A cage? He was in a damned cage? Whatwhy? Before the thought could fully form, he saw that William, unconscious and bleeding, was outside the cage and being carted away.
Dread slapped at Kane, cold and hard and stinging. He reached out, his hand shaky, and tried to shout for his friend. Wake up. Fight. But no words emerged.
Kane swallowed, his throat filled with sawdust. And damn it, his head throbbed like a son of a bitch. His stomach threatened to heave at any moment, his body jostling left and right, left and right.
The cage was being wheeled through a cavernous hallway, he realized. Then dizziness flooded him and he closed his eyes. He measured his breaths, hoping the spinning would stop. The air was hot, humid and layered with the scents of rot and sulfur.
Rot. Sulfur. They could mean only one thing. Hell. He was being taken deeper into hell.
His demon roared.
Kane cracked open his lids and glanced at his surroundings, slow and easy this time. He spotted horned, winged monsters beside his cage. They had scales rather than skin, and glowing red eyes.
Demons. Minions.
The roaring in his head turned to laughter. His demon was genuinely amused. That was not a good sign.
He must have groaned. One of the creatures glanced in his direction and scowled, flashing long, white saber teeth. A moment later, a clawed hand reached inside the cage and batted at his cheek, splitting skin.
Once more, Kane slipped into oblivion.
ONE ITEM LEFT ON HIS LIST, and then he could go after Sienna, Paris thought. All he had to do was find Viola, the minor goddess of the Afterlife and discover how a man like him could see the souls of the dead.
Word was, she frequented a bar in the heavens. He was headed there now. As he stomped along the streets, he withdrew his phone and sent his man Strider a text.
I release U from UR vow
He pressed Send and pocketed the phone. After what hed learned from Arca about the dangers of the two realms hed have to enterand the possibility of never leaving one of themhe wasnt willing to risk his friends life. Especially since the guy had just married his Harpy. Yeah, hed gotten a text from Strider with the happy news.
Ill never have that, he thought hollowly. Rather than wallow in despair, however, he opened himself back up to the darkness now constantly frothing inside him. So much darkness. A mist, sweeping through him, turning him into a cold, hard bastard.
Hurtkill
Good. He needed that coldness, now more than ever.
No matter what, he would save Siennaeven at the expense of his own life.
Glossary of Characters and Terms
AeronFormer keeper of Wrath
All-Seeing EyeGodly artifact with the power to see into heaven and hell
AmunKeeper of Secrets
Anya(Minor) Goddess of Anarchy
ArcaMessenger goddess
Ashlyn DarrowHuman female with supernatural ability
AtroposOne of the Three Fates; snipper of threads
BadenKeeper of Distrust (deceased)
BaitHuman females, Hunters accomplices
Bianka SkyhawkHarpy; twin sister of Kaia
Cage of CompulsionGodly artifact with the power to enslave anyone trapped inside
CameoKeeper of Misery
Cloak of InvisibilityGodly artifact with the power to shield its wearer from prying eyes
CronusKing of the Titans, keeper of Greed
Danika FordHuman female; All-Seeing Eye
Dean StefanoHunter; right-hand man of Galen
dimOuniakPandoras box
GalenKeeper of Hope
GideonKeeper of Lies
GillyHuman female
GorgonImmortal with snakes for hair and the power to turn man to stone with only a glance
GreeksFormer rulers of Olympus, now imprisoned in Tartarus
Gwen SkyhawkHalf-Harpy, half-angel; daughter of Galen
HadesOne of the rulers of hell
HaideeImmortal; former Hunter
HateA demigod and keeper of the demon of Hate
HeraQueen of the Greeks
HuntersMortal enemies of the Lords of the Underworld
Juliette EagleshieldHarpy; enemy of Kaia
JunoHarpy; ally of Kaia
Kaia SkyhawkHarpy; sister of Bianka, Taliyah and Gwen
KaneKeeper of Disaster
KlothoOne of the Three Fates; spinner of threads
LachesisOne of the Three Fates; weaver of threads
Land of CinderHome of the Phoenix race
LazarusImprisoned immortal consort of Juliette; son of Typhon
LegionDemon minion; friend of Aeron
Lords of the UnderworldExiled warriors to the Greek gods who now house demons inside them
LucienKeeper of Death; leader of the Budapest warriors
LuciferPrince of darkness; ruler of hell
LysanderElite warrior angel and consort of Bianka Skyhawk
MaddoxKeeper of Violence
MedusaMost famed of the Gorgons
MinaGoddess of Weaponry
MoiraiAKA The Three Fates; three immortal females who weave destiny
Neeka the UnwantedHarpy; ally of Kaia
The Odyniaalso known as the Garden of Goodbyes; Rheas heavenly realm
OliviaAn angel
One, True DeityRuler of the angels
PandoraImmortal warrior, once guardian of dimOuniak (deceased)
Paring RodGodly artifact, container of souls and granter of abilities
ParisKeeper of Promiscuity
PhoenixAn immortal with the power of fire and the ability to raise the dead from its ashes
ReyesKeeper of Pain
RheaQueen of the Titans; estranged wife of Cronus; keeper of Strife
SabinKeeper of Doubt; leader of the Greek warriors
ScarletKeeper of Nightmares
Sienna BlackstoneDeceased female Hunter; new keeper of Wrath
SkyeA pseudodoctor; wife of a Hunter
StriderKeeper of Defeat
Tabitha SkyhawkHarpy; mother of Taliyah, Bianka, Kaia and Gwen
Taliyah SkyhawkHarpy; elder sister of Bianka, Kaia and Gwen
TartarusGreek god of Confinement; also the immortal prison on Mount Olympus
TedraHarpy; ally of Kaia
TitansCurrent rulers of Olympus
TorinKeeper of Disease
TyphonFather of Lazarus; immortal with the head of a dragon and the body of a snake
Unspoken OnesReviled gods; prisoners of Cronus
ViolaMinor goddess of the Afterlife
Warrior AngelsHeavenly demon assassins
WilliamImmortal warrior (and god among godsor so he says)
ZacharelA warrior angel
ZeusKing of the Greeks