Page 27 of Gods of Prey
“You do,” he cuts me off. “Every decision you make in this realm affects me.Myfuture. One thing has quickly become clear in my short time in this realm: You’re not only trying to retrieve your brother, Sienna. You’re trying to preserve what little shred of happiness you have here. The tiniest bit of relevance you felt as a mortal because when you get back to Umbraeth, no one gives a damn about you. And you’re doing it with no regard for what it costs any of us.”
My mouth pops open. He’s right. I’d go to great lengths to keep this small spark of joy alive. There’s nothing waiting for me at home in that cold, empty castle. But I can’t admit that—not to him, not to anyone.
“My only concern is restoring the balance,” I lie.
Revel laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “If that were true, we would have dragged Sebastian back by force already and left the mortal woman to mourn alone. Instead, we’re playing house in Seattle, pretending to be his neighbors, tiptoeing around his feelings.”
“Because force won’t work with Sebastian!” I scream. “We need him to choose to return.”
“Do we?” Revel drains his wine glass, a calm to my storm. “Or do you need to convince yourself that you’re not betraying someone you’ve grown to love?”
I feel my form flickering again, my control wavering.
“Don’t,” I whisper.
“Don’t what? Don’t point out that you’ve compromised our entire mission for the sake of a mortal’s feelings?” Revel sets his glass aside and steps closer. “Don’t mention that every day we delay, the balance deteriorates further?”
“I know what’s at stake?—”
“Do you?” His voice rises. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve forgotten that we serve the divine order, not our personal desires.”
I materialize fully, anger giving me strength. “Stop lecturing me about duty, Revel. I’ve been paying for my mistakes for thousands of years. I understand sacrifice better than you ever will.”
“Then prove it.” He’s close enough now that I can feel the warmth radiating from his skin, smell the wine on his breath. “Stop protecting them and help me bring Sebastian home.”
“Iamhelping?—”
A sharp crack interrupts our argument. The air in the room shifts, becoming charged with divine energy. I recognize the sensation immediately—a messenger from the divine realms.
A figure materializes in our living room, tall and ethereal with wings that seem to be made of pure light. They’ve sent an angel from Aurelys.
My stomach drops.
“Lord Revel,” the messenger intones, their voice echoing with harmonic resonance. “I bring word from the Elder Council.”
Revel straightens, all traces of our argument disappearing behind a mask of divine composure. “Speak.”
“The council grows concerned by your prolonged absence. The realm of life requires its steward. You are summoned to return within three mortal weeks to provide an account of your mission.”
I feel the blood drain from my face—if I had blood to drain.Three weeks. That’s nowhere near enough time.
“Tell the council I require more time,” Revel says carefully, obviously experiencing the same panic as me. “The situation is...complex.” His gaze flickers toward me.
The messenger’s expression doesn’t change. “The balance grows unstable. Plants wither without cause. Animals refuse to breed. The cycle of life stalls in your absence. The Elder Council will not wait longer than three weeks.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then they will send others to retrieve both you and the absent God of Life.”
The threat is clear: If we don’t succeed in the next three weeks, Sebastian’s council will intervene directly. They’ll drag him back by force, consequences be damned.
It seems that’s exactly what Revel wants to happen, anyway.
“I understand,” Revel says.
I roll my eyes at his easy submission. This is why I run my realm myself. No councils with their noses in my business.
The messenger nods and begins to fade. “Three weeks, my lord. Do not test the council’s patience further.”
