Page 99 of Hex
He scowls down at me before conceding with a huff. “Fucking Loki.”
“What do we do until then?”
Danika shrugs at my question. “I guess I find this Laevateinn, then Loki, and we all figure out something to do for the next year?”
“That feels long.” I groan, disappointment trying to creep into what should be a happy-ish revelation.
Hack chuckles beside me, pulling me into him and kissing my crown. “I have waited millennia for you, Satapti. We can wait a year to see Slash whole again. In the meantime, I can think ofplenty of ways to spend our time.” He grins down at me, and it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but it’s better than before this news.
“Okay, I know, I know. Sage is getting all the orgasms now—well done, by the way, babe—but can we not? Because my vagina has dried up like the freaking Sahara on a hot day since all the shit hit the fan.” Danika wafts her arms and turns to face the glass coffin, resting her palms on the top and looking down. She sighs and shakes her head before coming back to us. “Desdemon will be expecting me back soon so I should go. Leave this whole Slash debacle with me for now. Okay?”
I nod as Hack steps forward and offers his palm. Danika takes it and catches him off guard, pulling him in for a hug. He towers over her almost as much as he does me, but she has a few extra inches.
“Break my best friend’s heart and I won’t need to send my brother after you because I’m worse, got it? Chosen or no chosen…” Danika doesn’t try to make her threat quiet, she wants me to hear, and she’s grinning at me from his hold the whole time.
“Got it.” With a firm nod, Hack appears to take her threat seriously as he pulls away, then he looks at me and winks.
“Let’s do something fun next time we get together because this shit’s starting to get depressing.” She hugs me next, and I’d say her hugs are akin to Petal’s—our favorite customer. They’re long and squeezy and full of love.
“We’ve gotta hold on to what we’ve got, it doesn’t make a difference if we’re naked or not.” Our hug is abruptly ended in a fit of giggles as I sing the new lyrics to Bon Jovi’sLivin’ on a Prayer. I’ve been holding on to that one for months, waiting to be able to laugh with my best friend over something we have always found so funny.
Others might not get it, but we do, and that’s what counts.
“I needed that.” We finally stop laughing and Danika sighs. “Love you, babe. See ya soon.” She kisses my cheek, with a low grumble coming from Hack by my side, then she glares at him as she exits the room.
“So there’s a plan.” I nod and face my chosen, sliding my palms up the fabric of his T-shirt against his chest.
“I’ll tell the others when we get back to Georgia.”
Someone clearing their throat has us both turning to look in their direction. It’s one of the soulkeepers. I can’t see their face, which isn’t unusual, but they are half the size of the others I’ve seen floating around this place.
“Lady Sage, Liege Hack, the human soul from the request form has arrived. You asked to be informed.” For such a small being, their voice is deep and loud. It almost echoes.
I’m confused for two reasons; one being the name Lady Sage—which isn’t the first time I’ve heard that. And two being the human soul? What the…?
“Thank you, Soulkeeper. Are they ready?” Hack takes the lead, lacing his fingers with mine and walking toward the entrance of the room.
The soulkeeper nods, their hood bobbing a little with the motion before they turn, expecting us to follow.
We cross a tall bridge, overseeing an endless number of glowing orbs and levels, and walk straight into another room. This one has a glass-domed roof that shimmers, kind of like the portals do.
The rest of the space is empty, just a combination of dark wood and a heck of a lot of white. The floor is similar to that of the Thirteen’s chamber, but it’s a brighter white and infused with what looks to be golden streaks.
Two glowing orbs sit atop a plinth-like thing, beautiful golden cushions below them to keep them in place, almost moldedtogether. The soulkeeper stops in front of them, waiting for us to join him.
“Trina Galdur, witch, and George Galdur, human.” Waving his palm over the orbs, he closes his eyes, and I’m a bag of mixed emotions right now, the sudden tightness in my chest is overwhelming.
I look to Hack. “Does that mean that George died?”
He nods in response, pulling me into him so he’s behind me, his arms wrapped over my shoulders and keeping me grounded.
“But it also means that they are together again, and I made an extra request…”
I twist my head to question him but something happens with the orbs first. Their combined glow gets brighter until something shoots out of them and splits in two before forming into…
Oh my goddess.
“Trina? George?” There’s no holding back these tears. Big, fat, ugly ones.
