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“But it’s impossible. You cannot exist. The Ig’Morruthens died in the Gods War.”
We already have three of The Hand of Rashearim here. Anything that could kill them either died in the war or has been sealed away for centuries.
Ah, yes, the book. The reason we were running all over, searching Onuna.
Bloodthirsty Queen. It was who they were expecting, who they feared—and rightly so. She had earned her reputation over the centuries.
“The fabled World Ender. The legend. The Son of Unir. Wielder of the Blade of Oblivion. And where is he?”
“Yeah, but that’s also because I’m a masochist.” She swatted my arm and giggled. “Gross.” “I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” I said, smiling back at her. “… Mostly.”
Trust me. I am actually doing you a favor, because I mean it when I say…” I paused, a slow smile curving my lips. “I would eat you alive.”
We can’t live in the past, D. Nothing grows there.”
“I don’t regret it, you know? Not a second of it. I would give my life a thousand times over for you.”
“I am a Guardian of the Etherworld and the Netherworld. The Hand of Samkiel.”
“You know nothing of us, creature. None of The Hand fell. We are still as many as the day Samkiel chose us. And once he learns of your existence, he will come back.”
“You’re lying. All the old gods are dead.”
“I am not going to kill you. Samkiel and the Council of Hadramiel will place their final judgment.”
“You really don’t know who you are dealing with, do—” His words cut off as a clawed hand burst through the center of him. He screamed and reached for his chest, the blue tattoos on his skin flickering. “I do,” Kaden’s voice, deep and animalistic, whispered from behind him.
“The Hand of Rashearim. Samkiel’s guard. Or is his name Liam now? Once I get what I need, I’m going to enjoy ripping you to pieces and sending the parts back to your brethren. I hope he sees what is left of you.”
“No! You shouldn’t be able to escape that. Not unless you are one of the—” Zekiel stopped, his eyes wide and fearful. “It can’t be. Samkiel must know.” I took a step forward, and he took two back. “I can’t let you leave.” “You really have no idea, do you? Your powers, your strengths?”
“He can’t get his hands on that book,” Zekiel said, his voice barely a whisper. “You don’t even know who Azrael was. If he made a book and hid it, then it’s not meant for your kind to find.”
“No, but my death will have a purpose. It will bring Samkiel back.”
“Athos, Dhihsin, Kryella, Nismera, Pharthar, Xeohr, Unir, Samkiel, grant me passage from here to the Asteraoth!” Zekiel cried. Asteraoth? No! That was the heavenly dimension, far beyond time and space. Fuck! He glanced at me one last time, and I saw tears form in his eyes. He tipped his head back to face the sky and plunged the dagger into his chest.
What I saw in his eyes had me questioning everything and filled me with terror. For the first time in centuries, I saw fear in his eyes.
“You are more than enough, Samkiel. You know my visions, what I have seen. I have seen far beyond this place and time. You are the best of us, even if you do not see it now.”
“I will never be a leader like you.” “Excellent. Be greater.”
It was a world filled with life—and yet I felt nothing.
“I hope you know that I’ve stopped everything we argued about—the sex, the festivities, the drinking. I have no need or longing for the things that drove a wedge between us, and I know now how irresponsible I was. How much I truly did not care, not when it mattered—and when I tried to be better, it was already too late.
“The man she knew—they knew—isn’t here anymore. He has been gone for quite some time now. I do not know who I am anymore.”
From the woman’s posture, they appeared to have been mid-argument, and there was no mistaking the crimson glow of their eyes. My heart skipped for the first time in a millennium. My chest tightened painfully, and a wave of nausea hit me as I broke out in a cold sweat.
I whispered the one word I thought had died with Rashearim. “Ig’Morruthens.”
“Samkiel, do you remember what I taught you? About the Ig’Morruthens and who they follow since the Primordials fell.”
“What shall you have me do, Father?” “Simple. Use the title you have earned,” Unir said. “End worlds, my son.”
Henry was gone, and in his place was the woman from the photos. They had not done her justice. The grainy images had not captured the extraordinariness of her.
“I cannot die,” I said as the skin on my back healed. Her throat bobbed once, and her grip on the blade tightened. “That’s impossible.” “So is the power you possess.” I turned fully, and she took a step back. She realized what she’d done and stopped short. “I hope you know you will not be leaving this building.”
The Ig’Morruthens were alive, and they were in the Etherworld. They were on Onuna.
I was the reason he was dead and Rashearim had fallen. I was the World Ender.
“Don’t you get it? Don’t you see, there is nothing you can do to me that has not already been done? You can’t break me, World Ender.”
So, come on. Do your worst. I fear no kings and no gods.”
Kaden had done the same over the last century, and I would not trade one master for another.
“You would fight a god?” “No,” I said without hesitation, “I’d kill one.”
“You know, I have not killed an Ig’Morruthen in ages, so please make a mistake. Liam said that if you try to escape or do anything that could endanger the team or me, I have permission to make you a footnote in history.”
sex. I felt less mortal the more I fed.
The marks were unique to each couple, and once they were complete, there was no divorce and no leaving. The bond was forever, and one of the most precious forms of love you could give to another person. It was one of the things Gabby absolutely loved about celestial culture. It was what she’d wanted with Rick—and I’d taken it from her.
You were always so afraid you would become as emotionless as your father. Well, look at you now. I don’t see Samkiel anymore. I only see Unir. You are no better than him.”
Fight back! Fight for something! Gabby’s voice echoed in my head.
That was the moment I knew I’d made a huge, horrible mistake. Images, quick and deadly, flashed through my mind as I stared into Liam’s eyes. He didn’t know my power, didn’t know what I saw, but oh, did I see.
He has many names, and they all mean destruction. I knew Kaden had been right.
“I cannot!” he shouted, slamming his palm onto the table. “Victoria is with child. I will not leave my babe fatherless.”
speak. “I am sorry, my king. I follow your lead and do what is best for our people, but I must think of my family. If you fall, if the world falls, I may be able to transcribe a weapon strong enough to help the survivors, but I cannot if I am dead.” Azrael was the one who had helped me forge the rings that The Hand wore, helping me shape metal and minerals. He was my friend, even though his loyalties lay with the God Xeohr.
“You are not like him. I am so sorry the other gods cannot see it.”
The worst part was that I saw him bleeding, near death, and I had not felt a single thing. There had been no pain in my chest like when my father died, no immense rush of power telling me to destroy the creature who dangled him like a trophy. I was truly broken.
Do you really want to risk more lives for someone that means absolutely nothing to you?” “She is innocent. Therefore, she means everything.”
“Does the ground frequently shake here?” I quietly asked Gabby behind me. She shook her head. “That’s not a quake. That’s my sister.”
