Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
He made a dismissive sound. “Our shields are impenetrable, but feel free to believe whatever makes you feel better.” He rolled his shoulders. “I shall be back later once the Ancients and their people are dead. Then you and I can get better acquainted.” He cut his gaze to Noah. “Stay with her.” He and his brothers then strode off.
Noah took a step toward the cell, sneering. “I hope you don’t really think that anyone’s coming to save you.”
Wynter flashed him a patronizing smile, planting her hands on the floor either side of her. “Of course they’re coming.”
Noah let out a derisive snort. “The entrance is blocked and shielded.”
“The main entrance, sure. But there’s another way in and out, isn’t there? It’s how you got me here, and I’ll bet it isn’t guarded.”
“Doesn’t matter. Outsiders don’t know of it.”
“You claimed to not know of it, as did Eve and Rima.”
“They were telling the truth. I once saw someone access it. I knew I could use it to bring you down here to my grandfather. He was very pleasantly surprised. He truly didn’t send me, Rima, or Eve to Devil’s Cradle, so he wasn’t expecting me to arrive with an unconscious you in tow. I knew that the only way to get you here was to help the Ancients escape their prison so that you would all declare war on the city, and so that was what I did. And it worked.”
The prick sounded so very proud of himself, like he’d outsmarted everyone. He was clearly also certain that she wasn’t going to escape or he wouldn’t be so chatty.
Wynter cocked her head. “How do you think your grandmother and sister will feel when they hear of your betrayal?”
“They’ll understand,” he said with utter surety.
“Hmm, I think not.” She paused. “Where are they?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Meaning you stashed them someplace against their will?”
He jutted out his chin. “It’s for their own good.”
“Nothing you’ve done here is for anyone’s good but your own. Not that it matters. You won’t survive this night.”
He chuckled. “Oh, is that a fact?”
“It is, actually.” Drawing her knees up, she balanced her crossed arms over them. “You always meant to betray the Ancients, didn’t you? But not for Adam’s sake. You want him dead. You also want the Ancients dead. You figure they’ll all kill each other here and now. You intend to lead whatever Aeons are left standing.” She snorted. “I can’t imagine what makes you think they’ll bow to you.”
His eyes blazed in indignation. “You know nothing. And if you want my advice, you should worry more about what’s going to happen to you than about my motivations.” His mouth kicked up into a smirk. “I’ll bet waking up here came as a shock, didn’t it?”
She shook her head, sadly. “Oh, Noah, Noah, Noah. You honestly think this came as a surprise to me? Nah. I knew you would betray me.”
“Really?” he drawled, his voice dripping with humor and skepticism.
“Yes. Kali warned me that you would. She and I had a conversation after I last died. She told me many things. She told me a few more things in a dream I had just last night.” Wynter tipped her head to the side, seeing no harm in explaining all—Kali wouldn’t let him leave; he’d be dead in a matter of minutes. “Did you know that Kali, Apep, Nyx, and Nemesis were sent to oversee parts of the netherworld after they failed to watch over the guardians and gatekeepers?”
He snorted. “Of course I knew.”
“What you probably don’t know . . . is that being made overseers of the netherworld isn’t really what bothers the deities. The reason it’s such a terrible punishment for them is that it means they’re separated for eternity. Kali can therefore tragically no longer be with her consort, Apep. And the sisters, Nyx and Nemesis, are equally devastated at being forced to remain apart. I can tell by your expression that you didn’t know that the deities were connected in such ways—I didn’t either. But with this little bit of knowledge in mind, you can see that the punishment truly is one motherfucker, right?”
He blinked, shrugging. “Well, they earned it.”
“Oh, yes, they acknowledge that. But they’re also mightily pissed at the race that caused the war and, in doing so, led to that punishment. And the more time has gone on, the more that anger has grown and deepened. The more it’s been twisted into resentment and bitterness. Oh, and scorn—so much scorn directed at your people. There’s even a streak of insanity threaded through it all.
“Hey, I can understand it. If I was kept apart from Cain, I’d be nothing more than the living embodiment of fury. It would eventually twist me all up inside. Yeah, I’d go a little crazy over time, and I’d be looking to avenge us both. I’d need someone to blame, someone to hurt, someone to destroy. I’d crave revenge, just as the deities do. God will probably punish them for what comes next, yes, but at this point they don’t care. All they want is vengeance.”