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)
Azazel flapped a hand. “That goes without saying.”
The others at the table echoed the sentiment and assured Cain that Wynter would face no ramifications in such an event—even Ishtar.
Lilith sat back as she exhaled heavily, her green eyes glimmering with annoyance. “I knew there was a chance that Adam would hesitate to immediately go to war, given that the other attempts to wipe us out by Aeons were unsuccessful. I knew he might well feel the need to be cautious and so take a little time to gather his forces. But I’d counted on him being so filled with the need for vengeance that he would be helpless to do anything but ignore common sense and immediately wage war on us.”
“Of course you did,” said Dantalion. “We all did. Why would we not have, considering we sent Abel’s hacked-up body back to him?” He thrust a hand through his short blond hair.
Seth shifted in his seat on Cain’s right, his amber eyes narrowed in thought. “I feel like we’re missing something.”
“In what sense?” asked Inanna, the older sister of Ishtar, speaking for the first time. The siblings looked much alike, only Inanna’s hair was sleek and straight rather than curled, and she didn’t have Ishtar’s pointed chin. Inanna also possessed a poise and elegance that her sister lacked. Ishtar was more sensual and sultry, considering herself to be the ultimate seductress. “What troubles you?” Inanna prodded.
Seth replied, “Adam has essentially prioritized getting his hands on Wynter. Someone as prideful, arrogant, and bloodthirsty as he is doesn’t just table vengeance so easily.”
“No, they don’t,” agreed Cain. The Aeon was good at controlling his emotions, but not when it came to wounded pride. His self-restraint often then went out the window. Adam’s ego was a fragile thing. “Vengeance has to be a drumbeat in his blood right now. He’ll want me dead more than he ever did before. Adam has lost the prominent members of his family in one way or another, and he’ll blame me for each of those losses.”
Seth’s brows lifted, his expression going pensive. “Ah, yes. He lost me when I sided with you. He lost our sisters when they died during the first war—it won’t matter that the Aeons launched the attack, he’ll tell himself that there would have been no need for war if it hadn’t been necessary to eradicate you. Although he emotionally lost Eve a millennia ago, he lost her physically when she came here for sanctuary recently with Abel’s twins. To add to all that, Adam then lost Abel when you killed him during the last battle. Adam will for sure hold you accountable for all his ‘suffering.’ ”
“The latter loss will be the one he feels the hardest,” said Cain. “Abel stroked his ego by wanting to be like him, by striving to please him, by being under his complete control until that last moment when he went against Adam’s orders and came for us.”
“Which will be another thing that Adam likely blames you for.” Seth sighed, stroking a hand over his blond layered buzzcut. “You always were his favorite scapegoat. But despite all he’ll be feeling, he’s temporarily settling for turning our people against you in the hope of lessening our numbers. I truly do feel like we’re missing something.”
Poking his tongue into the inside of his cheek, Azazel looked at Seth. “You said that Adam’s prioritizing getting his hands on Wynter. That’s not entirely accurate. He’s prioritizing lifting the curse on Aeon. We have to wonder why.” He paused. “I couldn’t get Saul to confess why it was that he believed it essential that Aeon didn’t fall. But he swore it must not happen.”
“I can’t imagine that Eden is once again using the underground city as her Resting place,” said Dantalion, referring to God’s consort. “I don’t see what else would make it special.”
“I, too, struggle to see why the fall of Aeon would be such a dire event,” said Azazel, scratching at the back of his head, making strands of his short dark hair spike up. “But maybe there really is some great reason why the Aeons believe it can’t happen. And just maybe that’s why Adam is willing to put the wellbeing of Aeon before seeking vengeance.”
“Or,” began Ishtar, “maybe Adam simply insinuates to the other Aeons that the place must not fall so that they will not want to leave; so that they will believe there is a purpose to staying there—it is probably how he got them to stay for so long. Well, that and telling them that the rest of the world is a terrible place. But, really, what difference does it make? He is clearly going to make us wait, and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We are stuck here, and that is that.”