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)
Ishtar looked as though she might push the matter further, but then she made it clear with a flap of her hand that she was done discussing it. She turned her attention back to Abaddon, flashing him yet another sultry smile.
“I was beginning to think that you might never wake.” Ishtar said it as if she’d nonetheless not given up hope. Quite the opposite. She’d suggested a number of times that they cease trying to pull Abaddon out of his coma.
“I am thankful that I did,” said Abaddon. “I would never wish to miss the upcoming battle. It will take a few days before I am at top strength, but no longer than that. I will be ready to attempt to take down the cage on All Hallows’ Eve.”
Leaning back against the wall near the window, Azazel scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I doubt we will be able to take it down, but we have a chance of forming a hole in it. That will not be easy, though. The prison is designed to hold Leviathans, and it was created by a race whose power almost equals ours.”
“Having the help of Eve and Noah will make a difference.” Lilith lifted a brow at Seth. “I assume they are still prepared to aid us.”
“They haven’t withdrawn their offer,” he said.
“And Rima?” asked Inanna, sitting beside her sister. “Has she made the same offer?”
“No,” replied Seth. “But it wouldn’t surprise me if she did volunteer to help. She has been less dramatic of late. Less bitter. As if the chip on her shoulder is shrinking.”
“We can hope that’s true. Any help would be appreciated.” Lilith crossed one leg over the other. “If it were not for how many secrets we harbor, we could have invited all of our residents to aid us.”
“Not even their combined strength would be enough to puncture a curse created by Aeons, though,” said Abaddon.
Lilith allowed that with an incline of her head.
Azazel met Cain’s gaze and said, “I think we should invite Wynter to come along with us.”
Ishtar stiffened. “Wynter? Why?”
“Because she is no normal witch,” said Azazel. “She is a revenant. A powerful one. Powerful enough to inflict a curse on Aeon that is so strong its inhabitants can’t fight it.”
Ishtar’s upper lip curled. “Revenants are good at cursing things, not undoing curses.”
“You don’t know that. And, in any case, she isn’t a typical revenant.” Azazel draped one arm over the back of the sofa. “It’s possible that her presence won’t make a difference. But it definitely wouldn’t do any harm. Especially since Kali might help via Wynter.”
“I doubt that She will, since She will count waking Abaddon as ‘help’ and is likely to think that the rest should be up to us,” predicted Lilith. “There is only so much deities can interfere with, even with the assistance of their Favored. Still, I am not opposed to Wynter being present. Any help would be appreciated. Would she be prepared to offer us such aid, Cain?”
“I can’t imagine her refusing,” he said. “She wants to invade Aeon almost as much as we do.” Unfortunately.
“Are you sure that the people who reside here will also be eager to join the battle?” asked Abaddon.
“After the damage the Aeons have caused our home? Definitely,” said Seth.
Abaddon accepted that with a nod. “Do your people know about me?”
“No,” Seth told him. “We did not want to risk that some might attempt to find you while you Rested, even if only out of curiosity.”
“It wouldn’t have been the first time people sought the Resting place of an Ancient,” said Abaddon. “What will you tell them?”
“The truth, for the most part,” replied Cain. “I intend to make a speech shortly. I will publicly introduce you and explain that you have been at Rest for a long time, but I will claim it was by choice. Revealing that you were in what was effectively a coma might also give people the impression that you are currently weak.”
“And the Ancients can never be seen to be weak, I understand. I would imagine that you will not be introducing me as your uncle,” Abaddon guessed, unoffended.
“Not as my uncle, no. People believe that Adam is my father, and there are some here who have been to Aeon and so are aware that he only has two brothers. Just the same, they know that Eve is an only child.”
“After the speech, I will show you around the city, let people get a closer look at you,” Dantalion told Abaddon. “You can pick a spot for where you would one day like to build your own home. I am guessing that you intend to stay with Cain in the meantime?”
“That is my plan, yes,” Abaddon confirmed.
Ishtar shot him another sexually suggestive smile. “If you decide you would like a change of company, I have many spare bedchambers you can use.” She cast a quick look at Cain, clearly wanting to see his reaction to her offer; not looking too happy when he only looked at her blankly.