I started forward but Aoiki pulled me back. “She’s not done yet,” she screamed in my ear.
“Something’s wrong,” I yelled back.
Aoiki’s brows furrowed in confusion before she regarded Sunny again.
The girl was lost in concentration, as if she were searching internally for something even as words spilled out of her mouth.
More shooting stars exploded from Bob as he cried out in protest. Aoiki’s certainty seemed to falter as her lips twisted. She could also hear his screams.
She released my arm and took a couple steps forward. “Sunny,” she yelled to her girlfriend.
Sunny either didn’t notice or pretended not too. She chanted faster and bigger, brighter shooting stars escaped Bob’s blade.
“Sunny, stop,” Aoiki cried out, also realizing something wasn’t right.
Bob screamed out, “Miranda, help. Help me.”
Okay, that was enough. I started forward, ready to wrench Bob out of Sunny’s grip when an explosion of light went off.
I threw my arms up to protect my face even as I was thrown back against the wall. I hit it hard before sliding to the ground. I instinctively curled into a protective ball. It wasn’t just any light. I’d felt this before. It was powerful, malevolent and gleefully destructive. It was the entity from my dreams. Except this wasn’t a dream. It exploded to life in my living room, searing my skin, my mind.
I felt phantom fingers sear my arms, my legs, as if it was exploring me, studying me. I trembled, unable to move, unable to fight.
After I don’t know how long, it receded. I blinked hard against the fading brightness. I sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm the panic that had overtaken me.
Wha the fuck had that been?
“Sunny,” Aoiki cried. I barely caught her running out the front door of my house. It slammed shut behind her.
Despite her exit, I wasn’t alone.
A naked, muscular figure lay on the ground next to Bob who had fallen silent. Despite lacking all the scars that had marred it before, I recognized the body instantly.
I scrambled to my feet and ran over to the man on my carpet. He pushed himself up onto his elbows, those intense sapphire eyes met mine with a burning intensity. Xander’s expression radiated cold hatred and it was directed right at me. It stopped me in my tracks, several feet separating us. My stomach dropped out of my body as heat and panic prickled the skin on my forehead.
“Miranda.” My name came out a raspy accusation. “What have you done?”
The gravity of his words told me everything was not alright.
Not by a long shot. And it was all my fault.
Epilogue
BIANCA
“Is this what you saw?” a low, masculine voice asked.
I didn’t pause brushing my hair from where I sat in front of my vanity mirror. The piece was from the baroque period, one of my favorites. So much champagne, cake, and opulence. The bright lights and hedonism of Vegas was not so different from such a time.
Fallon, formerly known as the god Horus, hadn’t knocked, even though it was my bedroom. Presumptuous as always. I met his gaze in the mirror of my vanity. His one blue eye gleamed brilliantly against his rich black skin. His other brown eye did not hold the same magic, but held a different kind of power. Hands tucked in the pockets of his slacks, suit coat open, his white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, revealing a swath of muscular skin that made my skin heat up. Though I’d never let on that he had such an effect on me.
Fallon was beautiful like the other gods, yet so different in his fierce power. To most I was considered the darling of the immortals, but to Fallon I was frivolous and naïve. He never passed on a chance to make me feel less than. I hated him for it.
I went on brushing my hair where I sat at my vanity. “I suppose so.” In my vision, I’d seen bright white death. It hadn’t made sense then, but hindsight brought all of this into terrifying focus.
“You should have come to me. You know I’ve always seen the future more clearly than you.” There was a harshness in his tone I didn’t appreciate.
My hairbrush slammed down on the vanity. “And why couldn’t you have seen this for yourself? Why couldn’t you have gone to Grim and told him to stop her.” I’d believed Xander’s death would trigger the end of days, but I didn’t realize it would actually be his resurrection that would release fresh hell upon all of us.
