Page 122 of Sun Warrior

“Wh-when will that happen, my Lord?”

“Are you eager or afraid?”

“Both,” she told a half-truth.

“Four nights from now as darkness falls we will take possession of the City in the Trees. Once the city is ours, I will infect you with the skin sloughing disease. It takes hold quickly, which pleases me. I have waited long enough for my Consort,” He said. “Within just a day or two after being infected you will begin to show symptoms. Once you do, I will choose the finest doe in the forest to join with you. When you have merged with this queen of the forest,thenI will make blood sacrifice and force the Goddess to awaken.”

“Blood sacrifice? Whose?” Dove asked, though she felt the answer in the pit of her stomach before He spoke it.

“Yours, of course. Just as Dead Eye awakened me with his blood, so shall you awaken the Great Goddess with yours.” He nuzzled her neck and bit her soft flesh painfully. “You will rule for an eternity by my side!”

No,Dove told herself silently as He continued to grope her unresisting body.I won’t be here, just as Dead Eye is no longer here.

“Kiss me, little bird!”

Dove did as He commanded, though it turned her stomach. As soon as she was able she broke off the kiss. “My Lord, You need to feed Your strength. Shall we go to the balcony? I can smell the food. My Attendants must have it almost ready for You. We can sit, eat, and You can tell me of Your successes today. Then we can retire to our bedchamber.”

“I don’t need a bedchamber to have my way with you,” He said gruffly.

Dove couldn’t stop herself from tensing. She resisted Him, pushing against His massive chest until the God put her down.

“My Lord.” She spoke softly, for His ears alone. “I know You don’t need a bedchamber, but I do. I would be much more comfortable there, and much more able to please You.”

“And do you truly care about pleasing me, little bird?”

“I do, my Lord,” she said earnestly.But only because I care whether I live or die,she added silently.

“And would you have asked your Dead Eye to wait for his pleasure?” The God’s voice was low but had a dangerous edge to it.

“I wouldn’t have had to, my Lord. He would not have insisted I please him in front of my Attendants. He would show me more respect than that.” She held herself very still after she’d spoken the words that seemed to spill from her lips without her volition.Will He kill me now? Or will He simply just hurt me more than He usually does?

Many footsteps pounded against the tiled floor, causing the God to turn from her, though He kept one hand clamped tightly around her slim wrist.

“Ah, Iron Fist! You have come and brought the other Reapers more quickly than I anticipated. Good! You may all join me on the balcony to eat and drink as we discuss what is to come.” His attention returned to Dove. “Have your Attendants bring more food and drink, and then you may join me, but only if you are trulywithme.” He paused and lowered His face close to hers. “I feel your apathy. Do not imagine you are hiding it from me. I grow weary of it, little bird. Always remember, Iama God—fully awakened. I need a vessel for my Consort, but I do not need an Oracle.”

Dove swallowed her fear and lifted her chin. “That is only true if there are no other Gods but You, my Lord.”

Death laughed, long and heartily. “Your courage is entertaining, little bird. Now do as I command before I become weary of it, too.” He loosed her wrist with a shove that had her staggering away from Him.

Lily was by her side in moments. “Mistress?”

“Death commands you bring enough food and drink for His Reapers. Please do so.” Then she lowered her voice. “How many Reapers have joined Him?”

“All of them, Mistress,” Lily replied in an equally quiet voice. “It is Iron Fist and the eight others.”

“Lizard is not with them?”

“Lizard did not return with the God,” Lily said.

“Where is our food and drink?” bellowed the God.

“Go!” Dove said. “Quickly.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Lily hurried away, calling to the other Attendants.

Dove smoothed back her hair and went to the part of the chamber where her Attendants always kept clean freshwater in troughs, wooden bowls, and buckets. She took one of the buckets, dipped it into a trough, and then felt for the dry, clean cloth that hung nearby. Folding it neatly over her arm, she carried the bucket to the God’s balcony, pausing at the entrance.

“Little bird, I am pleased you decided to join us,” Death said.