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Arulius?
What the hell is he doing here?
Kastian’s dark aura immediately spikes in the air around us. Shadows and dark dust dance in the small cottage with his fury.
Moro’s speechless. Apparently we all are, because no one’s saying a godsdamn thing.
Arulius stands formally, arms crossed behind his back like he’s here on fucking business. His golden wings are radiant with the sun at his back and his gray hair, tipped in gold, is styled like he’s the king of Tomorrow.
I grit my teeth as the shock starts to dull.
Kastian stands slowly, his aura becoming heavier with each tantalizing second. Moro raises a hand at Kastian and motions for him to sit back down with a hard stare. Kastian doesn’t sit but his aura eases a little bit. His silver eyes are filled with rage too. He lost everything he had because of this asshole, just like we did.
“Arulius.” Moro snaps his head back to the golden god, studying him carefully. I stand slowly, next to the Death God. Kastian flicks his eyes to me and I give him a supportive nod. We won’t let this asshole leave here breathing.
“Moro—good to see you.” Arulius smirks. His amethyst eyes rove over me and Kastian like we’re just two brooms left in the kitchen.
Try us, dipshit.
Moro shifts uneasily. “Let’s cut the shit. Why are you here?” he deadpans, his voice lower than I’ve ever heard it. I know he’s got some power within him somewhere, but the bastard is good at hiding it. The blue aura that constantly lingers around his skull and by his temples makes me think he’s a Gremitie—the spirits of the sea.
Arulius leans against the doorframe and crosses his arms. “I bring a message from the High Lady herself—”
Kastian barks a wicked laugh. “Our message back will be your bones.” Goosebumps crawl up my spine as Kastian’s death aura spills into the air with malice. I shiver the feeling away.
The golden asshole doesn’t even look our way and continues on like he wasn’t just interrupted. “She wants you to know that she’s not entirely opposed to finding peace together. That perhaps we can make a bargain. Though, should you intervene and try to save Elodie, Violet will order me to kill Margo first and then her.”
I scoff at that and clench my fists tightly at my sides. “Peace? The only peace that will come is if you two are wiped off the face of Tomorrow,” I snarl at him as I raise my own powers, itching beneath my skin. Thorns start to creep along the walls and my poisonous thorn whip hangs in my hand.
Arulius shrugs and smiles like this is funny, like we’re all just a godsdamn joke.
Moro raises his hands quicker than I’ve seen any god move and wraps them tightly around Arulius’s throat as he slams him into the doorframe. Kastian and I both lunge forward to help as a knee-jerk reaction, but he doesn’t need it. Moro’s a badass.
“Gods—a little sour, are we?” Arulius chuckles, though he seems to be struggling in Moro’s grasp.
Moro bares his teeth and his silver eyes become wide with power. “Tell me why we shouldn’t kill you right now.”
Arulius considers him for a moment. “One: because you can’t. Two: I think it’s cute you think you can. Three: you’ll kill Elodie through the bond.” His smile widens and Kastian growls low beside me. Gods, that’s right… fucking Eostrixes and their damn bonds. “Don’t you want to know the bargain? It entails Elodie being freed and everyone living happily ever fucking after.”
I glare at him but I’ll bite… Anything to save Elodie. “What is it?”
Moro and Kastian give me hesitant gazes like I’m crazy for even considering this, but fuck, what else are we supposed to do? Gods know what Elodie’s going through right now. I can’t leave her there… Iwon’t.
Moro slowly releases Arulius but keeps his fists closed tightly, like he’s going to punch him. The golden god pats Moro’s shoulder like he made a good choice.
“Kastian—take a walk with me. I’ll give you the details as it mainly pertains to you.” He jerks his head for the Death God to follow him out and Kastian clenches his jaw tightly before he reluctantly follows.
Moro and I watch them from the doorway as they chat behind a cottage down the road. What the fuck could Violet want? I’m so done with the High Lady. Why I ever served her is beyond me.
“Violet’s up to something…” I mumble and flick my eyes over to Moro. He runs a hand through his silver hair and nods.
“She always is, isn’t she.” He looks over at me and presses his mouth in a thin line. He looks tired, like really fucking tired. His appearance is young, like all of ours here in Tomorrow, but his soul is old. “Have you ever heard of Liasium?”
My eyes widen as the name swirls within me. Elodie is the one who told me of that place and I never expected to find what I did there. I nod.
Moro dips his chin, his eyes growing distant. “I’m going there once I can get a handle on the new Hollows. I think it’s time I remember everything.” He sounds like it’s something he really doesn’t want to do, and I don’t blame him. The idea of merging with your former consciousness is horrifying to fathom.
“Do you think that will help?” I mumble as I let my eyes find the two gods again. Kastian looks pissed. He’s running a hand through his hair like he’s about to start yelling.
