Ilu opened her mouth and closed it. Then said, “No?”
Val took Ilu’s hands in her own. The deity looked down and tightened her grip, seeming to marvel at the connection.
In a gentle voice, Val said, “Ilu, you seem very alone.”
“I have always been such.”
“Well, wouldn’t it be nice if you could experience togetherness? Love?”
“Mating?” Ilu stared into Val’s eyes.
“Uh, you want to have sex?”
“Copulate? Oh no. Well, I don’t think so. But I am curious about mating. Your dragon is greedy. The creatures have never been jealous of anything but a hoard, and he views you as if you’re his treasure.”
Val smiled. “He has good taste.”
Ilu gave a slow smile. “Perhaps he does at that.”
“I would give you my life if you would leave this world intact. It’s not perfect, but it’s full of good and bad. Death is about balance.”
“You have the right of it.”
“And Ilu, if I die, I’ll stay with you. You don’t have to be alone if you don’t want.” Val didn’t want to make that concession, but she meant it.
“I am not so pathetic I can’t stand my own company.” Ilu huffed. Yet Val felt the being’s loneliness. “I would go to the Beyond if I could, but my kind are not meant for that. We are meant for?—”
“Living,” Val answered. “I’m just a human, but I know life the way few humans do. I can stand in the space Between. Probably because you’re a part of me.”
Ilu nodded.
“Would you like to live with me? To experience a house of vampires and shifters? To know pain and laughter, love and sadness?”
“To know the great Balance.” Ilu thought about it then sighed. “Perhaps I would at that. But we have made our bargain. A life for a life. I cannot undo it.”
“Oh. I see.” Val had finally gotten through only to find herself bound anyway. She couldn’t help crying at the thought of all she’d lose. And to think, she’d once naively assumed she’d be fine giving her life to kill Vladimir. If only she’d never met Khent.
She cleared her throat. “Would it be okay if I said goodbye to my mate? And could I watch them finally end what Talon and I started two decades ago?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, Ilu. Just one more thing, if you would.”
Ilu waited.
“Could youpleasenot destroy the world? I get the feeling you love chaos, but trying to live in a world like mine is full of nothingbutchaos. It’s just a different kind.”
Ilu seemed puzzled. “I hadn’t thought about it like that. It would make for a unique existence, I suppose.”
“Yes. Because the end of everything is just the end. But life is full of wonders and surprises. Nothing is static.”
“Ever-changing. This, I think I would like.”
Not happy but relieved she’d gotten through, Val thanked the god.
“Say your goodbyes then, Valentine.” Ilu stepped back.
Val fully entered her body again and saw Khent studying her intently. Seeing her, he shrunk to his normal size, in a man’s shape once more. He hugged her to him and kissed her soundly, his heart racing, like hers.
