Ifthey returned.
Khent stared without expression at Morpheus, who surely knew better than to play with underworld powers he couldn’t match. God to god, in Nergal’s realm, Nergal ruled. He already had power over the dead and ghosts.
In a lot of ways, Khent had more in common with Nergal than he had to his own kin.
“You feel like my children,” Nergal said, parroting Khent’s thoughts. “So much power in you both.” He frowned and tapped a staff that suddenly appeared in his hands. It looked a lot like the fake staff the four-eyes had held. Except at the top of this staff, a glowing golden eye appeared, faded, as if a ghost itself.
“It’s missing something,” Valentine said, visibly startling the god.
“Yes, it is.” Nergal smiled, exposing sharklike teeth. “Do you have my stone, dear one?”
“It’s not yours.”
Khent felt something from Valentine through their clasped hands, a roiling energy wanting to get free. Yet something in him told him now was not the time, that to let that go, in Irkalla, would be a fatal mistake.
“Time to go,” Morpheus said with cheer. “I just wanted to make the introductions before you guys meet ‘topside.’” He winked at Nergal, who scowled and finally turned his attention from Valentine, focused once more on Morpheus.
Khent dragged her behind him, blocking her from the god’s view. He didn’t release her hand.
Nergal had eyes only for Morpheus. “What have you been up to, hmm? Spying on me, perhaps?”
In a blink, Nergal appeared directly in front of Morpheus and tapped his staff against the dream god’s forehead. Morpheus collapsed to the ground. Around them, demons appeared from the shadows, vague shapes hissing and laughing and growing stronger in their amusement.
Not good.
The Lord of the Underworld sneered at Morpheus. “You piece of shit.”
Khent knew things had gone beyond bad. They needed to leave.
With Morpheus,Hecate shouted in his mind, giving him a headache.
Over his shoulder to Val, he whispered, “We have to go,” while keeping his gaze on the threat in front of him.
“That door?” she asked.
“What door?”
“Give me the stone,” Nergal demanded, his voice like hammered steel as he raised his gaze to Valentine.
“She doesn’t have it.”
“Doesn’t she?” Nergal smiled again, his skull splitting in two, now perfectly formed lion heads, one facing Khent while the other faced Valentine.
Khent felt Hecate’s warning in his bones. Especially when Nergal dug the base of his staff into Morpheus’s back and an amorphous glow rushed from Morpheus to infuse the magical rod.
Letting his own power coalesce, Khent allowed the nimbus of death he usually kept contained to fill up his bloode, thickeningthe energy that might give Valentine time to escape. If she had the Bloode Stone, she had to get away.
Plus, truth be told, Khentwantedto battle Nergal. He hadn’t felt this excited about life since…sliding inside Valentine.
He met her gaze briefly. She looked worried.
Oddly, he didn’t like that. Not at all. Then he noticed the door she’d mentioned.
“Go.” He could only hope it led back to consciousness and away from Irkalla.
“Not yet.” Nergal lifted his staff from Morpheus and stepped closer.
Just the break Khent needed. He moved faster than he ever had before, positioning Valentine at the door before scooping Morpheus over his shoulder, standing away from her to distract Nergal.
