Nergal’s wide smile told Khent he’d missed something. “Ah, but there’s hate and there’shate.And you need to be smart enough to know the difference. Eat up, my children, for tonight we feast.”
Seven demons grew from the ground and surrounded Khent, their faces becoming clearer. Hideous, pale as spider silk and twice as toxic, the creatures were death personified. Their eyes were black orbs without a center, their faces human without a nose or ears, just eyes and a mouth to feed.
Khent had thought he might outwit Nergal at his own game, in his own home.
A mistake.
“Pride, as always, is the greatest sin of Egypt’s children.” Nergal tsked. “Khentimentiu of the Night Bloode, greet the Offspring of Arali.”
Khent stared in astonishment as they all turned into copies ofhim. “I thought they had definite forms.”
“Oh, they do. This is so we can have a little fun before you die. You’ve been massively entertaining. I can’t wait to see what the others do to get you back.” Nergal clapped, and the surrounding demons clapped with him. “Applause, Khent. For you are one of my favorite guests. Well, you and the woman with my stone.”
“She doesn’t have it. I’d know.”
“Would you?”
“Of course.” Khent studied Nergal, aware the Offspring moved closer.
Everyone knew the Offspring of Arali. Demons from Irkalla that came to earth to drag humans to the underworld. That seven had surrounded Khent suggested he’d be fighting galla demons. The most sophisticated and dangerous of those lingering in this nothing state.
“Thank you.” Khent bowed his head in appreciation. “That you would give me the galla is a great honor.”
Nergal’s smile widened as he grew large once more and ascended bone steps to the throne that appeared in front of him. “You’re welcome,” he boomed, his voice hurting Khent’s ears. “You see, not everyone appreciates my courtesies. You do your tribe honor.”
“I also must apologize in advance. I don’t plan to die today.”
“That’s just as well. A quick death is no fun. I’m not the god of war for nothing, for a good war takes time.” He snapped his fingers. “Will you fight well for this?”
Khent froze, spotting Valentine by Nergal’s side. Kneeling on the small bone dais next to his throne, she looked like a toy in comparison. Nergal stroked the tip of a claw over her cheek and brought a lone tear to his lips.
“You lesser beings think you know magic. But everything in this plane belongs to me. Not your dream god, not those Of the Bloode. But me, Lord of the Underworld, God of Death, Pestilence, and Ghosts. For I am all and everlasting.” His laughter echoed like the raging pulse of a heartbeat.
Khent showed no reaction while he tried to hold his anger in check. The strange feelings inside him made it difficult to reason. He didn’t like Valentine’s tears, didn’t want her so close to someone who made her sad and scared.
She belonged tohim.Her hopes, her laughter, her anger, even her grief. His andonlyhis.
The rage inside him built.
“Oh, now we’re going to see a show.” A crush of darkness surrounded them, so that Khent felt as if a spotlight shone on him and the galla demons moving closer. He could no longer see Morpheus on the ground, covered by thick shadow and a few hungry ghosts.
Nergal dragged Valentine up onto the throne, held in the palm of his hand like a tasty snack.
“No, please,” she pleaded, staring down at Khent for help.
Nergal swallowed her whole.
And Khent exploded into action.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Val stumbledthrough the door into Khent’s room, beyond relieved to be away from that hellish place. Talk about a nightmare.
She glanced at the bed, expecting to see herself and Khent sleeping.
Morpheus, the god of dreams, had taken them away. It only made sense he’d return her to her own consciousness in one piece.
