Chapter 133

Before I can get more than three steps after Laila, Anton lunges forward, his paws landing on either side of me as he snatches at the back of my gown with his teeth, holding me back. His fierce growl reminds me that I need to stay here – that Death took Laila because he wants me to come rushing onto his platform and into his clutches.

I stop my chase, knowing that Anton is right – but still, the cry that falls from my lips is desperate in my fear for her as Laila is hauled across the dirt and then up onto the platform. As I watch, her dress changes from seafoam silk to the deep red muslin of the other girls. Some magic hand pushes her into line with the others, who all turn to stare at her, horrified and worried.

Laila pants and so do I, watching, waiting for something new horrible fate to befall my friend.

But she locks eyes with me and nods, letting me know that she’s okay – that she’s fine. At least for now, we have to proceed with our plan.

I snarl, returning my eyes to Death, my hands fisting at my sides as Anton releases my dress and shifts into his usual body, stepping to my side. “It’s fine,” Anton murmurs, drifting a hand down my spine. “It’s fine, June. We have to keep going.”

Death grins at Laila, pleased to have her back, before turning again to Orion and Beatrice. “I’m afraid it won’t be the most romantic ceremony,” he says, lifting his hands at his sides. “But we have much to get on with.”

I watch, slightly horrified, as Death says a sentence or two of formal language about uniting the Prince and his mate in the holy sacrament of matrimony. We all watch in a bit of awe and terror as Death raises his hands further, clasping them together above his head. Snaking black lines of lightning erupt from his fists, streaking for Beatrice and Orion, wrapping eagerly around their bodies.

Even Beatrice shrieks in fear as the lightning snags her, shoving her forward at Orion. The magic manipulates them like marionettes, or like a children playing clumsily with dolls, pushing the two together, pressing their faces close, forcing their lips to touch. I watch, my face twisted with horror, as Orion is made to kiss his bride.

Death grins and the dark lightning subsides. Orion stumbles away from Beatrice, glaring hard between her and Death, panting hard through his nose. But still, even though he bears nothing physical to show his new state, it’s very clear that Orion is…married.

Something strange twists in me as I realize that it’s…done. That the whole task behind bringing us all here to this dark and empty world has now been completed. Nineteen of us shoved aside and Beatrice crowned the victor.

My lips raise in a snarl, hating it, and my eyes dart immediately to Laila. Her. It should have been her. My wolf turns in my soul, eyes narrowed, giving me a nudge, asking me to think –

But I put a steadying hand on her fur, not able to turn to that now. Because something – and I can’t tell quite what yet – is…changing up there on Death’s platform.

All eyes move to the center, to the empty space between Orion and Beatrice, to the glowing light that starts to form there. It’s tiny at first – a little spark, a firefly. But steadily it grows as we all watch, first the size of a chestnut, and then an apple, and then a full orb of gorgeous, glowing, steady light.

“Your prize,” Death says, gesturing slowly towards the magnificent ball which I can feel radiates with power.

A little squeak climbs from my throat as I stare at it, and then over at Anton, remembering my promise –

But he clenches his jaw, looking down at me, reminding me with his gaze that we don’t need it. Not anymore. I blink in surprise, completely shocked that I let that slip my mind –

But then I whip my head back to Beatrice as she reaches for the wish, takes it in her hands. Because if it’s not going to be used to bring Anton back to life – then what –

“I wish,” she says, quite steady and beaming down at the beautiful ball of ancient power in her hands. “For infinite power.”

My eyes go wide at the girl – honestly, I’d never thought her hungry for that sort of thing. She always seemed so…subservient.

“But not for me,” she says, turning towards Death, the ball of magic lighting her face from below, making the hollows of her eyes and nose stand out like a skull. “For Death. I wish it for you, Death – to have increased power, that equal to your father, the God of Darkness.”

“Such a kind wish,” Death coos, reaching out a hand again and stroking it possessively, tenderly over Beatrice’s hair. Orion screams behind his sealed mouth, fighting hard against his bonds and getting nowhere as Beatrice steps towards the God, raising her hands and pressing the ball of magic towards his chest.

“NO!” I scream, stepping forward, stopped again by Anton grabbing my arm, holding me back. I fight against him truly this time, wanting to stop her, to grab her –

“To late, June,” he breathes, horrified.

I send my magic, reaching for the wish – but it bounces away, unable to touch it –

The wish presses against Death for a moment and then sinks into him, dissolving into his chest. He sighs with happiness and what looks like ecstasy, tilting his head back to the sky as the magic disappears into him.

Beatrice steps away, tucking her hands behind her back, beaming at the God she just gave up everything for. I snarl, hating her – hating that she let him trick her like that –

God, what did he promise her in return –

But the thought is wiped from my mind as sudden light bursts from Death’s skin. Or – no – not light – darkness so rich and vivid that it pushes all light away before it, like a sunburst. I groan, half turning to Anton, pressing myself against his side, suddenly out of my depth. Because while I felt confident facing Death…

If he has all the powers of Darkness now? Power equal to one of the two great gods?

I…I don’t know if I can do this.

“Steady,” Anton murmurs, glancing down at me even as he wraps his arms around me, holding me tight. “Steady, June. We’ve still got this.”

“Easy for you to say,” I snarl, glancing up at him. “You’re already dead.”

He smirks down at me, thinking that I’m funny even in this horrible moment –

And suddenly, something about that – about my ghost boy smiling at me even in the face of infinite darkness…

It just…gives me strength.

I raise my chin, jaw clenched, new determination running through me.

“There’s my girl,” Tony murmurs, cupping my cheek, running his thumb along the length of my jaw. “Give them absolute hell.”

I grin up at him, letting my fangs extend, and he snarls down at me, loving it.

As one, Anton and I look back to the platform, seeing that the first burst of power from Death is waning, that he’s pulled it all back to himself and is beginning to adjust to his new state. His chest heaves with the new immensity of it, his eyes wide and unblinking, his hands clasping and unclasping like he doesn’t know what to do with the new breadth of his power.

A shiver runs through me at the awful sight.

Death snaps his gaze to Orion, who screams behind his clasped lips and falls hard to his knees. Beatrice gasps as she falls next to him, starting to shake in terror as she looks up at the effects of her wish.

“I name you, Orion,” Death intones, pointing a finger at Orion. “Liege lord of this mere Underworld realm, my vassal and my servant. You will run it in my stead.”

Orion just stares at Death, clearly shocked and confused as to why his father would give up his mantle now that he has this new, immense power.

“And I!” Death declares, looking around at his courtiers, and his priests, and the girls all dressed in red. “Will be Emperor of this entire Planet! I claim it as my own, I seize it from Darkness himself!” A huge pulse – much more powerful than the one we felt before – pounds out around us, echoing through the entire space.

My eyes go wide as I realize that Death just declared a new war, and this time against a much, much more powerful foe than I.

“You!” Death says, maniacal now, overrun with his new power as he spins to the line of girls in red dresses. “You will all be my wives! As emperor I will be needing new heirs, new vassals that I will send to rule the worlds that I conquer. Especially as this one,” he turns to Orion to sneer, “has been such a…disappointment.”

Orion hangs his head, frightened or ashamed – I don’t know what. My heart aches for him – for the years he spent under this horrible king who clearly has no true love for his son.

Death turns to me next, holding out a hand. “This is your last opportunity, Princess Sinclair,” he calls, his voice low, devious and hungry. “I would let you survive, even make you my Queen if you would cede your power to me. With our magics combined we could rule…worlds. Universes.”

I narrow my eyes at him, cocking my head to the side.

Silence reigns for a moment as everyone holds their breath, looking at me, waiting for my answer.

“I don’t know,” I call out, folding my arms across my chest, looking for all things like I’m considering it. “Don’t you think I’m out of your league?”

A snarl breaks from between Death’s teeth. “Last. Chance. Girl. Accept my offer or death in its stead.”

I twist my mouth to the side, looking between the infinitely powered God of Death and the ghost boy standing next to me. Tony smirks down at me, all powerless and pretty and blue and wonderful.

“I think I’m going to stick with this one,” I say, pointing at my boyfriend with my thumb. “He’s better looking.”

Death goes still for a moment. Just long enough for me to smirk at him.

Chaos breaks free as the God of Death roars his rage, thrusting out a hand towards me and unleashing his power in an unending, roiling wave of black.

I grit my teeth, throwing up what shield I can and grabbing Anton by his shirt, hauling him down behind my flimsy barrier just as the wave of raw power crashes down upon us.