Page 9 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

But now, nothing.

Perhaps it was that my soul, my power, was that weak at this point. I didn’t doubt it. But even so, something raced through my blood, hot and urgent, as I stared into the darkness.

“Another one.”

It couldn’t be.

4

Nephesh

There was no proof about Arafel’s theory that our souls, while still lost to us, could be reborn once again. But yet, this feeling… It was familiar. It felt…fuck, it felt good. Before I could think about the consequences, I was moving. Down the stairs, through the darkened courtroom, to the immense entryway, where I had once painted a small map of the Underworld. My palm burned with magic as I marched up, jabbing my finger above the depiction of a castle at the edge of a mountain. A breath later, I was braced against the smooth stone walls of Castle Fel’s portcullis.

I barely glanced at the craggy, pine-covered mountains that spiked up from all sides. The Lord of Dreams preferred this vantage point, a guard tower against the River Styx, but also a clear advantage for when unfriendly creatures came calling.

“Arafel,” I boomed, moving out onto one of the towers. My black-haired brother appeared instantly, his frame illuminating a floor below me as he looked up at me through a window. His pewter-gray skin nearly glowed in the dark as he yanked a shirt over his shoulders. Not fast enough, though. I could see the thick scrawling black lines, the deal he’d made with the woman who had carried his soul. His soul mate, Lucia.

She had saved his realm, given us hope when she not only gave him part of her soul, but also agreed to remain here, to rule the dream realm at his side, and therefore returned the whole of Arafel’s soul to the Underworld where it belonged.

Because of her, we had a chance at this war.

And fuck, I wanted to hate her for it. But it wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t been here when my world came crumbling down. Perhaps if she had been, something would be different. Not likely, but I thought of it often.

“What are you doing here, Neph?”

My lips curled at the dreaded nickname. “I need a favor.”

I could see Arafel stiffen from there, his black wings blooming from his back as he came closer. He knew that he owed me a favor. I had saved his mate in a time where he had been unable to do so. I briefly thought of the saucy dark-haired woman who had captured his heart. She was far less delicate now, the half of Arafel’s soul that remained inside of her slowly spreading through her human self and making her into something altogether new.

She’d even learned to fly. Hades help my brother, who worried every moment about his sweet, smart little mate. And while I knew that every one of his instincts screamed at him to protect her and keep her far away from anything that might hurt her, Arafel was trying to be supportive. He’d mentioned the other day that Lucia had begun to dream walk on a regular basis.

I knew how significant having another dream walker would be, especially since the Drude appeared to be hiding out in the living world. We needed every pair of eyes and ears in the dream world as we could get. It was the safest, most efficient way to see what was happening in the living world without opening up the Underworld to potential invasion.

“Are you alright?” Arafel’s voice was warm, gentle as he looked at me over, obviously expecting injury.

I smirked. My injuries had never been strictly physical. “Of course. I’m just here to cash in on my favor.”

“As you mentioned. Do you want to come in?”

I looked past him, noticing for the first time that a slender shadow stood in the doorway to the tower he’d emerged from. A growl rumbled up in my chest at being watched, but I forced it down. If Arafel truly believed I was a danger to his mate, he would rip me to shreds in a moment. And he wouldn’t even feel bad about it. I also wouldn’t die, but it would take me a long fucking time to pull myself together.

Arafel stepped into my line of vision, blocking Lucia, his mate, from my gaze. While his posture remained relaxed, I could see the barely masked threat in his blue eyes. “I’ll ask again, do you want to come in?”

“Such nice manners. I’m sure Mother would be thrilled.” I folded my arms, putting my most aloof mask on my face. “No, I don’t need to come in. What I need, it will take only a moment once you agree.”

The tip of one wing twitched, a clear sign he was worried. He’s always done that, even when we were young. “And what am I agreeing to?”

“I need to get into the living world.”

“What? Why?” Arafel’s hand slipped up to rub his jaw as he cast a wary look over me. “Why would you want to do that?”

I kept my face disinterested, even as the blood in my veins pulsed violently. I should tell him this part. Of all my brothers, he would understand. And even if he panicked and ran to Father…they would be too late to stop me. “Cerberus is there.”

“Cerberus is in the living world?” Arafel’s hands framed the dark curling horns on each side of his head. “With all three showing?”

I wished I was allowed to strangle him. But he was the only one who could help me tonight. I needed him conscious. “No, Arafel, I highly doubt he went into the living world as a three-headed, horse-sized dog.”

“Then what’s the problem? You said he always comes home.”