Page 9 (1/2)

"Many tireed to do this job, and do it, I shall Besides, when I agreed to enter this realm, I became…connected to it"

"Connected? What do you mean?"

"If the wall crumbles, I…die"

She would die? "Why did you not tell rowled "And ould you connect to such a thing? Why would you coown "Had I remained in the heavens, I would have been punished every minute of every day No one is crueler in that respect than the gods They wanted me here, so here I ca would be Hoerful As to why I didn’t tell you before…" She shrugged "You had permission to finally leave your post yet you chose to help me I didn’t want to burden you further Now you’ve saved ain, and I don’t wish to lie to you Even by omission"

"Kadence," he said, then shook his head He could not believe this was happening That he could lose her--and be able to do nothing about it "I should have reate, without you, and slayed the Lords as they approached Now the wall is without protection, and you are in er than ever"

"No They would have seen you and stayed away, for there is no place to hide above the pit"

"And that would have been fine with me That would have kept you safe"

"Yet that is no kind of life for you, si in wait"

"It is the life I a what he did was for her…there was no greater purpose

"But you deserve ertip over the area he had clawed "We had to do this Or rather, I did But I want you to know that if I fall, the ill remain as it is, for it isn’t bound to me I know because I have been hurt e"

"I don’t care about the daulped and continued as if he hadn’t spoken Or yelled "WithoutThe gods will have to find someone new I know you are now free, but would you reilant, until that person is found? Even if Lucifer has already appointed a new guardian?"

"You are not going to die, damn it Now tell me why Lucifer allowed you inside? Clearly, he needs you outside"

Color fused her cheeks Embarrassment? Guilt? "He also needs his wall protected at any cost"

Guilt,off the walls "He could have destroyed or imprisoned the Demon Lords"

"If he could catch theive you that" He tapped two fingers against his chin, pondering the situation "Lucifer allows nothing, even those things he needs, without de some form of payment" Which meant Kadence had had to pay "What did he demand of you? And why did he allow you my services? Why release er has it?" Even as he asked the questions, a few of the answers shaped in his ht me from him"

That color in her cheeks deepened "Geryon, I--"

"Didn’t you?"

"Yes," she whispered Her eyelashes fluttered shut, the length of the spiky shadows over her cheeks One of her hands rubbed at the a between her breasts "I’m not sorry, either"

Was his soul inside that stone? "Did you buy me with…yourself?" If so, he would slay the prince before allowing one evil finger to touch this wo Then, "No I do not wish to discuss this, though"

"I don’t care Tell er with her, with Lucifer, with himself that this could have happened What had this prized woiven it up? He placed his hand over hers, not to hold her in place--powerful as he no she was, he doubted he could have done so--but to offer reassurance He was here, he wasn’t leaving Nothing she said would send hiave him a year on earth, unimpeded, to do as he wished"

"Oh, Kadence," Geryon said, knowing the other gods would have to honor her bargain--and wouldinside hi Powerless fool "Why would you do such a thing?" A savage whisper Run, no He still would not

Tears beaded in her eyes "To save you To save me To save the world beyond our reach I could think of no other way A single year to wreak his havoc see to trade in co free" Her ave a pained cry

Quick as a snap, her skin leached of color and she doubled over

Concern instantly rocked hi, sweet? Tell me"

"The demons…I think…I think they’re at the wall I think they’re killing me"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN