But Orion regains his balance and just raises his head with a sigh, shaking it as if to clear it. “No, it’s fine, I’m good. Just…always weird, when all of your magic instantly disappears.” “Was your magic like…holding you up?” I ask, my face twisting a bit with confusion. “I don’t know,” Orion s
Blythe’s shoulders droop at the sight of it too, and, seeing that, Orion straightens his. He doesn’t wanting to be quite as pathetic as the guy who was just a slug for three days. “Yeah, our Tony-boy was a scrappy little underdog in this whole thing, wasn’t he?” Faiza says, crossing her arms and g
“Yes, June,” Orion says, smirking and pointing up at the temple, deliberately provoking me and clearly enjoying himself. “It is right there. See?” “And did you just miss the fact that we’ve been wandering around in circles?” I snap, throwing my hands out wide as I gesturing around at the narrow st
“Okay, lil girlie,” I say, smiling at her. “Show us what you’ve got.” The butterfly takes its cue, lifting off my hand and beginning to float down the street towards the intersection, where we’re forced to go either left or right. We all move after it, moving at a quick pace to keep up. To my sh
“The ‘how’ of how all of these people get here,” Faiza says on a sigh, “is a more complicated question. Usually they slip through by accident. Or some are born here. But the why is not as difficult – the City of Life is the only place on this whole planet that isn’t a wasteland. I mean, you’ve got s
Faiza sighs, turning to me fully. “Look, Princess, if Life wanted you dead, you’d be dead, okay?” She quirks an eyebrow at me. “Like I’ve said before, she’s rooting for you. She wants you alive just…frustrated enough with her world that you leave peacefully. But I promise you, you will be safe in th
I glance back at Anton and the rest of our little group as Orion tugs me away. Anton cocks his head to the side, his eyes moving to Orion’s arm around my waist. He raises an eyebrow at me. I hesitate, glancing up at Orion, who gives me a steady shake of his head. “Leave them, Princess,” he says, h
My mouth falls open further and I sit straighter, staring at him, my wolf’s growl deepening. “Orion, that is not what’s happening.” “He’s dead, June,” Orion says with a sigh, contemplating me with a bit of sadness. “What, honestly, can he offer you in the long term?” “What can you offer me?” I s
“No!” she sputters out, stumbling a few steps towards me, shaking her head so hard her pretty blue-green hair flutters out all around her. “No, Junie, don’t make me go! I want…I want to stay here! And help! I mean…” she bites her lip. “It will be nice to be able to visit home. But I want to stay wit
“I’m sending you home too,” I say quietly, doing my best to look each in the eyes. “I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed that you didn’t get the wish.” They murmur a variety of responses back to me, most of them relieved. One by one they step forward and I take their ha
“Does…” I whisper, my eyes still fastened to Orion as my eyes move over him, feeling the powers that radiate from him now. “Does that mean you have all of the powers of Darkness too? From…from the wish?” “No,” Orion murmurs, looking down at his hands and flexing them, experimenting with the feel o
Beatrice is the last to go, staring at me in shock, realizing finally that she bet everything on the wrong horse. I bare my teeth at her, fangs extended, and Beatrice’s eyes go wider as she trembles and finally submits, going to her knees and bowing her head. “Good,” I say, my voice returning to n
Laila’s knife sinks deep between Death’s shoulder blades and the final scream of a God fills the air as Death falls to his knees. The magic stops mid-stream, like a tap being suddenly turned off. I groan and tilt forward against Anton, who catches me and holds me against his chest. “Shit, June,”
“Just a little longer, June. She’ll do it.” But what if she doesn’t? What if…what if I’m inches from oblivion, and this is it? My heart strains in my chest, my wolf shaking like a leaf from snout to tail. But still, I will myself to hope. To trust in my friend. “I know,” I reply, letting my ey
I gasp, my shoulders trembling under the sheer weight of Death’s magic that flows over and around us, my shield barrier straining and buckling under its might. “June,” Anton breathes, eyes wide as he looks up at the magic streaming over us in an unending torrent. “Shit – are you –“ I crouch besi
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 jus
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