Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Eyes softening, Amell puts his hand to the back of my neck and dips his head to kiss me. “The only thing you need to know is that you are the only one I want in my bed. If you want to call it monogamy, you have it. If you want me to smite any female who looks my way, I will.”
“You most certainly will not,” I gasp.
Amell laughs and chucks me under the chin. “You’re so cute with your little human sensibilities. But trust me, after that display in the bar, no one will come near me or you.”
I can’t do anything but nod. He’s making exceptions for me and changing rules and threatening the Crimson River. No one has ever been my champion before. No one has ever cared for me before. It doesn’t seem real.
“Come on,” he says, pulling me into his embrace. “I have to judge some souls, and you can watch.”
* * *
It’s bizarre being back on the Bridge of Judgment. Twice now, I’ve been on it at Amell’s mercy with him nearly tossing me in. The third time with Will was much nicer.
I feel safe now, or at least as safe as one can be stuck in Hell where dangers lurk around every corner. I believe Amell won’t let harm come to me, so it eases my anxiety to be back out here.
I stand next to the king. He chose not to sit on his throne but stand in front of it as the recently departed are brought before him.
Those souls who might be worthy of redemption.
Calix reads the charges, and Amell is a harsh jurist. They’re brought forth by the fae guards, begging, pleading, crying for mercy. One after another they go over the edge, except Amell doesn’t flick them over with his power. He merely nods his chin that way, and the guards do the dragging and tossing. The citizens of Otaxis who came out to watch cheer each time, thriving on the carnage and display of Amell’s brutal power.
A young man is brought forth and thrown onto his knees before Amell. His hair is long and greasy, his face pockmarked, and he’s painfully thin. Instantly, I recognize the look of the streets.
Calix holds up his scroll and announces his crime.
He killed a woman in a carjacking.
Like all the others, he cries. Tears flowing, snot pouring, he begs, “Please don’t throw me in the river. I can be a better person.”
Amell isn’t moved, and he nods toward the edge of the bridge. The guards lift the man under his armpits, and he stares at the king. “I always knew I’d end up here one day.”
The guards start to drag him away, but to my surprise, Amell says, “Wait.”
He steps forward and asks the man, “What did you mean by that?”
Still crying, he shakes his head. “I’ve done so many bad things… I just… I deserve this.”
His tone is so defeated and heavy, I pity him. Amell seems perplexed and studies the guy with shrewd eyes.
And then I’m totally shocked when he says, “I’m going to reincarnate you.”
The man gasps and the guards immediately release him. He sags to the ground, and his head tips back to look at Amell.
“You’ll be given another chance at life, but it will be harder than the one you just left. Every obstacle and hill you faced, the new ones will be bigger and steeper. If you want to redeem your soul, you’ll do better. If you don’t, your next death will land you straight into the Crimson River. Do you understand?”
The man nods furiously before hesitantly asking, “Will I remember this? Will I know that I have to do better and what the stakes are if I don’t?”
Amell shakes his head. “No. You won’t.”
And that’s all the advice he gives.
A thick stream of light shoots down from the midnight sky above, the rays shimmering with billions of sparkles. From within the brilliance, two large men step forward. They’re dressed in black—weird clothing that’s not of the First Dimension but looks futuristic with clean lines and no buttons or pockets.
They lift the man under his armpits, same as the fae guards did to throw him into the Crimson River.
I step closer to Amell and whisper, “Where are they taking him?”
“To Zora,” he answers, his eyes watching the men as they step backward into the light to disappear. “She’ll actually reincarnate him.”
“And he’ll have no guidance?”
Amell shrugs. “Who knows? Circe might meddle in his fate.”
I know much more about the gods now since Amell has spent many nights, our bodies tangled in his bed, educating me on all the fantastical things about the universe.
“Why did you do it?” I ask, not sure I’m worthy of his thought process.
“Because he reminded me of you.” Amell stares down at me, his eyes warm. “You said those very words… knew you’d end up here one day. He might have deserved the river, but I can’t be sure. Perhaps he had things happen in his life that led him down a bad path, just like you.”