And then there were the Fey themselves. Above me, Arach led the Wild Hunt in his dragon shape. The Hags cackled insanely as they clambered over the sand, the Leanan-Sidhe licked their sultry lips as they tried to decide on a victim, the Phookas in their canine forms jumped around the feet of the massive Red Caps, and then—the most terrifying faeries of all—the Hidden Ones, burst through a sulfurous cloud and sped toward our enemies.
Chitinous carapaces like giant insects held heads covered in matted fur and baring razor teeth. Thick, elephantine legs pounded the earth, carrying bulbous bodies leaking pus. Scaled limbs stretched out from skeletal forms, talons seeping poison from their tips. The Hidden-Ones are nightmares, even among their own kind, and very few are immune to their spell.
As soon as the Mesopotamians spotted the Wild Hunt, they buckled. I could see whole sections of their army folding in upon itself as soldiers panicked. Our troops saw the opportunity and rushed forward to claim it; beasts and gods filling the gap like a spearhead. Blood sprayed and bodies burned. Arach, Odin, and Lucifer rained fire over our enemies as they tried to flee. It was glorious, but I was focused on one goddess. I wanted my magic back. My fury had blinded me; making me forget that I couldn't have taken back the love magic even if I did reach Ishtar. But I didn't reach her. Before we got within twenty feet of the Love and Lion Goddess, a shape launched into our path. Kirill came skidding to a halt.
“Marduk,” I sneered and slid off Kirill's back.
“Vervain.” He grinned at me. “Shall we finish this, dragon whore?
“We shall, poopy-pants.”
Marduk blinked, long and slow.
“Sorry.” I grimaced. “It's a mother thing. Let me try that again. We shall, you magic-stealing dickweasel.”
“Better.” He made reluctant side-nod.
I latched onto the water within Marduk while he was distracted and used my moon magic to increase it. Marduk's eyes went wide. His skin plumped. He stumbled. Blinked. He looked down at himself with a scowl.
“What the fuck is this?” Marduk lifted a swollen hand and stared at it in bafflement.
“Water,” I smirked at him, waiting for his magic to drain away.
Marduk narrowed his eyes at me and slapped his hand on his chest. The Tablet of Destinies lay within its leather harness as usual. It came to life as soon as Marduk touched it; the ancient writing filling with light. His whole body filled with it—with the electricity that should have drained out through all that water—and he started chanting. I pushed more water into him. Marduk wobbled on his feet but kept going. I scowled and increased it even more. A wet stain appeared in the front of his pants. Marduk's expression went furious but he pulled a Fergie and kept chanting.
As I gaped at him in confusion, Kirill bounded before me and knocked Marduk to the ground. My husband reared back, lifting a deadly paw, but before he struck, light flashed between them, and Kirill went flying. His wounded whimper had my head swinging in his direction anxiously. Kirill's whole body twitched but he managed to give me a nod; he was okay. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then his sapphire eyes widened in horror.
“Your destiny is mine now, bitch!” Marduk's hand landed on my bicep and gripped me like a manacle.
All around us, the world came to a halt; monsters and gods paralyzed in midair and mid-swing, magic suspended between enemies, and flames frozen into sculpture. Only Marduk and I still moved, but I just barely. Energy surged through my body, stealing my control. Not electricity, this was something far worse. My magic drained away with it, and I swayed with the loss of power. Marduk shoved me with both hands. I fell onto the sand, and he straddled me. I couldn't lift a finger or use a smidgen of magic; it was too busy flowing into him.
Marduk grinned into my face. “I rule the whole fucking Universe, you stupid slut. You were never going to win against me. I don't care how many monsters you fuck into following you.”
Gods blurred and faded around us. A strange, creaking sound filled my ears. The air vibrated like a plucked cord. My breath stuttered, and I was certain that this was it. I would die on the sand beneath that grinning bastard with his pissy pants pressed against my belly. But I continued to draw breath, and Marduk continued to grin at me. Why was he keeping me alive? What the hell was he doing?
“Wondering why you still live?” Marduk asked gleefully. “I'm not after your death. I want your power. I want your territory. And I want you to live to see me take it all. To watch as I steal everything that's yours. As I tear your family and friends away from you and destroy you in ways far more painful than mere death. You will serve as an example to the rest of the God World; that none should challenge the strength of the Great Marduk!”
With his last words, the magic consumed me, and I felt something shift inside me. Ties broke, vows vanished, and love died swiftly. My cheeks were soaked with tears when I finally fell into the darkness of unconsciousness.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I woke in a strange room. The A/C was too cold. I tried to turn up my internal temperature but it didn't work. I couldn't find the fire inside me. The chill
