The Spider Queen

by Emma Slate

  “How do you feel about it?” I asked.

  “How do you feel about it?”

  The million-dollar question. A few hours ago before we went to bed, I’d been thinking that I needed more in my long immortal life than to just be a mother.

  I wasn’t ready for this. Not by a long shot.

  Cassandra claimed our children would change the fabric of the universe. I wanted to protect the tiny being inside me for as long as I could. I silently begged the spiders to reinforce their web.

  “Poppy?” Thane urged when I hadn’t answered, lost in my own thoughts.

  I didn’t have to have it all sorted, I realized. It would take time. So I told him the truth.

  “I’m not ready for this. But I—I think it’s also pretty magical.”

  His expression softened, and he kissed me.

  Emotion surged between us.

  “Now you,” I said, pulling back and staring into his liquid ebony eyes rimmed with gold. “Tell me how you feel.”

  Instead of telling me, Thane took me into his arms, opened our mental connection, and blasted me with joy. It was pure, unadulterated, and it brought tears to my eyes.

  Chapter 56

  We sat on the beach to watch the sunrise. It was just as enchanting as the night sky. Colors not found in the mortal realm existed here, and the fact that I was alive to witness them sent a wave of gratitude rushing through me.

  I sighed as I leaned back against Thane. “I feel like I could do this every day.”

  “We should. Or strive to, anyway.” He nuzzled my neck, his hands cradling my belly.

  “Endless sunrises and endless sunsets. I still can’t seem to wrap my mind around that. Do we age? Will I look this way forever?”

  “Eternally young.”

  “Eternally perky,” I teased, causing him to laugh. “I love that sound.”

  “I never thought I’d laugh again,” he admitted. “I wasn’t sure I remembered how.”

  “I promise to fill your days with laughter and your nights with steamy, sweaty sex.”

  “What about steamy, sweaty sex during the day?”

  “Greedy, are we?”

  He chuckled. “Are you saying you don’t want to spend days lingering in bed?”

  I saw a speck in the sky. It flew closer, its silver-tipped wings glittering in the sunlight. “I think we’re not the type to linger.” I gestured with my chin to the fortress as I watched Gabriel land.

  “Ah,” Thane said. “He’s finally arrived. Something must’ve held him up. Can’t say I’m upset about that fact. It means we got more time alone.” He sighed. “Best get on with weighing the souls, hmmm?” He stood up and then held out his hand.

  “Do you always have to weigh souls?” I asked.

  “No. Normally, the souls find their way to the bridge after they leave the body housing them. However, since these souls have been in Heaven and might not belong there, we have to manually judge them.”

  “We?”

  He smiled. “You want to see it, right?”

  I nodded eagerly. “I’m intrigued, I’m not going to lie.”

  Thane led me toward the castle. Gabriel stood in the courtyard, holding a golden cage filled with golden balls of light.

  “You’re late,” Thane said by way of greeting. I realized I was still in a black robe that only hit to my mid-thigh and discreetly made sure I was still covered.

  “It’s a shit storm up there,” Gabriel growled and thrust the cage at Thane’s chest. Thane dropped my hand to grasp the cage. Gabriel looked at me. “Sorry to interrupt your homecoming, Poppy.”

  “It’s okay,” I said truthfully. “We have some obligations to see to, don’t we?”

  The fallen angel rolled his shoulders, looking annoyed and exhausted.

  Was he this surly when we met him in the woods?

  Yes. You were just too fascinated by his wings to notice his terrible attitude.

  What can I say? I like grumpy old men.

  I’m not grumpy.

  You used to be. I pointed out.

  You try not getting laid for thousands of years, and see what that does to you.

  No thanks. Besides, I’ll make it up to you.

  “Seriously,” Gabriel muttered. “When are you both going to settle into the old mate routine? You guys are literally charging the air with your desire.”

  “Says the fallen angel,” I remarked dryly. “I distinctly remember you and Auri charging the air, too.”

  “That’s different.” Gabriel grinned. “I was the one getting some.”

  I laughed.

  “Maybe after the baby comes we’ll settle down,” Thane announced.

  My mouth dropped open, and then I shot him a glare.

  Thane grinned and then turned his attention back to Gabriel. “Guess I was supposed to keep that quiet for a bit.”

  Gabriel slapped his hand on Thane’s back. “We should celebrate.”

  “That, too, has to keep,” Thane said. He raised the golden cage. “We should see to this.”

  “You should,” Gabriel said with a sigh. “It’s the first of many.”

  Thane made a noise in the back of his throat and headed toward the doorway.

  Gabriel set his hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations.”

  I sighed. “Thank you.”

  He squeezed my shoulder in tacit understanding. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. It was only a matter of time before everyone in Purgatory knew our news—news I still couldn’t believe was true.

  “Do you know where Auri is?” he asked as he followed me into the fortress.

  “Sleeping, I’d imagine.” I raised an eyebrow. “I’ll point out her door when we get to the throne room. I’m sure she’ll be excited to see you.”

  Gabriel’s eyes flashed with devilish intent. I raised an eyebrow. He shrugged and then grinned. “I’m going to try and convince her to help me fly souls back and forth.”

  “I’ve seen you disappear in a cloud of fairy dust,” I said. “Why can’t you just teleport there and back.”

  “It’s called sifting,” he said in amusement. “Those that can sift can’t do it in Heaven. Magical beings are reduced to their most basic element there. Angels are skilled fighters. We can still fly within the bounds of Heaven, but our other abilities are null.”

  I thought about the vision of Heaven I’d seen.

  Gabriel looked at me. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head. “I’ll ask Thane. It’s a Guardian question.”

  “You want to know if you will ever go to Heaven.”

  My head whipped around and my eyes narrowed. “How did—”

  “You were human. Now you’re not.”

  “That seems to be the general consensus,” I muttered.

  The fallen angel smiled, and in that smile I knew how dragon shifters and humans alike would do whatever possible to have it bestowed on them. “You will go to Heaven, Poppy. But not as a soul. You are invited to the Kingdom of the Clouds to dine with angels and other Heavenly creatures. Whenever you feel you can—ah—step away?”

  “There are other Heavenly creatures?” I breathed, excitement bubbling up inside of me.

  He chucked me under the chin like an older brother would do to his younger sister. “There are so many things you have yet to see.”

  “And it will be my duty to show them to her,” Thane boomed. I jumped, not having heard his approach. “Your dragon shifter awaits.” Thane pointed to Auri’s bedroom door.

  “He’s quite possessive of you,” Gabriel stage-whispered in my direction. “I never thought I would see the day.”

  “Gabriel,” Thane growled.

  “I’m leaving.” Gabriel waggled his eyebrows and then disappeared in a cloud of gold dust. A moment later, I heard an inhuman screech.

  Thane raised his eyes to the ceiling. “Save me from horny magical beings who get busy under my roof.”

  “That was you just last night,” I reminded him with a teasing grin.
r />   “My roof, my rules.”

  I snorted. “Just wait until you have a teenager.”

  Thane’s gaze softened as his eyes dipped to my belly. Shaking his head, he brought himself back to the moment. “You ready to see the bridge?”

  Chapter 57

  We headed back to the bedroom so I could throw on some clothes. The robe was comfortable but not appropriate. I shoved away my embarrassment—it wasn’t like Gabriel saw me nude. But I did grow up with a sense of modesty I couldn’t shake. I had no problem revealing all to Thane. Clearly. But he was my—well, yeah.

  “What should I expect?” I asked, reaching for a pair of trousers.

  Thane held up a feminine leather jacket he’d procured from the walk-in closet of his bedroom. Our bedroom, now, I guessed.

  “It’s better if I just show you,” he said as I slid my arms into the jacket. He grasped my hand and laced his fingers through mine. With the other, he grabbed the glistening gold cage.

  Yeah, that was normal. A gold cage filled with souls just hanging out in our bedroom.

  “When my father showed me the first time, I was in shock for days. Pure awe, really.”

  “I want to be awed.” I tugged him toward the door, eager to see the bridge and everything that involved Thane and his guardianship of souls. “I do have one question I’m hoping you’ll answer.”

  The doors of the bedroom silently slid open, and we entered the hallway. “I’m listening.”

  “My new clothes…”

  “Yes?”

  “Why all the shoes?”

  He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “In the short time we’ve known each other, when have you ever seen me wear a pair of heels?”

  Thane laughed. “Ah. Well, maybe the heels aren’t for you. Maybe they’re for me.”

  “You want to dress in drag? You really do surprise me.”

  He curled an arm around me and tucked me into his side. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

  “I’m still unclear about what you want me to do while wearing these heels.” I flashed him a saucy grin.

  Thane suddenly stopped walking and set down the cage. He turned me toward him. “This. Right here.”

  “What?”

  His hands slid up my arms, and even through the leather jacket I could feel his heat, his touch. It blasted through me, reminding me of our link.

  “Never worry that I’ll be bored with you. Not even after a hundred years, or a thousand.”

  “Why? Why do you say that with such confidence?”

  His fingers trailed up to sink into my hair. “If it was just physical, it would burn out over time. But with your humor—and your ability to make me laugh—I know I’ll never be bored.”

  I squeezed his wrist in affection. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  Thane leaned down to kiss me. It was quick, over before it started. He took my hand again, grasped the cage, and we continued through the hallway. Instead of heading toward the throne room, we veered down another hallway and came to a door with an ornate lintel.

  “The bridge is behind this door?” I asked.

  “This is just the first.” He dropped my hand to place his on the door. His handprint flashed silver, and then there was the unmistakable sound of a lock opening.

  The door slid open, just like the door of our bedroom. Silver clouds of mist and white smoke curled through the doorway, reaching out to us.

  Thane looked at me. “Ready for another adventure?”

  “My life isn’t in danger this time, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Then lead me into the unknown. I’m ready.”

  We stepped through the doorway. The door glided shut behind us, barricading us in. I thought for sure it would be cold, but when the mist and smoke grazed my skin, I felt nothing at all.

  “Is it real?” My voice seemed to echo and vibrate through the space that had no walls, no confinements.

  “Is what real?” he asked as he led me farther inside.

  “The mist?”

  “It’s real. But magic is magic. Things aren’t always what they seem. Remember?”

  I thought back to Queen Aisling’s words. “How was Xan able to fool everyone into thinking he was Guardian. Is there another way to get to the bridge, or is this the only entrance?”

  “Only the Guardian and progeny of the Guardian can access the bridge. Because Xan was my father’s son, he could get to the bridge. With the power from the mage, not only was Xan using illusion spells to conceal his identity, but he was able to divert all the evil souls to Heaven.”

  We came to a slab of stone, and Thane pressed his hand to it. Again, it flared—red this time—and then slid open. Our feet parted the mist and smoke to reveal white cobblestone. Our footsteps were silent.

  It feels weird to talk now.

  Why?

  This feels too—I don’t know—important. I’m on hallowed ground.

  Technically it’s a hallowed bridge.

  We arrived at a stone archway with a tympanum. There was only one sculpture, and the scene was clear. It was a man, wearing a crown of spiders, holding a judgment scale. On one side was a glowing golden orb that was a soul. On the other side of the scale was a mound of spiders.

  Well, that’s clear advertising.

  Thane laughed aloud, startling the silence. And then he chanted in the language I didn’t know but felt like I was close to understanding. The mist behind the archway cleared to reveal a long stone bridge that seemed to stretch on forever, disappearing into the fog and smoke.

  “It ends,” he said, answering my question I’d asked through our bond.

  We trekked forward, and I immediately felt the vastness of the space, like an expanding universe with no beginning, no end.

  It made me dizzy to think about.

  “What happens if you walk off the end of the bridge?” I asked. Would I fall forever?

  Thane smiled. “Try it.”

  “No way.”

  With a mischievous glint in his eye, Thane set down the golden cage and then took off. He ran to the edge of the bridge, didn’t pause, and then leapt into the air.

  Before Thane even had a chance to fall, black silken threads shot through the mist and smoke to catch him.

  I threw my head back and laughed. His spiders had woven him a web. There was no danger here.

  “Your turn,” he called out.

  I darted forward before I even made the conscious choice to follow. And then I was soaring through the air. I landed in the web, safe and secure at Thane’s side.

  Chapter 58

  “How do we get back to the bridge?” I asked.

  Thane leaned up on an elbow, chanted in the unknown language, and then we were catapulted from the web. I expected to crash onto the bridge, but there seemed to be a magical parachute attached to me, and I gently floated to the ground.

  “There are some pretty great perks to being with you, Thane. This is better than a ride at Disneyland.”

  “Thanks. I think.” He looked down at the cage. “Just the first of many. Might as well get on with this.”

  I nodded and instinctively stood back when Thane reached for the cage.

  He gave me an amused look. “They’re souls.”

  “So? Like I know the rules?” I waved my hand at him, signaling him to continue.

  Thane unlatched the cage door, and the souls flew out, circling around us, pinging around the space like pinballs. One by one, they dove off the bridge. Silken threads that shimmered black and opal caught them individually, freezing them in place. I watched one particular soul as thread wove around it like a cocoon. The soul’s golden light disappeared. The cocoon pulsed and then cracked to dust and revealed the soul that was now pitch black. It tainted the space around it, turning it gray.

  “A corrupted soul that has to do penance,” Thane explained.

  The soul floated for a few more seconds, and then it blasted apart, like an apple obliterated b
y a laser. There was nothing left of the tarnished soul, not even black smoke to signify where it had once been.

  My gaze drifted to another soul being weighed. It was cracking through its cocoon. Most of the soul remained golden, but there were a few black blights. It blasted apart, just like the first one.

  “That one belongs in Heaven. Even though it had black marks on it, it was generally good.”

  Only when all of the souls had been weighed and dispatched, did I look at Thane. He was watching me with casual calm. “Questions?”

  “So many,” I breathed in awe. “What happens when an immortal dies?”

  “Heaven and Hell are for mortals, Poppy. Human beings. Your cousin, your parents, they will eventually come here to be judged. As for immortals, each has their own death ritual, their own afterlife.”

  “Like the merrow,” I said, remembering what Cassandra had told me. “Their afterlife is Atlantis.”

  He nodded.

  “Hunter?” I asked. “He’s there?”

  “In theory.”

  I frowned. “In theory? What does that mean?”

  “It means,” he began, “that Hunter never truly lost his mortal heart. He was merrow in body, but not in spirit. So I have no way of knowing—”

  “You mean his soul could just be—out there? Floating around, trying to pick its afterlife?”

  “In a nutshell. Yes.”

  “Cass told me he found peace,” I murmured.

  “For all she knows, he has. But because I am Guardian, and I have past knowledge of all other Guardians, I know things that others don’t.”

  “What happens to me?” I blurted out. “And you? When it’s our time to—when we—”

  “If that should happen,” he said slowly, “and I don’t see that occurring for a long, long time… Even after I step down, and our son becomes the new Guardian, I won’t pass on. Our afterlife is the Elysian Fields. If you and I don’t die in battle, we will decide together when we want to take that adventure.”

  “Oh,” I said.

  “We’ll go together,” he said softly, bringing my hand to his lips. “Wherever we go, whatever we do, we do it together.”

  “Together,” I repeated.