No, if this were a restful plane for my poor soul after existence, that look would have been the last one I’d ever dream up for him to bestow upon me.

The second detail was the sight of Epistola over Riley’s shoulder. She was standing beside the pillar of fire, bristling with rage in her red leather straps as the swirling ball of darkness above her began to crackle with livid lightning.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Cthulhu

“Riley!”

My voice was little more than a hoarse gasp, worn raw from my screams, but his name felt like liquid paradise upon my tongue.

He leaned over me, his face inches from mine, and his eyes narrowed, his black brows knitting deeply. His lips parted as if he would speak, but instead his grip only clenched around me, and he drew me out of the water. I could feel the tension coming off of him in palpable waves.

As he set me down with confounding gentleness beside the tub, I caught sight of Vik’s crumpled form against a column on the opposite side of the stage. There was a long streak of blood on the marble above his head. He wasn’t moving. My attention was quickly pulled away by the sound of slow clap coming from the direction of the bonfire.

“Congratulations, Great Cthulhu, on your new bride.”

Riley released me and whipped around to glare at Epistola. He stood in front of me, his feet spread slightly—if it hadn’t been for his anger, I almost would have called the stance protective. But I knew better.

I felt too weak get up, and I slumped against the tub, its porcelain cold on my back. I pushed my wet hair out of my face and leaned to look past Riley’s thigh. The pillar of fire behind Epistola silhouetted her hourglass shape in the candlelight. Her eleven remaining demonic disciples flanked her like ridiculous dancers in a music video. She folded her arms across her cleavage and her gaze roved Riley up and down. Ugh. Could she have been any more obvious about undressing him with her eyes? I wanted to shout at her, to call her what she was, but I was still too shaken. Just trying to catch my breath took all the effort I could muster.

“You’ve spoiled my sacrifice,” Epistola crooned at Riley, her words echoing eerily under the black wind that circled above. “But it is no matter. You are too late.” She threw up an arm, thrusting a lacquered fingernail toward the maelstrom. “The mighty Azathoth has heard my prayer!”

Riley’s fists clenched violently at his sides, and I could see how he trembled. “Impudent mortal!” he hissed. “You dare choose when to release the call, to decide the hour of the world’s end? You are less than unworthy!”