The souls around hissed and jeered and the Lord of Hell’s face darkened with anger. “Mikaela, you shameless creature. This is unheard of in the living world!”
“You’ve broken the order between worlds by storming the Underworld. You are heartless and ungrateful. You need to be taught a lesson!”
At his command, two underworld wardens stepped forward. Heavy iron chains crashed down across my back with a metallic scream. Before I could react, a thousand blades rose from the ground and sliced through me. I howled as pain ripped through my body and I collapsed in a pool of blood.
Kieran covered his face, pretending to be distraught, but the corner of his mouth betrayed him with a cold, barely hidden smirk. “Mikaela, please, let’s end this peacefully. Can’t we part without more trouble?”
His parents shoved him back, nodding toward the Lord of Hell. “Our Lord is wise and fair. A good man like our son will not suffer injustice.”
I forced myself not to flinch through the agony and let out a bitter laugh.
“Good man?” I lifted my head with effort and fixed the Lord of Hell with a stare sharp enough to cut. “Your Majesty, are you certain Kieran Miles is a good man?”
For daring to question him, a new blow hit my chest and I spat blood.
“How dare you! How dare you challenge me!”
“The Book of Deeds does not lie!”
At that, the horns and hooves of the underworld wardens clanged as one of them swung a trident and drove it into me. Instantly, the iron hook pierced through my flesh, tearing it open. I screamed in pain and fought to breathe.
Then Kieran, eyes wet with false sorrow, dropped to his knees before the Lord of Hell. “Your Majesty, please spare her. She’s only confused, she didn’t mean it!”
His act quickly drew sympathetic murmurs from the souls nearby. “What a devoted, loyal man.”
“Even after everything she did, he still pleads for her.”
I gritted my teeth, every part of me trembling, but I forced my voice out cold and hard. “Kieran, do you really need to play saint right now?”
“Do you want everyone to see the real you?”
He rushed toward me, panic flickering across his face. “Mikaela, stop this, okay? I know you’re bitter since we broke up, but I can’t watch you get killed here, so please...”
The Hall of Judgment was filled with insults aimed at me. They called me ungrateful and cruel.
I just let a cold smile split my face and felt hatred bloom in my eyes as I said, “Kieran...”
“Do you dare to make a bet?”
My eyes were red. I clenched my hand so tight it hurt and stared at him. Fear and something cruel flashed across his features.
He straightened his jaw and forced out a laugh. “What are you talking about? What bet?”
My lips curled up and a cold smile played on my face. “I bet my life that you are not the good man the book claims.”
Kieran scoffed. “The book records not only one lifetime of good deeds, but also my fortune is vast. I wouldn’t even crush an ant. If I’m not good, then what are you?”
His parents chimed in, their voices full of scorn. “Mikaela, you hold a grudge because he left you. How dare you slander him? You are truly shameless.”
“Do you think the Lord of Hell is someone you can fool?”
They rushed to the Lord of Hell, inflamed with righteous outrage. “Your Majesty, this woman has no shame. My son pleaded for her and she showed no gratitude.”
“Such a shameless woman brings no good to either world. She deserves to be struck from the rolls. Let her soul be erased.”
The Lord of Hell shook his head, his voice low and grim.
“No. Though she trespassed into the Underworld and shortened her remaining days, her life is not yet over. The Book of Life shows her fate is not spent. We cannot take control of the balance of the realms.”
Kieran’s parents paled when they heard the answer.
