Revenant(113)

Reaver snorted. “Asshole.”

Rev was about to throw down with some of the sibling rivalry they’d missed out on over the eons when Reseph approached, his eyes bloodshot, his expression shadowed with sorrow. And yet an aura of peace surrounded him, as if a shroud had lifted.

“How,” Reseph croaked. “How did you do that?”

Rev shrugged. “I’m King Shit down here now.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

The old Revenant would have demanded some sort of impossible payment. The new Rev… fuck it, he’d do the same thing. “You can, you know, not be a dick every time you see me.”

Reseph winced. “Don’t suppose you can come up with something else? I’m a dick to everyone.”

That was pretty much what Rev had expected the Horseman to say.

“Yes, you are.” He flashed them all to Reseph’s place, where all of the Horsemen, their families, and several Underworld General staff members had gathered for the barbecue Reseph had been avoiding. “Let’s just leave it at you owe me?”

“Cool.” Reseph clapped his hand on Revenant’s shoulder. “Thank you. I’m glad you aren’t a big tool anymore.” Grinning, Reseph headed for his mate, Jillian.

“Your son is a cocky son of a bitch, isn’t he?” Rev looked over at his brother, amazed that they were actually standing next to each other at a family gathering. And no blood had been shed.

Reaver barked out a laugh. “Which son?” His gaze lit on each of his offspring before taking in every person milling around the tables of food. “Think our parents would be proud?”

“I think they’d be passed out with relief that all the cards fell into place and that we actually fulfilled some crazy prophecies. The odds of that happening must be astronomically out of whack.”

“One in nine hundred trillion, according to Metatron.”

Revenant spotted Blaspheme fetching a couple of ice-cold beers from the cooler and offering one to Eidolon’s sister-in-law, Idess, but the female grinned broadly and refused, gesturing to her flat belly. Pregnant? Must be.

“Speaking of Metatron, how are things in Heaven?”

Reaver materialized himself a margarita, and one popped into Rev’s hand as well. How considerate. “Everyone’s still in shock that Raphael is gone, but funny, no one misses him.” He smiled as he took a drink. “And Harvester is back to normal. Getting rid of Gethel and Lucifer did the trick. How’s Sheoul treating you?”

“I’m King Shit, so, you know.” He shrugged. “There are a handful of jackasses trying to sabotage me, but for the most part, life hasn’t changed down there.” He took a drink of his margarita, dropping bits of salt all over his boots. Didn’t even bother him that his perfect brother hadn’t displaced a single grain from the rim of his glass. Personal growth was a cool thing. “But I have a thousand years to prepare for the Apocalypse. Lots of time to make sure that when Satan returns, a lot of demons will defect, and those who are left to fight for Team Evil will be unprepared and ineffective. And I’m authorizing Azagoth to reincarnate only neutral and nonevil demon souls.”

“Sounds like you’ve been busy.”

Revenant shrugged. “It’s a pretty good gig.”

For a moment, Reaver was silent, and then he turned to Revenant, his brows drawn in a serious line. “You know you’re welcome in Heaven. You and Blaspheme both. We can repair most of the damage you cause —”

Revenant held up his hand, cutting his brother off. “When Blaspheme chooses to make the trip over to Heaven, I’ll be here to welcome her back. But I don’t belong there.”

“Rev —”

“No,” Rev said, cutting Reaver off again. “We both know it. It’s okay. I’m fucking ruling hell, and it’s what I was meant to do. It’s all cool.” He held up his glass and clinked it against Reaver’s. “To us. Dysfunctional family and all.”

Reaver laughed, and in that moment, Revenant marveled at just how well everything turned out. Everyone at this get-together, plus countless others, had played roles in getting Reaver and Revenant where they were today. Revenant owed these people a huge thank-you. Not that he was going to get all mushy on them. But maybe he’d refrain from threatening to kill anyone for a day or so.

Blaspheme waved from where she was standing next to Limos’s mate, Arik, as he flipped burgers and hot dogs on the grill.

“Looks like we’d better join the party,” Reaver said.

Party. The word hit Revenant like a sucker punch. He’d attended several parties, but he’d never been invited to one, let alone been welcome at one. But here he was at a shindig thrown by his niece and nephews, and they had actually asked him to be here.