Chapter 58
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Thea
“Thea?” Rankor’s arms on my thin body were gentle as he helped lower me onto the ground, my legs shaking too much to support my weight. “Are you okay?”
I struggled to nod, teeth beginning to chatter against each other.
Above, a golden dragon dove towards us, magic rippling over his form until Clay dropped the last five feet towards us.
“Thea!” he ran towards me, dropping to his knees and taking my face in his hands.
“I’m okay,” I promised, though I sounded anything but.
“That was some show up there, love,” his eyes sparkled with so much affection my stomach did a happy little flip.
For a moment I reached for him, burying my face against his chest and breathing him in. He stroked a hand through my hair, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
When I forced myself away from Clay, Rankor rose to his feet next to us, eyes scanning over the retreating enemy forces. He released a shuddering kind of laugh.
“So,” his chin lowered as he met my gaze. “You can fly now, huh?”
A laugh bubbled in my chest, and I clutched Clay’s hand, allowing him to help support my weight as I struggled back to my feet.
“Your powers?” he whispered in my ear.
“Still here,” I assured him—assured them both.
I assured myself of it, too. My powers were undoubtedly depleted, weak and shaking, but that tingle of them was still deep inside of me. I allowed myself a minute to lose myself in feeling it, savoring that sensation and praising the Gods that my magic hadn’t left me again.
Together, we looked out at what remained of our forces. Rankor caught sight of Iris and Kent, bellowing at them and waving them over to join us. Nikolai worked to help transport the injured to a place where they could receive aid, while Elaina ran about tending to more immediate injuries.
This was only the beginning, I realized, feeling my stomach drop out from under me.
This was only the first battle of what would undoubtedly be an incredibly bloody war.
“Caldrius killed Hyrax.” The words fell out of me as Iris ran to my side and pulled me into a hug.
She ripped away from me, staring at me with wide eyes. Behind her, Clay’s brow lowered into a furrowed frown, while Kent and Rankor looked at each other with mirrored expressions of concern.
“He’s a God now.”
The declaration hung around us, hitting each of us with unique waves of apprehension.
“What now?” Iris asked, looking at Clay.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair and shaking his head. “This isn’t something for a king of the Mortal Realm to decide.”
Their eyes all fell on me.
The Goddess.
A year ago, we hadn’t even known that’s what I was. I had just been another Descendant, like the rest of them. I had been subservient to Clay and his father.
Now, I was one of three Gods that walked the Mortal Realm, and it was up to me to protect this Realm from Caldrius’ plans—even if we didn’t fully understand what they were.
If this were to be a War of the Gods, then I would have to lead it.
And I knew exactly what my first action would be.
“We give him a month to heed my command.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Kent asked, voicing the concern we all shared.
I looked at all of them, stared into each of the eyes of my dearest friends, and felt a ripple of power snake down my spine.
I knew what had to happen. I knew how to face the truth of this situation, what I feared could happen, and all the possibilities that depended on my decisions.
Only one path forward seemed clear.
“If he doesn't, then I’m going to lower the Veil and summon all the Gods to war.”