Chapter 28 #2
Cion interrupted before either Soren or Vane could reply. “We need to go. We’ve already lingered too long, and my father will send more riders if we don’t return soon. He will interrogate you both.”
Soren reached for Cion’s arm, but she shied away. “Cion,” she said, lowering her voice. “Please. I can tell you more, but—”
“If you betrayed a king once, you obviously would do it again,” the princess snapped. “And besides,” she flicked her gaze to Vane, “I know about his binding to my bloodline. Why wouldn’t you try to kill me and my family to break it?”
“I’m not a monster,” Soren whispered.
“Love makes us all monsters,” she said. “Follow us to camp, or the king will force your hand and tug on that one’s leash.”
She jogged over to her dragon, her dark hair a shadow behind her. Ilav gave Vane a lingering look before doing the same.
Vane feigned kissing her head, murmuring into her hair, “Something is wrong with the boy.”
Soren furrowed her brow. What—
“Not there.” They had reached Thessa, and Vane kissed her, whispering against her mouth, “He has too much power for a mortal.”
He pulled back and held out a hand to help Soren climb on to Thessa’s back.
She remembered the first memory she had of Vane, when she had been able to sense his magic swirling under his skin, in the aura all around him.
But Ilav was just a general’s son. How could he be a god, or even half? Could he be reincarnated too?
Ready yourself, Soren, Thessa rumbled.
Soren braced against the saddle as Thessa took off into the air. The mountains swelled around them as they left the valley behind, bringing colder air. To her left, Vane rode on his knees as he had in battle, his eyes ahead on Ilav and his dragon.
A few short hours later, when they circled the training camp again, Soren’s hands tightened on the saddle, unease a steady beat in her chest. Thessa. Did you sense it? With Ilav?
Vane is right. You need to be careful, even with your thoughts.
The unease grew, making Soren feel light in the head.
It only got worse when Thessa dove downward, and Soren’s vision grew dark and fuzzy around the edges.
She gripped the saddle, trying to take deep breaths in the air rushing by.
When they landed, they were immediately surrounded by guards, but Soren was suddenly too exhausted to care.
She hadn’t eaten, had barely slept in three days, and it was beginning to wear on her body.
“Dismount, now!” one of the guards shouted. “Both of you.”
Thessa growled, sensing Soren’s weakness. You are not well, and they do not intend to do anything but harm you.
“Now!” the guard barked.
Vane slid off Heles first, and two guards grabbed him before he could go to Soren. He easily fought them off as she struggled off Thessa’s back, landing in a heap on the ground by the time she managed it.
More guards surrounded Vane. He gutted one of them, but before he could reach Soren, a booming voice called, “Stop. Do not harm them.”
Soren watched in horror as Vane’s body locked and his face contorted in pain. Through gritted teeth, he growled at Johannas, “Fuck you.”
The king merely laughed, striding towards them casually. “Good work, daughter,” he said as Cion slid off her dragon. “And you, Ilav Thil, the general’s son—you’ll be rewarded, as I promised. Guards, take them.”
Soren raised her head as the guards dragged her up. Delirious, she reached for her magic but found only whispers. Her vision crossed, and vaguely, she heard Vane shouting her name.
“Don’t die,” she said faintly. “We promised…together.”
Darkness consumed her.
“Sora, wake up!”
Ana’s face hovered over her, panic twisting her features in the near dark.
She had no idea how her friend had gotten into the fortress her mother called a home.
The high stone walls had always been a mockery to her—heavily warded, and though her mother had never said it, they were meant to keep someone as powerful as Kronos at bay.
It was ironic, given the fact that she had willingly signed away her own blood to him.
“How are you here?” she asked Ana, sitting up and letting the carefully placed shadows fall away from her left hand, revealing the marriage band.
Ana took a shaky breath. “Your mother let me in.”
“My mother? Why—”
“You’ve been summoned. I was chosen to escort you.”
A pit dropped in Sora’s stomach. There was only reason Kronos would call on her at this hour, and with no warning. But it couldn’t be…not yet. Not so soon. She wouldn’t let herself believe it until Ana said the words to her.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and dressed quickly in a gown she knew Kronos liked. She would need any leverage she could get if the worst came to pass.
In the entryway, her parents waited. Her mother’s beautiful face was tight with worry, and Sora could see strands of barely concealed ether running under her umber skin. The power was trying to escape, but, like a coward, she wouldn’t let it.
Her father stood next to her, always a dog at her mother’s beck and call. But even his black eyes were pinched, and she swore he looked paler than normal. His gaze flicked to her left hand, and his mouth tightened.
There was no way he could see past the concealment. If he could, he would have said something days ago.
“Be respectful,” Nyx said. “And remember, he merely wants something. If you can find out what it is, you will be fine. It is always a game of need with Kronos.”
Thanatos stepped forward, and Sora stiffened as he pulled her into an embrace. Her father almost never showed her affection, much less hugged her. But she found herself leaning into him, holding on tightly. These could be the last moments she shared with him.
Just before he released her, he murmured in her ear, “Death is merely a bridge for gods, daughter. You know how our souls are.”
She hid the catching of her breath with a delicate cough. Ana glanced at her, but she kept her eyes ahead as they walked out into the waiting night air.
He knew.
Her father somehow knew he was sending his daughter to her death. Someone had betrayed them, but she was nearly certain it was not him. He probably just sensed it.
Imminent death had a taste, a scent, even a feeling. Thanatos knew them all intimately .
As soon as she and Ana reached the road, Ana hissed, “He has Vane, Sora. He knows.”
She tamped down a violent wave of panic and kept walking, her arm in Ana’s as she whispered, “Someone betrayed us.”
“Yes. I don’t know who yet, but—”
A portal blinked into existence, pure silver ether swirling in a giant oval in front of them. Arcadia was massive, and Kronos had never allowed her to ‘spend herself’ walking to his palace. Ana gripped her arm in a death grip, and Sora gave a short nod.
“I will try to protect you.”
Ana shook her head. “Just find him and get him out before Kronos kills you both.”
She didn’t give her space to argue, pulling her into the portal. Warmth enveloped them, lasting for a few seconds before everything tunneled, and they stepped directly into Kronos’ throne room.
He was sitting there, sprawled back in the golden seat she hated so much.
He had made her sit in it once while he had kissed her neck and called her his queen, minutes after leaving her cheek bruised.
The memory made her want to vomit, but it was nothing like the way she felt when she saw the pool of blood at the bottom of the dais.
“Where is he?” Sora snarled.
Kronos’ features grew twisted. “Dropping the pretenses so soon, beloved?”
“What’s the point?” she said softly. “We both know what I’ve done.”
The king of the gods stood and slowly walked down the steps of the dais towards her. His bare feet dipped in the blood, and Sora’s head grew light. She ignored the feeling, even as Kronos yanked her left hand up and stared at the wedding band, eyes glowing with pure power.
He had no single power as king. He was the culmination of all of them. Sora knew in her heart she had no chance.
“Disobedient,” he spat, and she gasped in pain as he ripped the ring from her finger and hurled it across the room. “Bring him in!”
Sora braced herself, but nothing kept her from falling to her knees as Kronos’ guards dragged Vane into the room. They dropped him to the floor, his eyes meeting hers, his split lips forming her name.
“Please,” she gasped.
Kronos let out a crazed laugh and reared his foot back. She screamed as he kicked Vane’s stomach, and he coughed up blood. She summoned Night and Death, but Kronos merely flicked his fingers to null it. Even her power could not reach him.
Ana held her as Kronos hit Vane again and again. Still, her husband reached for her. Through every blow, his steady gaze never left hers.
But only when Kronos turned to her did true fear enter Vane’s eyes.