Epilogue
And Vyrus? Some say he locked himself away in his halls, mourning the loss of Evella.
Some say that he still schemes to destroy us, or that he’s caught in an eternal sleep.
Others claim he has a new love and locks her away, terrified she’ll find a planet to tempt her from his side.
Some say he’s here on Eusis, wearing our skins and planning our demise.
Wherever he dwells, we refuse to risk his ire, which is why you, dear blessed one, have been selected by your country to become a Tribute.
— brOTHERHOOD OF TRIBUTES’ LETTER TO THE TEN BLESSED CHOSEN
The Gods have a fucked-up sense of humour. We swept north, the gulls above keeping watch. A pod of porpoises informed me three ships followed, keeping close to the shoreline and away from the threat of the humpback who’d destroyed several of the empress’s armada.
I turned back, tucking a lock of unruly hair behind my ear and pulling my shawl across me.
A few guards looked nervously over to the man refusing to relinquish control of the helm.
The one who’d burst through the hatch, cursing and slurring, brandishing his near-empty whiskey bottle.
He’d blazed with anger as we’d stolen his boat; but once he learned he had royalty on board, seemed happy enough to allow us to continue using his craft – in return for a reward once we’d reached Drufaera, anyway.
I sat next to Enfys who trailed her fingers through the fur on Pablo’s head.
‘How are you doing?’ she asked, and I closed my eyes, sick to my stomach of answering the question.
I shrugged. Words weren’t enough to describe the emotions fighting within right now.
I’d killed Romero, halted the spread of his power, but at what cost?
Perhaps we should have run, left all this to him.
I rubbed at the empty ache in my chest. The space where my husband should be.
I couldn’t even say his name. The man I loved, failing me yet again.
I’d warned him the tattoo was dangerous, but all he’d seen was the strength of Ifan and he’d wanted that for himself.
I could only guess at his reasons, but his desire to prove himself as a good and powerful king were right there at the front.
At the point where I’d given him my heart, he’d known he had the tattoo and hid it from me.
I thought back to the Vyrium caves, when we’d shared our bodies, chills rippling across my heart when I recalled how he’d kept his back facing away from me.
As though he’d deliberately hidden it from me.
‘And you?’ I asked my sister.
She closed her eyes, breathed in the cold salt of the sea air. ‘I-I know you had no choice, but he was still my daddy.’
I grasped her fingers within my own. ‘I’m sorry.’
She swiped away a tear before grasping me again.
‘Don’t-don’t ever say sorry. He was ready to kill you all because of… what? Power? Jealousy? He wasn’t the king I grew up with. So please, don’t apologise.’
We stood and faced south, south to where the charred scraps of her father sank to the seabed. To where the remains of my heart lay.
‘We’ve got so much against us.’ She sighed, laying her head on my shoulder.
I wrapped my arm around her waist.
‘I know, but let’s take it one step at a time.’
Asher and Skye approached. He leaned out, his dark eyes combing the churning sea.
‘What’s step one then?’ he asked.
‘Enfys claims her kingdom and we reinstate The Alliance,’ I said as Pab put his paws on the rail.
‘Then slice the tattoo off Matthias, beat some sense into him. Defeat the empress, punish Ifan and go back to normal,’ Asher added.
I smiled weakly as he tugged me close, tears prickling the back of my eyes.
As I watched the whale sweep his blurry tail against the backdrop of the rising moon, I knew the grief of all I’d lost would drown me if I let it.
I heaved in a ragged breath, knowing with these friends beside me, sharing our loads and relying on each other, we had a chance at winning Matthias back.
My stubborn heart refused to accept the alternative.
* * *