Chapter 29 Grayson
It was no secret that Gods were capable of despicable things.
For some of us, it was part of our responsibilities, and for others, it was just an innate selfishness that drove our actions.
But even knowing all that, I assumed there were obvious lines drawn in the sand.
Certain atrocities that we would never partake in.
We’d known for some time that Hunter and Larkin were not happy in their marriage.
He brazenly carried out affairs and Larkin often walked out of rooms as he entered.
But I’d never quite understood why. They didn’t share, and I never asked.
None of us did. We assumed they had come to some sort of agreement.
That their love was one that required space and tolerance to a higher degree than most.
When I opened the proceedings in the chambers, I imagined there would be more guilt to carry around for the rest of my existence, but I didn’t expect it to come in this form.
Erik was with Larkin, currently shielding her from the rest of Elysia as they had a private conversation.
I’d wait to talk to her about everything that happened.
I couldn’t trust myself not to mess up. To not trip over the chaos that had stirred inside of me.
And in part, that was thanks to my soulbound.
“You knew,” I said, coming up to her on the dais. “And you didn’t say a word.”
To her credit, Quentin didn’t falter or shy away. “Yes.”
“You were living with him, knowing what he was capable of! You should have told me. You should have told someone.” The anger was thrumming through my veins. The thought of her walking into that home. Sleeping under his roof. My vision was blurring.
When I tried to break our bond and push her towards Hunter, I did it so she would keep her life. I thought he at least understood the value of having her in his corner, and that meant she would be safe. But no one had ever been safe from Hunter. I understood that now.
“I made a promise,” she said.
“It was a stupid promise,” I hissed.
Quentin narrowed her eyes. “You made a promise to Elara and kept it until this day.”
“That was different and you know it.”
“No, it isn’t. You made a promise to a friend, and so did I. Larkin needed my help and she trusted me.”
“And you should have trusted me. I’m here to protect you.”
“I—”
“Did he do anything to you?” I asked, and when Quentin hesitated the nausea rolled in my stomach. “What did he do?”
“Nothing.”
I gripped her arms and pulled her closer to me. “Quentin, I swear—”
“Nothing. He didn’t do anything to me. I promise you.”
She wasn’t telling the truth. Something wasn’t right. I could feel the fear and the shame that thumped through her with every beat of her heart.
“I know he did something,” I intoned.
She closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath. “He was a little violent. Nothing else.”
I clenched my jaw, regretting every decision I’d made from the moment Hunter put those cuffs on me.
If I could, I would have reincarnated Hunter just to murder him all over again.
He should have been put through torture before tasting death.
In hindsight, it felt like an easy option for him to just cease to exist.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Quentin placed her hands on my cheeks. “Stop it,” she breathed, eyes sliding from my face to the crowd in the room and back again. “It’s over. He’s gone. You need to keep a level head, Gray, because they’re all watching you.”
A level head? How did she expect me to keep a level head?
“Grayson.” Her eyes were back on me, but there was a bite to her tone. “Control your aura. Please.”
The surrounding space was growing darker, and it took all my will to pull it back in towards me.
Quentin reached up and kissed me. “Better. We have a plan to get to the end of all of this. Please stick to it this time.”
There she was again. Her anxiety had disappeared and was replaced with a resilience that I was in awe of. Quentin would talk when she was ready. I would make sure of it. But for now, there were still things that needed to be tied up.
“What would I do without you?” I muttered.
“Let’s hope we never have to find out.”
“Gray.” Ignacio joined us. His usual jovial nature had been replaced with a much more serious facade. “I’m not telling you how to run things, but I don’t think waiting too long is a good idea. The sooner we get things into place, the better for Elysia and Earth.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “We need to start looking towards our future.”
I leaned down to kiss Quentin on the cheek, leaving her with my best friend as I took my position at the centre of the chambers once again.
Quentin was safe. Larkin was safe. There were conversations that needed to be had, but until then, we needed to set Elysia back on its feet. If we continued on without leadership, then more chaos would blossom in the heavens and Earth. No one needed that.
There were so many familiar faces that I’d grown up with over the years. Many others who were here long before I was born. The landscape of Elysia had changed over centuries, and now we were on the cusp of another era.
“If I could have your attention,” I called.
The noise of the room dissipated until there was silence and the weight of eyes landed on me.
“Thank you for your time this morning. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated. We have one more matter to discuss, and that is the leadership of Elysia. Hunter left no heir and so that means the position falls to me. As has always been the way, we will discuss and vote on the matter.”
“I don’t feel comfortable with you leading us,” someone called from the crowd.
I had expected there would be resistance to my rule, but it would only be amplified now that Hunter’s true character had been shown to everyone.
“I can assure you I’m nothing like my brother.”
“Look how easily we believed in him. In his lies.”
The crowd began to mutter amongst themselves, and I took in a deep breath.
“And who exactly would you suggest as an alternative?” I asked with some bite.
It was ridiculous to me that they would consider delaying putting together a council so we could push forward.
There were still things that needed to be looked into.
Mabel and Tobias would have to answer questions for the part they played in all of this.
Although, there would likely be a less severe punishment in light of everything we’d learned today.
“My family has helped to shape the heavens for centuries.”
Dad had been at the helm for an age before Hunter stepped forward and challenged him. We should have known then that he was going to lead us towards destruction.
“I don’t trust any of you,” Valen said from the front of the throng. “There’s always been a differentiation between who we are and who the elites are.”
“Understandable.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see it was Larkin who had spoken. She made her way down from the dais and towards me.
“There needs to be change,” she told them. “The question is how we bring that about and who we choose to lead us.”
The murmurs of agreement were growing louder.
I could sense where this was going. If Larkin wanted that seat, as much as it pained me, I would give it to her.
Elysia would have a fresh perspective, and after everything that had happened, she deserved some sort of recompense.
It wasn’t enough, but it would be a start.
“Perhaps it is time for us to change the hands of leadership from your family, Grayson.”
“Larkin,” I said, trying to get her attention so we could discuss privately what it was she wanted out of this.
She ignored me, taking a step towards the crowd. “It may be bold of me to suggest anyone after everything I’ve shared with you today. But I believe Quentin would be a suitable candidate for the role.”
I turned my full body towards her, blindsided by her comment. “Are you out of your mind?” I hissed. “Quentin? She’s—”
“You’ve already all proven that you consider her one of your own,” Larkin pushed on quickly, projecting her voice above mine.
“What?” Aria shrieked. “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t bow to her.”
“You already have been,” Ignacio pointed out.
Larkin’s voice grew louder. “She doesn’t know the previous politics. She has no bias.”
“She’s planning to marry Grayson,” Archer pointed out smoothly. “I would consider that a bias.”
“They’re soulbound. She hardly has a choice in the matter.”
“Oh, thank you for reducing my impeding nuptials down to that,” I muttered.
“She’s not eligible!” Aria called out, and I turned to face the dais.
“She needs to be divine,” Larkin shot back. “Which she is.”
“I’m not sure this is a good plan,” Quentin said, her gaze shifting between the faces of the Gods. It was the first words she’d uttered since Larkin had nominated her.
“And why not?” Larkin asked her. “You bridge the gap between us, Quentin. In nature, you are closer to the minor Gods whilst being bound to an elite. You might be the change we need.”
Aria rose from her seat. “I won’t allow it.”
“I will,” I said, keeping my focus on my golden girl. “You have my backing.”
Quentin’s eyes grew wide. “Have you lost your mind? This is your job.”
“You’d be better suited for it.”
That was true. It was my dream, but that had been before. I’d assumed when I took the throne I would shoulder my way through any objections. It was my right, and that was all I cared about. I wasn’t exactly fit to take on the position and since meeting Quen, I cared for it a lot less.
Larkin had made some valid points. The minor Gods were enamoured by Quentin. They found in her something that they had lost. She was mistrusting of everyone, and that would serve her well.
“You have our backing,” Erik said.
Elva and Ignacio had risen from their seats, and Quentin looked panicked.
The chaotic energy was building, and I planted my feet to stop myself from going to her.
She needed to appear strong in that moment.
If I waded over to her, it would sway opinion.
So, as much as it pained me, I forced myself to stand and watch her.
“Looks like most of Elysia would be content to see you in that position, Quentin,” Larkin said.
“Does anyone intend to stand against her?” I asked.
Aria opened her mouth, but Flynn was quick to cut her off.
“Piss off, Aria,” he said. “As if anyone wants to keep listening to you.”
“What do you say, Quentin Scott?” Archer asked, standing before the minor Gods. “Will you take the post?”
I sensed it before it happened.
“Quentin, wait,” I said, making my way towards her.
But it was too late. The gold of her aura was blinding for a moment before she disappeared from sight.
“Go and find her, Gray,” Erik implored.
“No.” Larkin put a hand on my arm. “I’d like to talk to her in private.”
“I don’t think that’s the best idea. You’ve just sprung this on her. Talk about throwing her in at the deep end, Larkin. Why would you do this?”
“It is none of your business why I’ve made the decisions I have.”
“You should explain to all of us.”
“I owe none of you an explanation apart from Scott,” Larkin snapped. “You can find her afterwards, but I think it’s better for me to talk to her first.”
“Grayson,” Sloan said softly. “Let Larkin go first. I think Quentin would appreciate it.”
“You have half an hour,” I told her. “And then I’m coming to find her.”