Chapter 30 #2
“I can’t even control my aura, Gray. How am I meant to lead the heavens? I’m not exactly qualified.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. “So, let me get this straight. You’re worried about the fact you can’t control your aura and not because you’ve swooped in and taken my job from under my nose?”
“Correct. You backed this ludicrous idea,” I reminded him. “Thank you, by the way.”
“You’re welcome, baby.”
I sighed and dropped my head in my hands. The conversation with Larkin swirled in my head. She wanted to place the power in my hands for two reasons: Elysia needed to change and she wanted to make sure that I wasn’t powerless.
A heavy hand rubbed my back, and I took in a deep breath before lifting my head.
“You are qualified because you are divine,” Grayson pointed out.
“If that’s the only qualification you need to run the heavens, then I can see why you guys are in such a mess.”
“We try not to overcomplicate things.”
A laugh escaped my lips, and Gray smiled at me.
“There she is,” he murmured. “My golden girl. Quentin, there is a reason you have support, and it comes down to more than your aura and whether or not you can control it.”
“Don’t do that.” My voice had an edge of steel to it.
“Don’t try and flatter me into accepting the position.
I might not have been part of Elysia for long, but I understand that there are political motivations for having me there.
That I’m this middle ground that you all think you’ll be able to manipulate to serve you. ”
Gray’s features hardened. “When have I tried to manipulate you? Since our bond, when have I tried to use you?”
“I don’t mean you, but don’t act like the rest of them aren’t feeling that way.”
He sighed. “You being a demigoddess, the only demigoddess, means that the minor Gods have an enormous interest in you. You did well to form friendships and alliances while you were in lower Elysia. And, of course, the elite hope that you’d be kind enough to us because of our bond.”
“I’d burn it all down if I could,” I muttered.
The events of the last few days all rushed to the surface, and I swallowed back a scream.
They were still Gods with egos. Still not worth relying on or trusting.
A genuine friendship in Elysia was rare.
There would always be someone with an agenda.
Always someone who knew what you could offer and would find a way to take it from you if you didn’t go along with their plans.
“So, do it,” Gray said, breaking through my thoughts. “I’m not sure how much there is left to burn, but finish it off. And then rebuild it in your image.”
“In your image, you mean,” I said, letting my doubts seep into my relationship. “You’ll have your own ideas, which I’m sure you’ll be eager to share.”
Gray raised his hands in the air defensively before he pulled me into his lap. He grabbed my chin gently, guiding it until I met his eyes.
“Listen carefully, Quentin Scott,” he said in a quiet and firm voice.
“I have worshipped you before anyone else had the chance. In all the time I have spent with you, I have learned that you are insatiable when it comes to your curiosity as many other things. I have learned that you would rather die with your truths than to accept a lie. I have no interest in trying to make you a voice piece for my manifesto.” Gray looked disgusted.
“Do you think so little of me that I would get you to do my dirty work?”
“Of course not,” I said, soaking in the reality.
This was Gray. He had let me lead the way and only stepped in to protect me or when I had the wrong answer. He wasn’t about to feed me all his ideas and expect me to implement them purely because this had been his dream, but I was the more palatable option.
“I’m sorry,” I told him. “I’m just cautious.”
“Because?” He let go of my chin and brushed some hair from my face.
“Because you all don’t think twice before turning on someone. If I make the wrong decision, am I going to be expected to face a war again? My life is going to be on the line because they’ll look for someone to blame.”
“They’ll probably pin it on me first,” he mused. “But in all honesty, I can’t guarantee that they wouldn’t do any of those things. Gods are fickle and there are a lot of egos to contend with, as you have pointed out.”
“So agreeing would sign my death warrant?”
“Quen, when you decided you wanted to study science and work in the lab, you understood the risks. Did they outline everything to you? Every chemical you would ever use? Every virus and vector? Or perhaps you let your mind run wild with the disastrous possibilities that could occur from your work without prompt? And yet you still chose to walk into the lab every single day.”
“That’s different. I love my work.”
“Okay, then let’s try something else. You walk out of the house every day knowing that there are so many things that could go wrong. You have previously been hit by a car and that hasn’t stopped you from being outdoors.”
“I don’t think I like you very much.”
“Good thing I love me enough for the two of us,” he said, pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Aria won’t be happy about this,” I said eventually.
Saying no meant the instability would continue in Elysia and on Earth, and that was something neither could afford. And selfishly, I agreed with Larkin that being in a position of power would be more helpful than being where I’d been for months.
“Are you planning to keep her on the council?” he asked, sounding surprised.
“I get to change the council?”
“That’s what I meant when I said burn what’s left to the ground. The council will be yours. You can pick who you think will be best placed for your reign,” Gray explained. “Every new ruler usually overhauls their inner circle.”
I nodded slowly, understanding the enormity of my acceptance.
I wouldn’t be changing Elysia in years to come.
It would start from day dot. If I accepted, I’d have to think carefully about who filled those seats beside me.
Elysia needed to be put back on course. The research project would either need to continue or be scrapped.
Oleander would need to be searched for and destroyed in the heavens.
I’d need to make amends with a few Gods.
And I would need to kiss goodbye to my life on Earth.
There was a lot of work, and I needed to plan in order to make sure I didn’t fail.
“Gray,” I said suddenly, realising that there were other things that needed to be put in place or I wouldn’t get a chance.
He hummed in response. “Ready to go home, love?”
“No. Yes. But before I give the rest of Elysia my answer, I want us to get married.”
A sad smile tugged at his lips. “No can do, golden girl.”
“What?” My heart hammered in my chest. “You said—”
“Quentin, if I marry you now, they will all think that I’m trying to get my way through you. It’s better for us to wait until after the coronation.”
“I don’t care what they think.”
That much was true. When it came to my relationship with Gray, Elysia could say whatever they wanted.
“I do,” Gray told me. “I care about your reputation with them if you’re planning to lead. I will not be the reason for people to doubt you before you have even taken your throne.” His tone was firm.
“How long will it take to get crowned?”
“That depends on you.”
On my choices. On how quickly I was prepared to turn my life on its head again. On how strongly I felt about taking control of my life and many others.
“Let’s go home, Gray.”