Chapter 11
Ara
Returning home feels like defeat.Once I’d have given almost anything to step onto our sandy shores. Now, I feel like the very land mocks me. It’s a reminder of how much harm I’ve brought to my people since I first dared to leave.
The guards recognize us this time, letting us into the palace without hesitation. Or maybe they heard what happened the last time they challenged my friends.
A heavy silence fell around us, sorrow and guilt making me fight against the urge to crawl into a cave so I could hide until everything came to the inevitable end. I wasn’t even sure what that end would look like anymore. All of our ideas had failed, and I wasn’t sure if there was anything we could do.
The palace was quiet. Guards were few, and I didn’t see a single servant. It matched the solemn tone we’d experienced while walking through town. Few were out in the streets, and they stayed away from us as we passed. All of Athos wore the heavy weight of defeat.
Argus walked toward us, a weary smile on his expression. “Welcome back, Princess. I heard the news and I’m glad to see you’re alive.”
“It’s starting to feel like a curse,” I replied.
“It’s for a reason, we must have faith. The gods will come to their senses,” he answered.
I kept my thoughts about the gods to myself. “Where is Lagina?”
“In the study. But you should know, she’s got a guest with her.” His eyes darted toward my friends before returning to me.
We fell into step alongside him. “What kind of guest?”
“My mother,” Laera grumbled.
I stopped walking. “What?”
“Why is she here?” Ryvin asked.
Vanth readied his sword. “Selena’s with her, isn’t she?”
Laera rolled her eyes. “Put it away, shifter. Yes, she is. But they’re not here to harm us. I’m not sure why she’s here, but I know it’s not a threat.”
“Everything your mother does is a threat,” Ryvin countered.
“Everything my mother does is for her own benefit,” Laera corrected. “Killing us doesn’t help her. We’re powerful. If she’s here, that means she’s decided it’s finally time to show her true colors and walk away from Konos. That means she needs allies.”
I could see the tension in Vanth’s shoulders. I touched his arm. “Let’s find out what she wants, then we can decide if we’re going to kill her.”
Ryvin chucked. “When did you get so murderous?”
“Probably around the time I met you,” I replied.
“He has that effect on people,” Laera said.
I started walking again, the others following me as we made our way toward the study. With each step, exhaustion began to weigh more heavily. There was something about being in Athos that made my body feel a little safer. I could drop my guard just enough to start to acknowledge how tired I was. I shoved the thought away, blinking a few times to send the sting away from my eyes.
We passed a few guards, all of them straightening as soon as they saw Argus approach. At least they were alert enough to react to him. Not that they’d help us if any of the fae in our palace decided to turn against us.
The guards stationed outside the study parted to let Argus through, and he opened the door for us. As soon as I saw the Konos Queen, I froze. Even though I’d expected her, seeing her here, with my sister, was a complete shock. Both queens rose from their seats and moved toward us. Selena sat on a couch nearby, flipping through the pages of a book, seemingly unbothered by our presence.
“Ara, I heard what happened. Are you alright?” she crossed to me, her brow furrowed with concern.
The Konos Queen stood in the center of the room, her hands clasped in front of her. Her expression was one of indifference, not unlike what I’d see from Ophelia when she was bored.
“I’m alright. But we’re in trouble. The Fae King has more magic than we realized. Something extra gift that’s making him untouchable. We’ll have to lure him into the open to have any chance of taking him down,” I explained.
“That won’t be enough,” the Konos Queen said.
“What exactly are you doing here?” Laera moved past me, marching right to her mother, then stopping in front of her.
Ryvin stood so close to me, I could feel his body against mine. Vanth took a couple of steps into the room, his fingers resting on the hilt of his sword. It was clear neither of them trusted the visitor.
“Aspasia came to offer her assistance,” Lagina said. “She knows where to find the sorceress who holds the key to taking the Fae King down.”
“You knew?” Laera glared at her mother. “You knew he had this kind of power and you did nothing?”
“What would you have me do? Show my hand to a man with the power of a goddess and a sorceress?” Aspasia asked. “I waited until I could actually win.”
“How did he hide that from me?” Laera’s voice wavered in a way I’d never heard before. She clenched her jaw, regaining her composure. “How did he know how to hide it from me?”
“I don’t know. I never told him anything I suspected of your full abilities. But he’s got eyes in as many places as you do. I fear we underestimated him,” Aspasia said.
“We didn’t underestimate him. We fell into his trap and we blinded ourselves,” Ryvin added. “But I’m more interested in what you’re really doing here than I am in what his plans were. He’s always been clear on his goals. He wants to rule everything and everyone. What are you after?”
“You know what I want,” she said, her tone almost playful.
Ryvin narrowed his eyes. “Don’t try that on me. Your seduction doesn’t work with me.”
She hummed. “It would have made my plans come to fruition sooner if it had. But you aren’t as easily manipulated as your father.” With a chuckle, she turned her attention to me. “Don’t worry, he’s all yours.”
Ryvin wrapped his arm around my waist and I realized I’d moved in front of him protectively without even knowing.
“Mother, don’t provoke her. She’s far more powerful than you think,” Laera stated.
“That’s good, then. Because I’m counting on your little group to do my dirty work for me.” She shrugged.
“You said you had allies for us. And information,” Lagina cut in. “Whatever this pissing contest is, it’s done. You help us, or you leave.”
Aspasia smiled, and I noticed that Selena was standing now, watching us with an expectant expression.
“Thebes has never been in your father’s pocket,” Aspasia said, directing her attention to Laera and Ryvin. “They’ve agreed to fight for Athos.”
“What? Why?” I asked.
“Those creatures can’t come here. I’m trying to keep my people alive, not feed them to more monsters,” Lagina snapped.
“Hold on,” I stepped away from Ryvin, “give her a chance to explain.”
Aspasia cocked her head to the side, studying me briefly before turning to Lagina. “Is my information incorrect? Is your youngest sister not a vampire herself?”
“Half.” Lagina glanced at me accusingly, as if I was the one who’d handed this information over. “And we all know what the vampires in Thebes are like. They were so out of control they covered the entire city.”
“That’s certainly not true,” Laera said. “There’s humans living there as well. How did you not know that?”
“What’s it like?” I asked, finding myself easily believing Laera. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was trusting Laera or if I was getting so used to discovering that most of what I learned was a lie.
“It is largely populated by vampires,” Laera conceded. “And many were changed aggressively in the early days. But those who enjoyed preying on others were harshly punished. They haven’t allowed anyone to turn a human without their consent in a century.”
“Are there not murderers and thieves among humans?” Aspasia asked.
An image of the angry mob coming after me outside the Opal flashed in my mind. All of those people would have cheered to see me dead. They wanted to do even worse than that. Humans. Not fae. Not vampires.
“Why would they help us?” I asked.
“Because they want food,” Lagina said darkly.
“Many of them have family and friends in Telos or Athos. They’ve been prohibited from travel by your kingdom and by Konos. They’re prisoners in their own city,” Aspasia explained.
“Just like you humans,” Laera added. “Except you seem to like that.”
“We don’t like it.” I’d always dreamed of getting out. Of more than what Athos could provide. I knew I wasn’t alone.
“Does he know?” Ryvin asked.
Aspasia turned to the prince. “No. He believes they’re on their way to Athos to join him.”
“They’re already on their way?” Lagina asked.
Aspasia nodded.
“That’s not going to be easy to explain,” I said. “The people here don’t trust anyone who isn’t human.”
“They had no problem sharing all their darkest secrets with me,” Selena said.
“They didn’t know you weren’t human,” I replied.
“They won’t know a vampire, either,” she said.
“We can’t lie to them,” I replied.
“They didn’t want me there, but nobody complained. They welcomed the dragons to save their own lives,” Vanth said. “Get your aunt to talk to them. They’ll come around.”
Blinding light suddenly filled the room, making me squint against the intensity. I shielded my eyes with my hand. “What is that?”
The door opened and the light fractured into a prism of colors, forming dancing rainbows on every surface. I spun to see bewildered guards blindly reaching, trying to move, but seemingly frozen in place.
Ryvin was in front of me, sword drawn, Vanth by his side. Both men yelled as their weapons were pulled from their grip and thrown across the room. They landed with a clatter on the floor.
“That’s no way to greet someone who saved your mate’s life,” a booming female voice echoed through the room.
The door slammed, then the colors faded. After blinking away the brightness lingering from the light, I recognized the newcomer. “Iris?”
“Shit. More gods,” Laera groaned.
“The Iris?” Lagina asked.
“Yes, yes, messenger for the gods and all that.” Iris waved her hand dismissively.
Selena and Aspasia were both backing up, moving away from the newcomer. I touched my necklace, recalling how she’d gifted me the item that allowed me safe passage across the sea.
Ryvin lowered his head. “I’m sorry for how I reacted. Thank you for the gift you bestowed on Ara.”
“Please accept my apology as well, gentle lady,” Vanth said.
“The gift was from her mother, but I do accept your apology. Had you tried to stab me, we’d be in a different position right now.” Iris nodded to Vanth, then moved closer to Lagina.
My sister looked like she was going to pass out. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open, all color drained from her face. Finally, she blinked a few times, then closed her mouth, swallowing before regaining some control. “Welcome to our kingdom.” She curtseyed.
“You have nothing to fear from me, Queen of Athos. The gods have no quarrel with you,” Iris said.
Lagina let out an obvious breath of relief.
“They do, however, have issue with your sister.” Iris turned to me. My insides twisted and my pulse raced.
Ryvin moved closer to me, and I gave him a warning look. This was my problem to solve. His jaw tensed, but he took a step back, giving me a little space.
“Do you have a message for me, then?” I asked, surprised I was able to keep the shaking of my hands out of my voice.
“I do. And you will do well to listen.” She moved with such grace I wondered how I’d missed that she wasn’t human when we first met.
“The gods know you are able to access your magic.” She glanced at Ryvin, then turned her attention back to me. “And they know that your mate used it as well.”
“I will face whatever consequences they require if they leave Ara out of this,” Ryvin said.
“This isn’t about you, Prince,” Iris snapped. Her voice softened, “They have decided that you are too dangerous to live, but too important to die. You have come to represent all of Athos, not just yourself.”
“What does that mean?” Laera asked.
“It means that your fate will be determined by one of their own.” Iris handed me a scroll tied with a piece of twine.
My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I was certain the others could hear me.
Carefully, I opened it.
Ara,
I have the great honor of deciding your fate. Let’s find out if you, and your people, are worthy of life. I’ll be waiting for you on Naxos.
Nyx
I think I stopped breathing.
Somehow, I managed to hand the letter over to Ryvin. I stood in silence as the message was passed around the room. Nobody spoke.
Finally, Iris broke the silence, “She’s already there. Awaiting your arrival.”
I swallowed hard, then looked at the messenger. She’d once delivered an item that saved my life, now she was delivering something that might very well end it.
“You’ll go to Ceto’s island,” Ryvin said. “Nyx can’t touch you there and your mother said you can live there.”
“She can’t spend her life locked away on an island,” Laera snapped.
“Ara would die if she was isolated that way,” Lagina added.
I looked at my mate, the concern in his expression made my heart ache. I knew if it were reversed, I’d ask the same of him. “You know I can’t do that.”
He cupped my cheek. “I know, but I also know what Nyx is like. What she’s capable of.”
“If anyone can survive her, it’s the woman who freed her. She’s got that going for her,” Laera said gently.
I lifted a brow as I turned toward the princess. I’d be less concerned if she was her typical, snaky self. “Don’t go writing my eulogy yet.”
“Well, this is good,” Aspasia cut in. “I had wondered how we’d account for Nyx. Now, Ara will be distracting her.”
“She hasn’t agreed to go yet,” Ryvin said.
“She’s going,” Vanth said. “You know that already.”
“We’ll go with her, then,” Ryvin declared.
“We can’t. This is Ara’s task.” Vanth was speaking to Ryvin, but looking at me.
“She can do this, brother,” Laera added.
“She invited me. And they’re right, I can do this. Whatever she throws at me, I can handle it. What I can’t do is find the sorceress or defend Athos. I need you to help my people,” I pleaded.
“I don’t care what happens to Athos,” Ryvin said. “The whole world can burn. None of it matters if you’re not in it.”
“As charming as your mating bond charged confessions of love are, you are losing the bigger picture,” Laera said. “You have a chance to get the gods off your back. Both of you. Nyx can save you both. Well, Ara will be doing it, but you know what I mean.”
“She’s right.” I held up the letter, which had found its way back to me. “It says she gets to determine my fate. If I can prove myself to her, we don’t have to worry about running from the gods or finding a way to eliminate my magic. If we win this war, we can just live.”
“She’s not going to go easy on you,” Ryvin said.
“What’s to stop her from simply killing Ara the second she arrives in Naxos?” Lagina cut in. “You’re all standing around arguing the merit of a half-human woman challenging a goddess as if she has a chance.”
“She has a chance. Nyx is honorable. Unlike you humans,” Iris said.
I’d almost forgotten she was there.
“Nyx owes Ara,” Laera said. “If she wanted her dead, she’d already be dead. This is Nyx giving her a chance.”
“It’s the best one she’s going to get,” Aspasia added.
“You have to trust me.” I clasped Ryvin’s hand. “I’ll come to you as soon as I can.”
“I’ll have a ship here by morning to take her to Naxos,” Iris said, then she turned and left without another word.
“Ara, is this what you want?” Lagina asked quietly.
I nodded. “I can do this.”
“Get some sleep, Ara,” Laera cut in. “You look like you’re almost dead.”
I shot her a look.
“What?” Laera asked. “It’s true. And she needs to be in top form for her visit with Nyx.”
“Come on,” Ryvin squeezed my hand. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
As we left the study, I didn’t hear a sound. It was as if everyone behind me was already saying their goodbyes.