Chapter 24
Arina
Nothing should surprise me anymore. I spent my entire life trapped in a curse that blocked the sky and made everyone lose their minds. Including me, I think.
Because there's no way I'm about to jump into this water of my own free will.
Even harder to believe is that once I do, I'll land in the sea god's realm? His kingdom? I am way out of my depth here, and I don't know how any of this works. But one thing is for fucking sure, there's no way I'm missing a chance to meet a god.
If for no other reason than to give them a piece of my mind. I had thought I'd been angry with my father for abandoning me, but this violent fury ripping its way through me is unfamiliar. And it's demanding to be set free.
The gods truly exist and did nothing to stop the suffering of people who were still fucking praying to them, still worshipping them.
“What do you think you're doing?” Raiden asks, putting a hand on my shoulder as I lean over the ship railing, staring at the massive whirlpool swirling madly before us.
“Aren't we going in?” I gesture to the glittering deathtrap.
“You are not. I've seen how you fare in the ocean. You'll be staying on the ship.” He can't be serious.
The skin on my face pulls tight. “Yeah. I'm not really a 'stay on the ship' kind of girl.” He's already on my shit list for keeping me in the dark for so long about so many things.
“Let her come with! We aren't in the water long enough for her to drown. Plus, she's a healer. She could prove useful down there.” Lavinia smirks at me, and I like her even more.
I grin at my clear victory. He can't argue with that.
“He's not letting me do a damn thing,” I say, fighting the urge to stick my tongue out at him. I may be out of my mind with this stupid mating bond, but I am not going to sit on the sidelines. And miss a chance to meet a god? It’s not in my nature.
He squeezes the sides of his eyes with one hand. “Fine. Fine. But if anything happens to her, I'm holding you responsible,” Raiden tells Lavinia, pointing one long, large finger in her face.
The whirlpool is intimidating, I'll admit, but it's the idea of the sea god and whoever else is waiting on the other side that really scares me.
“See you down there!” Lavinia smacks my ass before she jumps off the ship railing with a squeal and disappears, eaten up by the swirling water.
I swallow hard.
“Now's your chance. If you're too scared to jump, just say the word and you can stay here,” Raiden whispers behind me.
That's all the encouragement it takes. I fling myself over the railing, holding my breath and bracing for an impact that never comes. My stomach does flips, and the cool air on my skin makes goosebumps sprout along my arms.
I go from plunging into the whirlpool of certain death to landing gently in a different world.
Everything shines with a pearly iridescence.
The whirlpool swirls above a castle made of a substance that glitters with hundreds of different, soft, beautiful colors when the sun hits the water and reflects off it.
The ocean water is kept out of the hidden city by something resembling a bubble that encapsulates the entire thing. All around are males and females with pastel hair of every shade that matches the rainbow of colors of the castle.
The females wear lavish gowns that are more stunning than anything Queen Daphne or her dignitaries have ever donned.
“Beautiful, isn't it?” Lavinia asks me, grabbing my hand and pulling me along the street that's just as breathtaking as the rest of the city. We pass a carriage being pulled by horses made of water. I can see through them, and when they walk, there is no trace of water in their wake.
"It's unbelievable," I whisper.
Lavinia nods, but her eyes are on something behind me, and she promptly releases my arm.
I start to turn, following the path of her gaze, but Raiden's hands are on my arms, and he whispers softly, “Yes. You are.” My face heats, and the moment I register the warmth I want to reach up and touch my hands to my cheeks to cool them.
“Don't. I like being able to see the effect I have on you.” The confession melts me, but the male has released me, and I have to put effort into staying upright as he takes off down the path leading to the castle.
“The gods play by their own rules. They are tricky fucks. Don't make any deals without consulting me first. Don't drink the wine. And don't say a fucking word about any of them that you wouldn't say to their faces,” Raiden warns.
“Wait.” I stop in my tracks. “Did you say 'gods'? As in, more than one?”
He shrugs. “You never know who might come for dinner.”
WE MAKE IT to the gates of the sea god's castle. Raiden tells the green-haired guard his name and requests an audience. From there, we are escorted up to the palace doors, and into a large room with one long table stretched across its length.
I cannot help but gape at the enormous being occupying the head of the table. He is easily eight feet tall. His hair flows dark blue like the depths of the sea. The white robe he wears is accented in gold that matches his gleaming eyes.
Many of the seats are already occupied, except for the three vacant chairs nearest the giant ethereal male.
“Welcome, my son!” His voice is a booming echo. “Please, take a seat and introduce us to your beautiful friends.”
Raiden pulls out the seat furthest from the god and ushers Lavinia into it. He scoots the middle out for me, and when my eyes meet his in thanks, it's the first time I've seen true fear swimming in those golden pools of his.
“Their names are unimportant,” Raiden says, and the sea god's look of disappointment and irritation isn't just for show. He scrunches his brows together.
“Your manners certainly leave much to be desired, dear one. But not to worry. I shall introduce myself. Welcome to my home.” His eyes meet mine and then Lavinia's. “The god of the sea has many names, but I prefer Hydreos.”
“To what do I owe the pleasure, my child?” he asks, but does not take his eyes from Lavinia.
“I've come to collect on the favor you've promised. We have the askios stone, and now we require your army and your assistance in dealing with Invidia." Raiden says, fingering the glass in front of him with an air of nonchalance.
He might as well be speaking another language, because I have no idea what he's talking about.
The sea god eyes him. “This is of no great consequence to me.” He flicks his wrist, bored.
“You said you would help me. You gave me your word.” Raiden clenches his hands on the table, and I know he's resisting slamming his fists down on the wood, but he can't hide the anger from his voice.
“And I will. But there's something more I require. I think you may have already guessed that her blood would be a bargaining chip, my son.” Dread grips my chest, and I flash back to the moment with the Huri.
When they said my blood was poison. This is it.
My true purpose in all of this. I'm nothing more than a pawn.
But Hydreos' next words are unexpected. “She is the heir to the Clestrayan throne, is she not?”
The air is sucked from the room when Raiden's resolve fractures, and he hangs his head before answering, “This was not our deal. I never would have brought her here had I thought you would pull something like this!”
“You disappoint me, dear one. A demi-god should know better. There will always be a more … attractive deal waiting in the wings. It is not my fault you didn't consider every possibility before bringing her down here.”
“What is he talking about?” The words fly from my mouth.
Hydreos' laugh is unnerving, and the weight of his gaze on me is invasive. I don't know how Lavinia could stand it.
“You see, I have more than one son." Hydreos gestures to the stone-faced blue-haired male sitting across from us. "And the prospect of my offspring occupying two thrones in the fae realm is too tempting to pass up."
Ohhh. I give the god a mental mark in the positive for being honest about his plans, at least.
“And if I refuse to accept it?” Raiden challenges, but the sea god laughs. It's deep and monstrous, the sound coming from every angle.
“It's not your proposition to refuse,” Lavinia says, appraising the demi-god at Hydreos' side.
“Livvy, I can't let you do this—" Raiden starts, but Lavinia holds up a finger, closing her eyes as if she's really considering allowing Hydreos to use her in such a fucking despicable way.
My heart aches for my new friend who so blatantly values love above everything else.
She deserves better than the male across from us who's appraising her now, determining her value based on looks alone, no doubt.
Hydreos chuckles softly, amused at Lavinia's defiance. “The real question is, will your father bless the match?”
“Father will have no choice.” Lavinia gives a soft smile. “How could he refuse the prospect of passing his throne to a demi-god? I fear it is my mother you will have to sway.”
“Very good! The matter is settled, then. The Clestrayan princess will marry my son, Anyxander. And I shall aid your endeavor to end the reign of Invidia, the demon-goddess, over Lukasia.” It's said as though he might snap his fingers and have it done.
“I do not wish to shed unnecessary blood, but will you send word to the other gods? Will they help us should we need it?” Raiden asks.
“I make no promise, but I shall inquire with them,” Hydreos agrees, and Raiden relaxes in his seat just slightly. "May I see it?" the sea god asks, and Raiden looks to me.
“What?” I whisper.
“The dagger,” Raiden says. “He wants to see it. The stone in the pommel is special. Rare.”
I hesitate, but pull my dagger from its sheath with a shaking hand and give it over to Raiden, albeit a little reluctantly.
The blade looks like a toothpick in the god's hands as he considers it. He rubs one large thumb over the stone, and I wonder how many more surprises and secrets the prince of Lukasia has in store for me.
“This is a very powerful tool. In the wrong hands, and with the proper activation, it could be the catalyst to pandemonium throughout the realms.”
“Will you activate it for us?” Raiden asks, and Hydreos' eyes snap to him.
“You are prepared to deal with the possible consequences of taking this route? Your mother might not survive it.” Hydreos' bright eyes are dulled.
“One life in the place of so many would be worth it. Besides, I have a powerful healer on my side.” Raiden's hand squeezes my upper thigh, sending sparks shooting low in my belly.
The sea god turns his attention to me. “It will take a powerful healer, indeed, to mend a broken heart. I hope you are up for the challenge.”
There are rocks in my throat as I put the pieces together. I'm pretty sure they just volunteered me to heal someone's broken heart. Not just someone. Raiden's mother. Hydreos reaches across the table to hand me back my dagger.
It's heavier somehow.
“You must not use that on anyone else until you reach Invidia. Stab her straight and true through the heart, and she will be trapped within the stone indefinitely. You will not have long to repair the wound once the stone-soul transfer is complete.”
I nod, though I'm not sure the magnitude of my task has truly sunk in.