“I get it. I do.” Seraphena stood and smoothed her hands down her breeches. “If you knew half of what I’ve had to do, you would know that is theverylast thing I would ever suggest.” She focused on Poppy. “You won’t have to convince him anyway. All you need is this.” She reached down and unsheathed her dagger. “I want you to have it.”
I focused on the weapon. It was white, and the pommel had been crafted into a full moon. Flames were carved into the grip, and vines had been etched into the cross guard in precise detail.
The moment my gaze shifted to the blade, I knew what it was. “Ancient bone?”
“Yes.” She flipped it in her hand and offered it to Poppy, handle first. “Careful with the blade. It will burn your skin if you touch it.”
“Really?” Poppy carefully wrapped her slender fingers around the grip. “I’ve touched the Ancient bone dagger in the chest,” she explained, glancing up at me. “It didn’t burn me.”
Seraphena frowned. “It should.”
“It didn’t. See—”
Both Seraphena and I moved to stop her, but Poppy already had her finger on the exposed bone blade.
“Fucking gods,” I muttered, wanting to rip it from her hands.
“It doesn’t burn.” She looked between us. “There’s only a faint tingle.”
“A faint tingle?” Seraphena sounded doubtful. And confused. She looked at me. “Does it burn you?”
“It did when it stabbed me.”
Poppy’s features tightened as she glanced at Seraphena. “You don’t know why?”
“No. I’ll see what I can find out, though.” Her nose wrinkled, much like Poppy’s had. “It has to mean something.”
When Poppy finally stopped touching the blade and turned it, I saw that it wasn’t bare. Chiseled into the bone was a snarling wolf breathing fire.
The detail was astonishing. Damn. Malik would lose his shit at seeing such craftsmanship.
“It’s…beautiful,” Poppy whispered, glancing back at Seraphena. “I can’t possibly accept this.”
“It is beautiful, but you must accept it.” Seraphena clasped her hands.
Every muscle in my body tensed as Poppy stared at her.
“Only you can kill him,” Seraphena said. “And I promised Kolis I would hand this very dagger to you so you could drive it through his heart.”
Poppy stared at her for a moment and then her gaze dropped to the dagger. “Then I will make sure I carry out that promise.”
Seraphena’s eyes closed as she nodded. When they reopened, I saw the glint of unshed tears in them. “I’m sorry this falls on you, Poppy. It isn’t fair. Eythos…well, he fucked up. And we failed to prevent this.”
I told myself to keep my mouth shut.
It didn’t listen.
“But if you had succeeded in preventing this, Poppy wouldn’t be here,” I told her. “I never would’ve met her. I wouldn’t have become a better man—which is, admittedly, a work in progress. But without her…” My chest tightened, and I felt Poppy’s hand on my arm. I cleared my throat. “As fucked up as it sounds, I can’t be disappointed that you didn’t succeed.”
The Queen of the Gods’ gaze met mine. “Neither can I.” She exhaled slowly. “I must leave.”
“I understand.” Poppy paused. “Just one more thing. I would like to visit with Ir—with my father.” The center of her cheeks turned pink. “When he’s feeling better, and the realm isn’t threatened.”
The smile that graced Seraphena’s face was the kind I cherished most when it graced Poppy’s. Big, warm, and genuine. “I’m sure he would like that.”
Poppy grinned tentatively. “I’m…happy to hear that.”
Seraphena stood before her, silent for a moment. “I’m terrible at goodbyes, even temporary ones.” She lifted her arms and then halted. “Can I…give you the most awkward hug known to man?”
