Casteel snorted. “How likely is it that it’s option two?”
Highly.
My thoughts jumped from one thing to the next, landing on what I’d thought when I held the Ancient bone I’d found in the chest.
What Casteel had been stabbed with.
Thathad…killed him.
I took a step back and glanced toward the castle. Oh, gods… My chest squeezed painfully. A Revenant wielding a bone dagger couldn’t kill a Primal, but used against a fledgling Primal, a god, demigod, or anything else in between? Yes, it could, but I…I had brought him back, even while in stasis. That was the power of theJoining and… The nape of my neck tingled faintly. It was also the power of the essence in him. His bloodline.
“Who is your grandmother?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I never met her.”
Frustration burned through me. “And you’re sure she was an Elemental?”
“She has to be. I’m not a full-blooded god or deity.”
He was right, but…
I resisted the urge to turn and kick the statue as I felt Casteel’s stare on me. “I wonder how forthcoming Attes will be.”
Valyn didn’t respond.
“You need to tell Malik. And you should do it soon,” Casteel stated. “Preferably before Attes gets here.”
“I will.” Valyn met Casteel’s gaze. “I know this probably seems like another lie to you, but—”
“Itisa lie,” he cut in. I stiffened before wedging my arm between his and the side he had it tightly pressed against. Turning my head, I kissed his biceps. “But,” he added with a heavy breath, “I get it.”
Surprise widened Valyn’s eyes, and he seemed about to speak but didn’t.
Casteel cleared his throat and turned to me. Our eyes met, but I couldn’t read a thing in them as I felt his presence brush against my thoughts.I’ll meet you back in the Solar.
I nodded and reluctantly slipped my arm free. He lowered his head and softly brushed his mouth against mine. I drew my still-tingling lip between my teeth as I watched him stiffly turn and leave the way we’d come, silently brushing past Kieran.
My eyes met Kieran’s, and without having to say a word, he gave me a curt nod and pivoted, following Casteel. Folding my arms across my waist, I stared at the empty pathway while worry for him settled in.
“He says he gets it,” Valyn said, drawing my gaze back to him. “But if I hadn’t destroyed our relationship by keeping the truth about Isbeth from him, I fear I have done so now.”
“I…think he just needs some time to process everything.” After all, that was what I needed after learning about Sotoria. It was why I hadn’t followed him despite badly wanting to.
“You really think so?” he asked. “Like he said, itisanother lie, Penellaphe.”
“It’s a lie I believe he understands. And I think Malik will, too.”
Valyn was quiet for a moment. “I can only hope you are right and Eloana will also understand.”
The mention of his wife reminded me of what Seraphena had said once again. Unfolding my arms, I glanced at the empty path and swallowed a curse. Casteel had forgotten, too. I turned back to Valyn. “Seraphena was here.”
He frowned.
“The true Primal of Life,” I elaborated as I opened my senses. His confusion felt genuine. “That is Seraphena. She is the Queen of the Gods.”
He still looked confused.
“The reason that is not known is a long and complicated mess we really don’t have time for,” I told him. He looked like he wanted to argue that point. I couldn’t blame him. “But I think you know her as Nyktos’s Consort.”
