Hermes waved a hand as he tutted. “I know, I know. Your time will come, though! Today, Terena is immortal and, with her powers, we’ll soon take the city.”
“And… and… Daris?”
Hermes’s lips twisted and a flash of ire raced across his eyes before he lowered his gaze. He came around the desk and leaned against the front, crossing his ankles.
“Daris is no longer a eudaemon. So, I don’t want him going into the city ahead of the fighting. I still have some… work to do with him.”
“Well,” Sonah spluttered, her mind racing as her plan fell apart. Cursing under her breath, she squared her shoulders and looked up at the god. “You—you make him immortal then! Now!”
Red tinged the god’s cheeks and he pushed away from the desk.
“Leave us,” he snarled at Leander. This time, Sonah nodded at him and, thankfully, he left without a word of protest.
Hermes stared at her a moment before shoving a hand through his hair. His dishevelment was uncharacteristic and she frowned at the rare glimpse of vulnerability from this powerful being.
“As you so eloquently put it earlier, my dear niece, my powers are limited. I don’t know why, so don’t ask. I suspect it has to do with you and Terena but I’m not sure. I’ve spoken with Melanos as well, back at Lethe, and he confirmed he’s similarly afflicted.Although, he hasn’t been feeling as… murderous as I have of late.”
Sonah gaped at him. “So, what’s that mean? What—how do we fix it? We need to fix it! We can’t start a war with the emp?—”
“We will deal with it later,” Hermes snapped. “Your sister’s powers should be enough. Whatever it is, it’s not affecting her. I was with her in Olympia for a month before we came south. She was powerful then. Far stronger than a god before ascension. Terena will win Metilai for us, and we will figure out the rest when the time comes.”
“I need to go.”
Hermes frowned at her but Sonah wasted no time, turning and lunging through the tent before Hermes could respond.
She felt him shadowing her steps and she raced ahead, weaving her way through the warriors and their tents, her heart in her throat threatening to choke her as she fought the sobs rearing their ill-timed heads.
Chapter 46
METILAI
“May I speak with you?”
Terena looked up at Gabriol in surprise. “Of course.”
He looked over his shoulder at Vassori, who stood near the door, waiting. They were about to leave for the emperor’s celebration feast and Terena was more than ready.
Fidgeting with her costume, she frowned, hiding her impatience behind a neutral mask as Gabriol sauntered closer. She nodded at Vassori to leave them and she and the other women moved away to give her and Gabe some privacy.
Stopping in front of her, he wiped a hand down his beard, his eyes darting around as if thinking.
“What is it?” Terena prompted.
He looked up at last and the expression on his face was one she’d not seen from him before.
A look her father usually gave her right after she’d done something wrong.
“Ren,” he started, his eyes sympathetic. “I know you’re under a lot of pressure. I cannot imagine the things you’re dealing withand now that you’re a god in truth, I know the road for you will only become more difficult.”
“Aye,” she said with a swift nod.
“But I beg you, do not forget your humanity. It will temper your actions when you need it most.”
Terena narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Gabriol sighed. “I’m talking about Ravos. I’m talking about how you destroyed those men without mercy, and,” he held up a hand when she opened her mouth to respond. “And aye, you said that happened without conscious thought, but now that you have the use of your powers, I caution you to use them wisely. There is a reason mortals went to war with the gods. There is a reason why the emperor and many others have killed any gods left behind after the Olympians were banished. Fear. They fear your kind. Do not justify their beliefs. Please. You endanger yourself and you endanger your family if you continue down that path.”
Terena warred with her body to keep calm. A part of her understood what he was saying, while another part fumed at his judgement. So much had changed within her in the last year, more so in the last few hours that she struggled to keep herself sane.
