Sonah snorted. “Aye. Prince Lerek.”
Fane shook his head and grunted. “I did not know it was him, Sonah. Commander Antonius kept him away from the restof us and brought him his meals personally. We were fine with that because he cried most of the trip. It was unsettling. Now I understand why.
“And I apologize for saying anything about the commander and the prince that night with you nearby. I am more sorry than you know. Believe me, I wish I’d kept my damned mouth shut.”
Sonah followedMelanos to the horses. She had slept most of the day after they’d eaten and only rose when Fane came to her door to ask if she wanted to join them for dinner. They’d agreed to head north to Ovenno and Sonah had barely slept after that, nervous energy making for a fitful night.
“Did you ever find Bethana?” Sonah asked. When she’d last seen Melanos, he’d told them he’d be heading back toward the caves where Daris and Terena had found the nymph in her serpent form. Poseidon had cursed them both more than a thousand years ago, and while Melanos was freed from his curse, Sonah had often wondered if he’d been able to break his beloved’s curse.
Melanos gave her a sad smile. “I did not. I searched every cave near the falls, even taking the path through the falls as your sister did. To no avail.”
Sonah paused, and Melanos turned to look at her with a frown.
“We’re nearby,” she said softly, gazing at him. “And it’s on the way.”
Fane walked up at that moment. “What’s this?”
Sonah motioned to Melanos. “He never found his love, Bethana. I was about to suggest we find her. Together.”
Fane began shaking his head and Sonah grabbed hold of his arm. “It’s on the way. And we don’t really know where Ren is right now. But we do know where Bethana is, roughly. We should do this. For Melanos.”
The look on Melanos’s face when Sonah turned to him almost broke her heart. He looked so hopeful but tried to hide it with a nonchalant shrug. “If the others don’t mind.”
“Melanos!” Sonah cried out in exasperation. “You’re a god! I’m a god! By my math, we outnumber these… three.”
The edge of Fane’s mouth quirked up. “Aye. That’s impressive math. Look,” he stood with arms akimbo, smiling at Melanos. “I’m fine either way. I just wanted to ensure she was all right. Now that she is, I’m good to go wherever.”
“Fane, what of our—” One of Fane’s friends started to speak.
Fane cut him off. “At the end of this, it is my hope you’ll journey with us to Commander Antonius.” He looked between Melanos and Sonah. “When Sonah was captured, I sent word to Sparta. I’ve yet to hear back, but our soldiers here shared news of Terena’s whereabouts and rumors of a vast army coming from the north. I don’t know if your sister journeys with the northern king, but at least we know she’s close. ”
Sonah glanced over at the three warriors behind Fane. King Altos was more than likely looking for her, and Fane had just sent him a boon. Nothing to do for it now but find her sister and then Daris.
But first…
“Then it’s settled,” she said in a firm voice. “We go in search of Bethana.” With a quick nod of her head, she walked purposefully toward the horse Melanos had procured for her and whispered to the mare, “Please be my friend?”
Chapter 22
CORVO, ERMANEL
Rydon stared at the blonde witch. He stood in front of the couch she’d settled on when they’d all filed back inside. She’d groaned loudly when she’d sat, her arms stretched over the back of the plush velvet couch, regarding them all with a grin.
Terena sat on the couch, her body shifted to face the witch. Ren’s clothes were rumpled and—were the buttons on her breeches missing? Beside her, the witch smiled as she settled a hand on Ren’s knee. Croak had elected to stand at Rydon’s side, mimicking his stance as was his way, eyeing Rydon out of the corner of his eyes before adjusting his arms in a similar fashion.
Gabriol pushed his way between them, shoving Croak aside as he leaned into Rydon. “Did you know?”
Rydon flicked an annoyed glance at his friend. “And not tell you? No.”
Gabriol grunted, folding his arms.
“How are you Apollo’s lover?” Terena asked, her face pinched as her eyes roamed over the blonde’s face. “Apollo and the rest of the Olympians have been gone for over a thousand years.”
The woman gave a dismissive tilt of her head, the fingers of her left hand lifting slightly off the seat back. “And yet…”
“How? And how did you know where to find Daris?”
“Daris?” Croak called out, his eyes wide as he shot Rydon a look. Rydon scowled and ran a hand down his beard.
