“You,” Melanos said, lifting his head, pulling back only enough to turn to Sonah, eyes bright with unshed tears. “You are a wonder.”
Sonah’s chin quivered at the emotion she saw in the god’s expression, and she gave him a watery smile. Bethana had her head buried in Melanos’s neck and Sonah looked up at Fane, motioning with her head to move away and give them some privacy.
The others followed them out, everyone lost in their own thoughts. For Sonah’s part, she marveled she even had the power to do something so… miraculous. She’d never doneanything remotely like that, and began to wonder if there were other facets to her powers she could tap into.
As they stepped outside the cave, waiting for Melanos and Bethana to emerge, Sonah became aware of everyone staring at her.
“What?”
Fane shook his head. “What you did, Sonah.” He let out a hysterical chuckle. “It was incredible. Did you know you could do that?”
Scrunching her nose, Sonah lifted a shoulder. “I just did what Melanos told me to do. It felt right. In here.” Sonah tapped her fingers against her chest, over her heart.
“Do you think he’ll come with us now?” Yianni asked, his dark brown eyes thoughtful as he turned to Fane. “Do you think he’ll pledge himself to Sonah now she’s freed Bethana from the curse?”
“I don’t want him to pledge himself to me,” Sonah said firmly, aghast. She shook her head, slashing her arm out as she spoke. “If he comes with us, it will be of his own accord and not because of a debt. And certainly not because of a pledge. He and Bethana more than earned their freedom. I will not be the one to enslave them again.”
“I am glad to hear you say so,” Melanos said in his booming voice, startling them. He gripped Bethana’s hand in his as they strode closer. “But even I know when a debt is owed, whether you wish it or not. I will join you, little one. Wherever your path takes you.”
Chapter 24
ERMANEL
“Our little family’s getting bigger.”
Terena looked up and grunted a greeting as Rydon sat down beside her.
“Vassori is growing on me,” Terena said. Then she motioned with her chin to Cassandra, who sat leaning against Croak as they laughed about something on the other side of the campfire. “But Cassandra is still an enigma. There are moments I feel she could be a friend. And others…” She shrugged.
“Aye,” Rydon sighed, stretching out his legs. “The woman confounds me as well.”
They’d eaten dinner earlier and were now enjoying the fire as darkness settled around them. Orry was curled up on his side with his head in Migela’s lap. The assassin stroked his hair as she stared into the fire, and beside them Croak lounged against his saddle. Vassori was conversing with Gabriol, their heads close together.
“We’re not safe here,” Terena said in a low voice, her eyes fixed on the fire. “Xoran better show himself soon.”
“We’ll be safe when he gets here. Ermanel is still part of the empire.”
“You all may be,” Terena grumbled, settling her arms on her knees. “They’ll know who I am straight away. Croak, too.”
“They’re still with Heylisia?” Gabriol asked, looking over at them from his seat beside Vassori.
“Aye,” Vas said. “Xoran learned of Emperor Solon’s agreement to a betrothal between his newborn daughter and the duke’s son.”
“What?” Terena choked on her ale. “Serephina’s given birth? When was she even pregnant?”
Migela signed, a look of confusion on her face.
“Serephina is the emperor’s second wife,” Orry explained.
“And mother to the heir, whose new baby sister is now engaged to a man twenty-three years her senior,” Vassori responded with a snort. “Xoran told me she was pregnant right after the firstborns escaped. When the emperor had him searching for you and your sister.”
“Howdidthey escape? Did we ever figure that out?” Croak asked, the last words stretched as he yawned. Cassandra was curled up beside him with her eyes closed and a smile on her lips.
Vas looked around at the others. “What, you don’t know?” She scoffed at the blank looks they gave her. Terena raised an eyebrow, and the tracker shrugged. “Your man got them out.”
“What man?” Rydon scowled at Vas.
“Wait, Daris?” Croak asked, sitting upright. His eyes darted to Terena. “Did you know?”
