He dropped his arms to his sides and shifted his position in the chair, his stare antagonizing.
“It was the only way.”
“I wasn’t worth it?—”
“You parted the seas, bestowed your gifts upon me for nothing in return, and compromised your position and your existence for me. You would burn this world for me—and I would do the same for you.” I would do anything for this man, the man I was destined to be with.
He held my stare in silence, a cacophony of emotion in his gaze from anger, happiness, and raw emotion.
“I would do it again.”
His eyes shifted away. “I’m almost afraid to ask this…and use your discretion on what you choose to reveal.” A pause continued for nearly a minute before he looked at me again. “But what happened…once you arrived?”
I’d awoken when I’d reached the bottom of the funnel, and then a dozen arms had reached for me and pulled me back and forth, fighting over me as their plaything. “The monster tried to take me, but Leviathan decided he wanted me for himself.”
His eyes immediately dropped like that was already too much.
“He tried to take me, but I cut him off at every turn. We were equally matched, so he never got what he wanted.”
His eyes lifted to mine again, a hint of pride in his gaze.
“He made the mistake of putting me in a cell, not realizing that dragon scales are stronger than iron. I had to defile Khazmuda’s scales, unfortunately, but I managed to saw my way free. I ran to the forest, knowing it would be hard to find me, and the occult you’d shown me were immediately smitten with me. I told them to lie about my presence if Leviathan orhis servants ever searched for me, and they did. I’m not sure how long I was there because the light and seasons don’t change and I never needed sleep, but it felt like just a few days. Though, it must have been weeks.”
He nodded in understanding.
“He probably has no idea that I escaped.”
“Let’s hope it stays that way for a while.”
“And what will happen once he realizes the truth?” I asked with a bout of sadness.
He hesitated. “Honestly, I don’t know. The deal had already been made. There was no clause in your deal that forbade you from escaping on your own, so you didn’t violate any rules. I think he’ll have no choice but to accept what’s come to pass. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll leave us alone.”
“What can he do to us?” I asked.
He gave a slight shake of his head. “There’s nothing to stop him from visiting either of us. From whispering poison into our ears. You can’t dismiss him, because there’s no deal binding you in place.”
“Well, if that’s the worst of it, I guess that’s not so bad.”
“I came to you uninvited…and changed the course of your life.”
“And I’m forever grateful that you did,” I said without hesitation. “Regardless of what Leviathan tries next.” I finished my food, the plate clean except for a few spots of sauce. We’d finished off all the casseroles my mother made,and now we were down to the bare minimum. We hadn’t set foot outside once in a week. “How are things between you and my father?” The last time I’d spoken to him, he’d despised Callum with every fiber of his being, and I was sure Callum had to listen to that anger firsthand.
Callum was quiet for a long time as he considered the question. “It’s complicated…”
“That’s better than it being outright bad.”
“We found middle ground in our travels together, but I’m still not the ideal suitor for you. I know he would support however you want to live your life…or whomever you want to spend it with.”
“You aren’t the god of the underworld anymore,” I said. “I’m sure he’ll feel differently toward you in the years to come.”
“And would it bother you if he didn’t?—”
“No.”
He stared at me for a while. “I know how close you are with him. I know what his opinion means to you.”
“But his opinion is wrong. He doesn’t know you the way I do.”
