Funny to think that this war was nothing more than two brothers who could no longer let the other survive. For the rest of the Gods, it meant being able to get rid of that pent-up rage. To flex their powers and find some renegade justice. The elite had yet to offer them any sort of compensation for their loss. No answers. No recompense. Not even a godsdamned apology. We all carried on in the heavens, too ashamed of our past to confront it until it slapped us in the face in the worst of ways. If they had any sense, they would get on their knees and worship Quentin for being the one to force our heads out of the sand. Her veryexistence is what brought the steady hum of complaints to its crescendo. They would get what they so desperately desired, one way or another.
Quentin.
The unsettling feeling had steadily grown in my chest until it was difficult to ignore. She remained locked up at Hunter’s home because of a decision I made. The choice to save her life had been a simple one. But that was when I was held captive, with no other way of saving her. Now… Things had changed.
The rage spoke to the worst parts of me. It stirred the chaotic vengeance that had been dormant for days. It stoked the fire until I was consumed.
Hunter would use her. He would rip her gift from her without permission in order to win. And when everything was done, and the dust settled, he would no doubt haul her in front of Elysia and blame her for the destruction he caused.
The thoughts spiralled in my mind, batting between a need to kill Hunter and a need to save Quentin. Preferably, I needed to kill my brother without my soulbound becoming collateral damage. Their faces were clear in my mind, but the path to them was less so.
“How do I do it?” I muttered to myself.
“Are you even paying attention?” Ignacio hissed while the others continued the conversation.
Erik and Sloan were currently dissecting the last few conversations they’d had with Andreas to see if there were any hints on how to handle this. Elva remained silent, looking pale and withdrawn. Flynn and Malachi flanked her, which must have been why Ignacio had attached himself to my side.
“Why would I?” I asked him.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You got us into this mess.”
“Careful. It sounds like you might not want to be friends anymore.”
“You don’t deserve friends,” he grumbled.
“And yet you still showed up when it mattered.”
“I’m an idiot.”
“Clearly why I keep you around. Give myself an ego boost.”
Ig snorted, and I realised just how grateful I was to have him by my side.
“I’ll do what I can,” he said, looking down at the floor. “I don’t know if it’ll work, but I’ll do what I can to counter her success.”
“You think luck could beat it?”
“I’ve had my gift for longer. Honed it. Trained it. I’m not sure, but we have to try everything and I’ll put it all on the line if we can get rid…”
But his words became muffled as a sensation rippled through me. A sense of calm. The scent of orange blossom in our house again. I walked away from the conversation, without an explanation, and towards the door that led out to the hallway.
“Gray?” Ignacio called after me. “Asshole.”
Andreas filled the space, but even his bulk wasn’t able to hide the telltale golden glow that emanated from behind him. Quentin. It was impossible. How many times would insanity try to snare me into its clutches? But there was no way I could make up her aura. Not the pulsating golden tendrils that were brightening our home in the audacious way it always had. Banishing my darkness and robbing me of my breath. She was here and every part of me ached to touch her. I was desperate to remind myself what she felt like. Tasted like. It took all of my restraint not to shove Andreas aside and give in to my instincts.
“I thought you said it was better for you to stay out of the way so no one could use you,” I managed, watching the wisps of gold. They were growing and fading unpredictably.
“It wouldn’t be fair to let anyone abuse my power,” Andreas confirmed. “How many of us truly have free will when desperation comes knocking at the door?”
“And so you brought me a gift instead?” I motioned for Andreas to step aside, and he did so. A simple flick of the wrist that caused his features to darken, but he obliged.
There she was. Quentin, in all of her glory. Her aura glittered and flickered around her in a beautiful dance. The veins beneath her skin were golden, giving her a sense of ethereality. And at the centre of it all, she stood with her fists balled and her brow furrowed. Oh, she was pissed. I almost laughed, seeing how angry she was.
“This is definitely not a battle I wish to be a part of,” Andreas muttered. “I’ll take my leave.”
His blood-red aura filled the space for a few moments before it disappeared along with the war God.
“My golden girl,” I cooed, taking a step towards her.
