“What else do you know?” Ena asked. She Knew Mel was hiding something. It was obvious to her now when they were being intentionally vague about their visions. She knew Mel believed the future was unchangeable and liked to keep things close to their chest until they knew for certain what wouldhappen so as not to upset people, and it was one thing if Mel hadn’t warned her about Heran’s death—especially if there was nothing she could’ve done anyway—but Ena still felt she had a right to know about something this big.
Mel sighed, collapsing onto the dirt next to Ena by the fire. “I don’t know much,” they began. “Just that…there are others.”
“Others?” Ty asked.
One by one, everyone came over the fire, even Greya, who looked stunned and struck by all that had happened, but was present and listening once more.
“Yes,” Mel said. “There are others who have noticed the…overlap between Gaia and Iblis before. And they worship something else entirely.”
“What do they worship?” Ty asked, his face serious and unsettled.
“Omnis,” Ena replied, remembering that vague reference she’d read inThe Evolution of Magicall those weeks ago. “They worship Omnis.”
Chapter Thirty-eight
Ty
Foronce,thankfuckingIblis, no one pried further into Mel’s Knowledge. These revelations about some being called Omnis, and everything that had happened with Heran’s death and the breaking of the bond, had left everyone reeling.
Ty watched as the group dispersed—Mel and Cris settling by the fire with Turner, and Ena kneeling beside her sister next to the covered body of the matriarch.
Ty stood frozen, though, not knowing where to go or what to do. He felt guilty for how things had gone down with the matriarch and wanted to comfort Ena, but he figured he should give her and her sister some space to grieve. He knew he needed to remain vigilant for other intruders, but it was so hard to focus on that.
Because they had actually done it—they had broken the bond—and all around him, there was so muchmorethan before.
His mind raced with his newfound sense of Gaia, or whatever it was, inside him. This new feeling of purpose—of balance—within. His every breath, his every move and thought, could still cause chaos, yes—it existed all around him, just as it did before—but now, so did equilibrium. So did stasis. So did a feeling of calm and regularity that he wanted to reach for, but didn’t quite know how to yet. He’d lived his whole life feeding into disruption. How could he now live for peace?
He was drawn from his reverie as he saw Ena stand up, saying her goodbyes to Greya who prepared to walk back to her house to wake her husband Perse.
How was she feeling about all this? That became Ty’s only and omnipresent thought as he watched Ena walk away on her own, disappearing into the woods.
Where was she going? Should he follow her? Make sure she was okay? He knew she was mourning Heran and was likely as overwhelmed as everyone else by what had occurred during the ritual. Maybe she just wanted to be alone.
It felt like pulling sharp splinters from under his nails, but he forced himself to stay put and not pursue her. She deserved time to herself. And who was he, anyway, to go after her? They were nothing anymore. Not after this, not now that the spell was done. She would go back to her Coven, and hopefully find some way to be accepted back in, under her sister’s guidance as the new matriarch, and he would… Where would he go?
For the first time since they’d left the Underworld, he let himself contemplate that. The Underworld was likely in shock right now. If all daemons’ senses had shifted as drastically as his and Turner’s had, they would be reeling. How long until they realized what had happened? Until they realized their magic now worked against witches? What would Cole do then?
Part of Ty wanted to return, to help guide his fellow daemons and explain, but he knew it wasn’t safe for him, not after his escape and what he’d done. Cole would punish him, maybe kill him, at all costs now. He was the heir, yes, but only because hewas the first son of the first son. Zak would replace him as heir if he were killed, and if Cole were to make it look like an accident, or something perpetrated by the witches, there wouldn’t be too much of an uproar.
Maybe that would be for the best…
Fuck, why was he thinking like that? The Underworld washis. He should be coming up with a plan to return and overthrow Cole. He should be plotting his next move. His people needed him, were relying on him. But…why did that all feel so hollow now?
All he’d wanted for so long was to break the bond so daemons could reunite with mortals and witches, so they could choose something different than the shit order Cole insisted on. He’d never loved the burden of being the future king, but he knew no one else was going to fucking do it, so hehadto. And he’d found purpose in that, especially during those years separated from Ena. But now… Somehow, it all felt empty withouthiswitch.
How could he just say goodbye to her now? After everything they’d been through? After everything he’d felt? He’d never loved anyone but her, and he knew deep down he never would. And he knew that he’d failed to protect her, that in so many ways he didn’t deserve her, but the idea of leaving her now… Iblis, his entire being rebelled at the thought.
Maybe it was the prospect of actually having to walk away, or maybe it was his newfound sense of Gaia—the completeness he felt knowing for the first time that hecouldfind peace if he truly chose to—but suddenly, he was filled with a clarity he’d never had before.
The only reason he’d failed to protect her was because he’d followed Cole’s orders, and he’d put the Underworld’s needs above hers. He’d felt torn at the time, but he hadn’t listened to his instinct. But now—now it was screaming at him.
And he would listen to it this time.
He needed to go find her. Right now.
He needed to tell her.
Ty took off into the woods, following her scent through the forest surrounding the Sacred Grove. But he didn’t really need it to tell him where she was—he already knew where she’d go.
