Allie almost shifted several times, her eyes blazing red as she struggled to contain her lycan.
They had smiled at me when our eyes first met, and all I wanted to do was run over to them and apologise. To tell them I’m sorry. Sorry for not telling them everything that was going on, sorry for not being able to do anything to fix this. Sorry for hurting them.
Heaven’s eyes widen before she turns, trying to get past the celestial guards. They block her, and I can see her pointing towards the ground. I turn to see it’s in Theo’s direction. His blood drips onto the cracked floor. He’s barely standing, his scythe dissolving into black mist, and I can see he’s got a huge wound in his stomach that hasn’t begun healing yet.
Her power ripples around her, but then one of the Divine Order turns to her.
“The duel may be over, but the terms are to be spoken, and only then can they be binding. None may interfere until then!”
She stills, her eyes wide, her aura rising, but she doesn’t move towards them, waiting, albeit impatiently.
A member of the Divine Order, the one whose voice had declared the victory, now raises a hand.“You have done what was deemed impossible, Deimos King. And in return, you seek the wife of a god, one who currently bears his mark.”Angerripples through me as I remember the moment Helios had pressed his lips against my neck at our wedding ceremony, and I had felt intense heat before a glowing sun had appeared.“To claim this victory and to free her, you must mark her.”
My heart thunders as I look down at Jayce, whose eyes now snap to mine, a dazzling blue rage clear in his eyes.
“I have to mark her? That was not part of the deal.” Jayce’s voice is cold, and it sends a stab of pain through me. He’s angry at me, isn’t he? I can’t fault him.
The audience watches on in intrigue, enjoying the show before them. There are a few gods, but I’m unable to see who they are as they partially mask their presences.
I look down, keeping my face emotionless as my final moments on Earth replay in my mind. The way he begged me, the way he pleaded.
The way I broke him.
“She is not free until the mark of Helios is removed, and only a ruler touched by a god has the power to remove another god’s mark. Ideal for you, Deimos King, since you came to win the Goddess of the Sun.”
“Understood,” Jayce answers.
“Queen Sienna, descend to the arena,”the Divine Order commands.
Golden steps appear from my throne, leading down into the destruction, and I stand, slowly walking down them. My stomach is a mess of nerves. It’s taking everything in my power not to run into his arms.
My eyes flicker to Helios, who is still down on one knee, his burning eyes staring ahead unseeingly. He’s deep in thought, and I can sense his anger.
“With this victory, does the Sun God promise to let his past grudges go?” Jayce asks, his eyes on Helios.
Helios does not reply, but the Divine Order does.“As agreed, this shall put an end to the desire for vengeance on Helios’ behalf. Is it not so, Sun God?”
Helios now looks up. “Yes, as agreed. I am a god of my word. I always have been.” He stands and looks at me, his eyes travelling over me with what one might almost say is sadness, but not quite. Helios doesn’t care for me. I was just something he took from someone he didn’t like, like a child satisfied with stealing a toy from someone who loved it.
I step off the golden stairs just as Helios walks towards me.
“You return to your fated. The future of Earth is unknown. I do hope you survive it,” Helios says arrogantly.
“I’m sure I will, after all, we all witnessed what mortals are capable of,” I answer calmly yet clearly.
He arches a brow. “Perhaps,” he says. “But the endurance of men often births rebellion. Be careful what flame you keep lit, Deimos King.” His eyes flick to Jayce before returning to me, and he smiles. That same arrogant smile he always has. “I look forward to witnessing what comes after trust has been shattered.”
With those words, he walks past me and up the steps.
“Did he say fated?” Renji asks in surprise.
“As in mates?” Ares asks.
“Again with the secrets, one would think you’d tell everyone the goddamn truth, especially if they’re helping you out,” Carter grunts. He’s still in a lot of pain.
Theo simply smirks. “That’s a plot twist I’m not surprised about.”
“Mates?!” I hear Allie somewhere above us.
