Thank you for allowing me to speak to you,I write.
His brows furrow. “You don’t have a voice…” His eyes flick to the stands to where the shielded gods still remain. Who is up there? I can’t tell, but Helios clearly can. “Do you wish tobarter with me?”
I don’t have a voice. And no, I am not here to strike a deal. I am simply here to offer you something,I write before I whisper a spell, and my hand glows before I’m holding a dazzling golden whip in my hands.
Helios’ eyes widen as a murmur rushes through the crowd.
“The Tongue of Dawn…” Helios murmurs.
I hear one of the quints mutters something, but I don’t look away from Helios.
I nod and hold it out to him. He frowns, not taking it from me. Instead, he looks at me. “And what do you want in return?”
I smile gracefully.Nothing. I hope you can take it as a token of goodwill. I know this duel didn’t go the way you wanted, but I also know you are one of the strongest of gods. One who we will need on our side when the final battle arrives. The history books say that you always searched for this artefact, and it brings me great honour to return it to you,I write, still holding the powerful whip in one hand. Its power buzzes beneath my fingertips, and it feels like liquid rope.
Helios observes me as if what I wrote doesn’t make much sense. “And you want nothing in return?” he repeats.
I shake my head and mouth, ‘No’.
He now stands, and I feel almost intimidated by his grand stature, but I hold my own as he looks down at me intently. If he were not weakened, I wouldn’t be able to stand before him.
“So, in other words, you don’t want me to hold any grudges against your friends,” he states.
Yes,I write.Sienna is my cousin, but she is like a sister to me. And they are all my friends. They are of the Deimos Bloodline, but they aren’t Andronikos.I know Andronikos only did what he had to in order to protect his woman, but right now I just need to make sure Helios doesn’t take this any further.
“Hmm. And tell me, Hybrid Princess, what did you exchange with the thief who stole my Tongue of Dawn?”
I smile slightly.Nothing I can’t handle. This artefact comes with no strings attached, I promise. I simply wanted to offer you something in return for holding your side with honour in this duel.
Helios looks at me, something glinting in his eyes, and he smiles. “You remind me of her.”
Her?
“The woman I lost to Andronikos, Alanna.”
Theo snorts from down below, and I internally roll my eyes. Does he ever shut up?
Helios sighs heavily. “It seems the best of womenaregiven to the Deimos alphas.” He chuckles humourlessly before he places his hand over the one that holds the Tongue of Dawn, taking it from me slowly. “To hold this in my hand after a millennium…” He smiles as if reminiscing about an old friend. “But I think the time has come for it to have a new master. A gift with no ties from me to you.”
My eyes widen in surprise as amusement sparkles in his. He reaches down, tucking it into the side of my skirt band before I can say anything. My cheeks flush at the move. His hand remains there as he takes my chin with the other hand. Then, to my utter shock, he kisses me. All I feel is a blinding wave of light surrounding me, and for a moment, all sound is blocked out. Then he moves back, and I hear Theo from below.
“The fuck?” he mutters. Someone else says something, but it’s too quiet.
I… I can’t accept this,I write.
He cocks a brow, his hand still on my chin. Would it be rude to move away? “Perhapsyouwere the one I should have gone for…” he murmurs, and this time I hear a collective scoff from the Westwood brothers.
Helios chuckles at my wide eyes.
“It is simply a token of gratitude. The Tongue of Dawn was forged from the fire of the first sunrise. It is stronger than any weapon forged on Earth. Win this war and rise to the ranks none have before you, Queen of Prophecy. I will enjoy the show.”
Then he waves his hands, and I suddenly land at the golden gates we had entered from earlier. The rest are coming this way as Helios looks down at us.
“Go. You are free to walk away.” Helios’ voice rumbles all around us as the gates open, and the blinding light makes everything disappear. I sense myself stepping through, and then the doors shut behind us, leaving the eight of us on the steps. Ahren stands at the bottom of the steps, but the moment he sees Sienna, who is no longer wearing the clothes she was in earlier, but an ivory bodysuit studded with red diamonds, his eyes widen with relief.
The gate seals shut, the divine presences withdrawing like the tide.
“Sienna!” Ahren vanishes in a puff, reappearing in front of us as he pulls her into his arms and lifts her off her feet as he hugs her tightly.
