“How did it go?” I asked.
He let out a breath and stared at the ceiling for a long moment.
“We expect them to attack no later than tomorrow night, probably sooner. Nearly all of the Gods have come here or have sent reinforcements, so we can now guess who will possibly be fighting for the Heralds on the other side. Weare truly going in blind here.”
I scooched closer to him and he lifted his arm so I could put my head on his chest and wrap my arm around him.
“I don’t think I can offer any more than a cuddle tonight,” he said gruffly, and I trailed my hand over the hair on his chest. “You know you are more to me than your… basic anatomy, right?” I asked and jokingly lifted the blanket to inspect his sculpted body.
He chuckled. “When this is over, I plan to use my basic anatomy to make sure your basic anatomy knows nothing but pleasure and happiness.”
I laughed, though it didn’t reach my eyes. The truth was, we might never get the chance to plan a life after all this.
“How was your day at the Citadel?” Theo asked, his voice measured, but something in it felt off, like he was testing the waters, fishing for a reaction.
“It was… fine,” I said quietly, avoiding his gaze. “Uneventful. I didn’t feel very helpful.”
He cleared his throat and finally said what had been on his mind.
“There are… rumors going around about your past,” he said slowly. “About you reporting magic-wielders to the authorities… and what happened to them. I’m sorry if anyone at the Citadel treated you coldly. I suspect the Heralds are spreading these stories to distract us.”
A shiver ran down my spine. I had feared this day would come. I took a deep breath and confessed, “It’s true. Back then, I was… a slave to my magic. I was addicted, drunk on it most days and working for someone who paid me to extract secrets. I never knew what would happen to the magic-wielders, the immigrants, when I gave out the information… butI still feel guilty. I should have told you sooner.”
Theo’s gaze softened.
“I’ve known all along,” he said quietly, the warmth in his eyes steady and unwavering. He leaned back slightly, as if giving both of us space to breathe. “What I told your mother, I meant it. Your past actions don’t define you. It’s what you choose to do moving forward that matters.”
I let out a shaky breath, the weight of years pressing on me. His words were like a lifeline, grounding me, reminding me that there was still a path forward, even if I had stumbled before.
We held each other through the night, until shouts echoed from the guards in the lookouts. They were here, the battle had begun.
Minutes later, Theo was up and dressed in his fighting gear. He kissed me deeply and told me to stay safe until he summoned me. We had planned our approach carefully, since no one truly knew how to fulfill the prophecy. I wasn’t ready to fight an entire battle, and the risk was too great, so I would stay behind and wait for his signal until he was close enough to strike.
I ran toward the citadel wall, my breath ragged, eyes fixed on the armies below marching toward the coast. Theo rode at the front, sword strapped to his back, every movement radiating strength and pride. For a heartbeat, he turned and caught my gaze. His smile hit me like an arrow to the chest, sweet and painful all at once.
A warm breeze brushed against my skin, wrapping me like a gentle hug, and a voice whispered in my mind, words I couldn’t quite grasp:“Sela ti’oré ana. Sela ti’oréana. Sela ti’oré ana.”I tried to hold onto them, but they slipped away, leaving only a fluttering ache of longing and curiosity.
I watched as Theo rode on towards the enemy lines, my heart heavy with the knowledge that this was possibly the last sunset I was ever going to see. The last time he smiled at me. And the last time I had lied to him, because I didn’t intend to stay where I was.
I had a prophecy to fulfill.
* * *
I went to look for the Abbot and found him in the citadel temple.
Theo had allowed him to travel with us after their altercation back at the Lodge, but the Abbot was to stay away from me.
There was hardly any light in the temple, the orbs floating along the temple walls giving off a warm, subtle glow. It smelled of incense, notes of sandalwood, frankincense, and patchouli hanging in the air. It was a comforting scent that reminded me of the temple at the Lodge.
The Abbot was busy cleaning up the space, removing the white sheets that had been hung over the furniture and cleaning up dust. When he spotted me, his face darkened with anger. He must have heard the rumors too, confirming his biggest fears.
“Are you here to gloat, wordsmith? I hear you got everything you wanted,” he spat out.
I ignored his jab and simply sat down on one of the benches.
“I know you hate me, but I need you to know thateverything I did was to protect my people and Theo.”
He huffed at that. “Your words mean nothing to me, wordsmith. You can save your breath, you will never have my trust.” He turned around, dismissing me and returning to the task at hand.
