It was like a haunted remnant of a tragedy, preserved forever on this timeless plane.
The place certainlyfelthaunted. Like something evil had sunk into the stone and never left.
“I hate this place,” I whispered under my breath to Calix. “It feels…wrong.” I wasn’t sure what the gods wanted us to see here, aside from knowing some sort of event had obviously occurred—something bad enough to drench the place in blood from top to bottom. But I was sure we would find out eventually.
“Luckily, I think we can get the Tartarus out of here,” he answered, pointing to the stage I’d been too overwhelmed to notice.
Black curtains hung across it, and yet, a distinct glow was coming from the sliver exposed at the bottom. Calix jumped straight up onto the stage, and I took a moment to admire his form as he did so. His physicality never failed to impress me.
He ripped the curtains open, revealing the final portal. I sighed in relief, wanting nothing more than to leave this place as fast as possible. This portal was different from the others. It was still circular, but around the portal was a shimmering crystal ring. The portal itself was a mix of black and white, the two dancing together in a misty swirl. Like black and white ink bleeding into each other.
“Found it.” Calix smiled triumphantly, leaning down to offer me a hand up.
I rolled my eyes but took his hand, jumping up onto the stage. It was still amazing to be able to do that, and I may have added a bit more bounce to it than necessary, but who could blame me?
Calix tried to hide his fond amusement, but I caught it, shaking my head at him. I moved toward the portal, and he joined me at my side. Our fingers slid together once more, not wanting to lose each other through the mists.
“What do you think they’re like?” I asked in a whisper, as if they might hear me through the portal, should I speak too loudly.
“I hope…” Calix trailed off for a moment, looking deep in thought as his brows furrowed. “Benevolent. That is how I’ve always imagined them, at least.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine,” I confessed. “I spent so long with only this false idea of the Old Gods. Even knowing the truth of the real gods, I’m a little lost when it comes to how to reconcile it all still.”
I felt a bit like a failure in that regard.
“Asteria, you expect too much of yourself,” Calix said sadly, shaking his head. “Most humans take years to adjust to that truth. You’ve had a matter of months.”
“But I’mFae—” I began to argue, only for him to cut me off quickly.
“That doesn’t matter,” he told me fiercely, his hands circling my upper arms as he leaned his face toward mine. “You cannot expect to magically realign your entire worldview so quickly.Youmay be magic, but that doesn’t change the years you spent living and believing a certain way. You need to give yourself some grace.”
“I don’t know how,” I whispered, feeling exposed. But it was just Calix, and I had no reason to hide from him. He was the one person I shouldn’t be hiding from.
“That’s why you have me.” His voice softened, his eyes lighting up with color. “I’ll be here every time you need a reminder.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning my head against his firm chest as I hugged him tightly. He pet his hand down my hair, whispering soothing reassurances as I slowly relaxed into his hold.
“Whatever the gods are like, we’ll face it together. Just like we will face everything that comes next. There may be a lot of changes still to come, but you and I will stand shoulder to shoulder and use each other to hold the other up when we need to. Okay?” He pulled back to grip my face, nodding once.
I nodded softly back, my heart lighting up with adoration for this man. This Fae who could wield death like an extension of himself, who could kill so brutally one moment and speak so softly the next. The contradiction of him was one of my favorite things in this world.
“Okay.” I nodded, determined now. “Let’s go.” I smiled brightly, making him chuckle. He pressed a quick kiss on my lips, gone too soon, before he pulled back.
With fingers locked, his wings unfurled, prepared for whatever may come on the other side. I took in the black and purple scales, the night skies made flesh, and let my own out. Every time I did, it sent a thrill through me. Having wings was everything I’d ever wanted. I glanced back at them, the shimmering silver tipped with purple, matching so well next to his, like a night full of stars.
As shadows began to wreathe around his fingers, I let my starlight out to play with them. The two wrapped around our hands like the cords used to tie two hearts together, as we breathed in, completely in sync.
And stepped through to the greatest of unknowns.
Chapter Forty-eight
Cyrus
I licked my lips,excitement overcoming me as we marched forward. We weresoclose now.
Lightning sparked around my fingertips, surprising me. I flexed my fingers one by one, focusing on pushing my magic down.
More and more, it reacted without thought. As if I was a child once more, learning how to manage my emotions and my magic. My subjects couldn’t see the struggle it had become. They needed to see me as faultless. Someone in perfect control.
