On either side of the kings’ thrones, there were more podiums containing varied thrones that fanned out in a semi-circle beside them. Beyond the circle of thrones was seating for other beings in the rest of the hall. The seats faced the gods’ thrones directly, and there were so many extending out that I couldn’t see where they ended. They had an alternating black and white color pattern, upholstered in a fabric that seemed to be similar to silk, but with a softer hand.
I’d seen other people as we walked through the palace but hadn’t given them much thought. Now though…
“Who are the people who live here?” I dared to ask. “I assume they aren’t all gods?” There had to be others living here if this many seats existed, and there was a limited number of gods in the pantheon, even taking the gods of the other races into account.
“You’d be correct.” Earendel nodded, giving me a slight smile. “Some choose to serve us. They assist us with various tasks and keep this place running smoothly.”
“They give up rest in Elysium?” Calix asked, his brows lifting with surprise.
“Some,” Erebus confirmed. “Those who wish to serve us instead. Others are working off their sins and hoping for redemption. Working for us is much better than facing Tartarus, after all.”
“People can escape their punishment?” I all but mumbled, my heart seeming to freeze within my chest at the thought.
He could escape it.
“Not everyone,” Earendel assured me, taking a seat on his throne, facing us with a regal air that most kings and princes would kill to possess.
“Some are too far gone. Too dangerous,” Erebus agreed as he joined him, taking his own seat.
“And you are here to discuss one who is exactly that,” Asteria added, sitting down in a sparkling silver throne that had a surprising touch of light and dark to it. Silver rays that mimicked the sun rose above the back of it, each coming to a point that was topped with a sparkling star. A splash of darkness for the stars to shine against rose behind the throne in a deep shadow. I suppose it only made sense, as both were so intrinsically linked to her. It was why both Day and Night included her in the Blessed Trinity’s they prayed to.
“Yes, and that's why I asked you to join us here.” A voice said, and I turned to the door, my eyes widening to see more gods streaming in to fill the other seats. “You took your time.”
Arawn, God of the Dead and the Otherworld, stood before me once again. He had long brown hair, luminous pale skin, and bright red eyes. His fangs looked viciously long, and his hands were entirely bone. I flinched a bit at the sight, and the rest of his skin suddenly seemed to evaporate before my eyes, leaving a skeleton standing before me, red eyes glowing bright.
With a blink, he was whole again; only his hands remained bone, with no muscle or skin covering them.
“My apologies,” I croaked out. “Though I appreciate you not taking me into the Otherworld yourself.”
Arawn smirked very slightly, an approving look in his eyes. He gave me a regal nod before moving to sit on a throne made of blood and bone. It had been forged from pure white bones, with blood running in streams down them. But the blood never dripped off it, nor did it seem to bleed onto Arawn when he sat upon it.
The mysteries of the gods, I supposed.
“Asteria, fated Star Queen,” Earendel said, once all the gods were seated, leaving Calix and I surrounded by them. “We have waited many years for this time to come.”
The weight of every god’s gaze on me was immense. I shifted from foot to foot, anxiety creeping up, until Calix put his hand on my lower back, supporting me, reminding me that he was here with me.
“Why?” I forced out, my brows creasing. I still didn’t understand why I was so important.
“Chaos has been rising for many years,” Asteria chimed in, her voice reminding me of the beauty of a night sky streaked with stars. “We managed to suppress it once before, with the pact signed by the six Fae kings.”
I stood up straighter at that. I’d always wondered what had happened back then, when they signed the treaty to forge the kingdoms together, but since we learned of the prophecy in Sunset, I’d been even more ravenous for information.
“The kingdoms being constantly at one another’s throats had caused chaos to rise faster and further than was safe, so we had the Oracle intervene on our behalf. We ensured the kings of that time understood what was happening,” Erebus explained, sprawling back into his throne. “The prophecy foretold the destruction of the realms due to chaos, and they assumed it was about them. The vanity of men.” He shook his head slowly, as though exasperated.
“So it wasn’t about them?” A heavy feeling pressed down on my chest.
“No.” He smiled slyly. “It was always aboutyou. That ceasefire bought us time, but the truth is: it was never going to last.” He finished, and I looked between the three gods directly before me.
“Why not?” I asked as evenly as I could manage, shaking my head in confusion. “And why me? Why now?”
“This is when the balance is the most critical, the closest we have come to falling into true chaos in averylong time,” Earendel elucidated. “This is more than the kingdoms feuding; this is a targeted plot. One only you can see us through now. You see, many years ago, there was another member of our pantheon.”
“What?” Calix exclaimed in shock. I turned to him and found his eyes wide and locked on the gods. Through the bond, it felt as if his whole world had been shaken with those words. Sympathy rose within me—I knew the feeling all too well.
“Yes,” Erebus confirmed, nodding grimly. “Cruach. He was the god of blood, and he was the patron god of the Vampyre race.”
“Wait—” I blurted, shock coursing through me. “Are you telling me that Vampyres werereal? I thought they were a myth!”
