Asteria hid her face in my shoulder, and my hand automatically found the back of her head. I buried my own face in her hair as the light flared brighter and brighter, until my options were to look away or risk my sight.
I could still see the aura of their power with my eyes closed, and only dared to look up once the radiance finally passed.
Asteria stepped down off the dais then, and came to stand before my mate, handing her the necklace back. I helped Asteria reclasp it around her neck as Erebus explained what they’d done.
“This necklace has been infused with our power now. It will allow you to find the gates to the Underworld at any time. You won’t have to worry about your father showing you how to access the one for Elysium in Day,” he paused for a moment, looking between us. He seemed strangely sad, maybe regretful even, before he continued.
An ominous feeling came through the bond from Asteria, echoing my own.
“It will also allow you to access knowledge when you need it from those of us connected to you directly by blood, whether from birth or bond. Not quite like a seer, for that is not a gift we can give, but when it is most needed, knowledge will come to you. Do not resist it.”
Asteria looked at me uncertainly, and I shared in the foreboding feeling with her, hoping against hope the knowledge would only help, and not hurt her. I’d seen Liviana torn up by her visions too many times to dismiss what knowledge from the gods could cause. The goddess of stars reached out and grasped my mate’s hands, squeezing them in a reassuring manner.
“You must prepare yourself for what is to come, my little starling.” The goddess smiled sadly, silver eyes swirling slowly, just as her silver dress fluttered around her legs in a nonexistent wind. “And remember, Asteria, that while it is always darkest before the dawn, you were made toshinein darkness.”
The two Asterias looked at one another, both of their eyes swirling with starlight. For a brief moment, I could have sworn Asteria’s dark hair twinkled with starlight as well, but it must have been a reflection of the goddess’s starlit hair in her own beautiful tresses that reminded me so of the night sky.
Everything we had learned about Cyrus and Cruach was certainly concerning. Cyrus was farther gone than even I realized, and if Cruach was affecting him frominsidehis prison, I dreaded to think what he could accomplish if he was freed.
None of us would be able to oppose him. If we tipped toward chaos completely, we’d lose even our most basic defenses. Our magic would dry up, leaving us nothing but slaves to a mad god.
A chill went through me, and my eyes locked with Nox’s. He stood, his hair a bright silvery-white, not dissimilar to mine, and yet completely so. Where my hair remained a flat color, Nox’s glowed like the moon. His eyes were as dark as night, but they had a familiar Aurora striking through them. His features were so similar to mine and yet so different. So muchmore.
“The power of two is always greater than the power of one,” Nox said, his hand landing on my shoulder heavily. “The night is the darkness that the stars are meant to shine against.”
His eyes were drawn to the goddess Asteria, and I recognized the depth of emotion from staring at my own Asteria. “What is to come will test the realms. And everyone in them. Be as solid as the night sky. The give and take of your bond will build a better future for all. Do not let chaos and death be the legacy of the future.”
“Of course.” I nodded deeply, practically a bow, and Nox smiled slowly. He nodded back once before he made his way over to who was clearly his own mate, standing to the side as she spoke to the beneficiary of her power.
“Let’s get you two back to where you need to be,” Erebus said, a heavy finality in his tone. Earendel and Asteria joined us as we made our way out. I took one last look at the gods, especially Nox, unable to believe this had actually happened.
The very beings I prayed to all my life. Right in front of me.
The tall, dark, curling horns on Faunus to the green, flowering hair of Florus. The bare-chested and leather-pant-clad form of Hedone, who winked at me, as the red-haired and white-eyed Ziva pulled him along by the hand. Anann’s giant form, with his double-ended blade on his back, loomed over Vakare’s, with her ombre hair that shifted through orange, peach, pink, and purple. Hyperion’s golden eyes and hair shone brightly, like a miniature sun, while the wavy, watery blue of Nammu’s was a peaceful respite.
Asteria took my arm, smiling up at me as we walked out. I grasped her tightly, almost afraid to leave this place where she wassafe.
Out there, we were going back to a battle that would define the future of the realms.
I had no idea what Cyrus had been doing in our absence. Or how long we’d even been gone.
“Is there nothing else you can tell us? To ensure we win this battle?” I asked Erebus, hoping against hope there wassomethingthat would tip the scales.
He looked back at me sadly, shaking his head. “Some things cannot be taught. They can only be lived.”
“But to live, we first have to survive,” I argued carefully as we made our way out of the palace and down the path. I couldn’t help but look around, with so many creatures flying and grazing outside. Not merely dragons, phoenixes, and Pegasus, but more I couldn’t even identify.
Erebus chuckled, pointing up at one of the dragons flying overhead. “You see these creatures?”
I nodded in confusion, and he patted my shoulder. “You have their spirit, but they are pure animal, while you are of us. A mixture of god and beast, creating a new, perfect creature.”
“The Fae,” I clarified, and received a smile in return.
“The Fae.” Erebus nodded with satisfaction. “One of the best things about us, god or child of the gods, is we all work according to the stirrings of fate. Destiny is written in the stars, after all. And what are the stars but pure chaos?”
“I don’t understand.” I shook my head gently, not following what he was talking about.
“Neither do I,” Asteria mumbled mutinously from beside me, making Erebus and I both smirk at her sass.
