But a war unlike anything we’d ever seen was about to unleash itself across Celesterra.
And I realized with perfect clarity now, that nothing would ruin me faster… than the loss ofhim.
Chapter Sixteen
Calix
Since the nightI’d helped Asteria unlock her power, we’d been training nonstop. She only had a few days before we had to leave for the Etheralta Mountains, and I wanted her to have enough of a handle on her powers that she wouldn’t accidentally blast her mother with starlight.
As hilarious as it might be to see Aurelia go flying across the room, I knew Asteria hated showing emotions she was uncomfortable with. And I wasn’t sure what could be more uncomfortable than meeting the mother who sent you away and locked you in a metaphysical cage.
And then there were the gods to consider, who were waiting for Asteria to have full control of her power before they’d meet with us. As much as I revered them, I couldn’t help the trepidation I felt at the request. What they had to tell us that couldn’t be communicated via Liviana was anyone’s guess.
The gods had never summoned anyone to the Otherworld before, as far as I knew. That’s why they had Oracles and seers to pass along their messages. It’s why they had us guarding the portals to Tartarus and Elysium, ensuring no one ever went through.
We had myths and legends of people trying to access the Otherworld, of course. Mostly they emphasized the consequences those people reaped as a result. Such as the man who tried to chase his love into the afterlife, but got stuck in one of the traps in Tartarus and remained stuck to this day, suffering in eternal torment. I assumed those stories were created to prevent anyone from ever trying to go the first place.
The last issue, of course, was the Cyrus of it all. Asteria would eventually have to face him in battle. The thought had a growl growing in my chest, my own desire to protect and shelter her, battling against the knowledge that sheneededthat chance to face him.
I just needed her to walk away from it.
Needed it, in a way I had never needed anything else.
She’d been a bit more open with me since we’d flown through the skies together. While she wasn’t ready yet, I knew the time we spent together helped break down her walls bit by bit.
Teaching Asteria to wield her magic had been helping her to regain the feeling of control she felt she’d lost. I hoped meeting her mother and getting the explanations she desired would further strengthen it. Her sense of self had been shattered entirely in the wake of her reawakening.
I knew I couldn’t put it back together for her, that was something she’d have to do on her own. But I was resolved to help wherever she’d let me.
Spending time with our own little messed up family seemed to bolster her, too, so after another day spent training, first with Titan in the sparring ring, and then with Ndrita for her magic, I’d planned for everyone to spend the afternoon together.
We just had to get through the harder parts of the day first. I shrugged on my armor, buckling the sides up before sheathing my sword and daggers, and made my way down to the yard. Titan was already there, warming up as he waited.
“Morning, Titan.” I greeted, and he smiled at me warmly.
“Morning, Cay. You ready for this?” he questioned, raising a brow. I hadn’t dared to let myself train with Asteria when we thought she was human. Fighting her was the last thing I needed when I was trying to prevent myself from fucking her into the ground. Now, however, she was the one who would decide when she was ready for that step. Knowing she wasn’t just waiting for me to snap and take her, it would be easier to keep control of myself.
Even still, I wasn’t sure I actuallywasready.
Despite the memories being shadowed by what happened after, I remembered how sexy she looked, cutting down those warriors during the skirmish in Sunset Kingdom.
“I suppose we’ll see.” I shrugged, a smirk rising. Titan chuckled, clapping a hand on my shoulder.
“Waiting for me?” Asteria’s smirking voice had me turning my head automatically, watching her saunter over.
Fuck. She looked way too good in that armor. I swore it caressed every curve just as tightly as her clingy party dresses did.
“Well, we aren’t waiting for Priscilla.” Titan joked gruffly, eyeing the blonde who’d walked over with Asteria.
“As if I’d be here for any ofyou,” Priscilla huffed, jokingly. But her gaze sought out Callisto at the other end of the yard. She turned to Asteria, giving her a quick smile and squeezing her arm before she moved in that direction.
The two of them were kind of adorable. I wouldn’t have ever expected it, not when they were such complete opposites. Callisto loved fighting, taking equally savage glee in every human she rescued and slaver she cut down. She never bit her tongue and told you exactly what she was thinking and feeling at all times.
Priscilla, on the other hand, seemed to prefer to stay safe, far from any fighting. She faced what she’d been through in Dusk with quiet resolve, instead preferring to support those who did the actual fighting. She was sweet and mostly soft-spoken, at least until someone she cared about was at risk.
But they somehow made complete sense together.
I looked to Asteria, thinking that they weren’t the only ones. The distance between us still ached, but I could feel her resistance melting slowly as time ticked by.
