“Or a blessing,” I said, though the bitterness in my tone betrayed the words. “Because they are that way to protect the realm. They are the only three veylanthi left, and each of them protects an artifact. They will save the realm by using them to break the barriers and take down the Gods of Gilyx.”
“Bexla.” Della’s eyes widened. “That is why you keep going to Gilyx and Valynth. You are helping with their fate. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I sighed heavily.
“I didn’t say anything because things are fucked up enough in our own realm, and we need to focus on that. I didn’t want to worry you. I have it under control.”
“What are the artifacts exactly?” Haden asked quietly.
“Relics with unimaginable power. The Bow of Blythe was carved from the heavens themselves. Black as midnight, with stars shimmering inside it. It was designed to kill gods, and when it does, it traps their power so someone else can take it. Then there’s the Mirror of Vesmal. It’s rumored to show someone their true nature, everything they hide beneath their skin. It strips away every lie until only the truth is left. But it does more than that. It shows them a sliver of their fate… just enough to push them in the direction they’re meant to go. It swallows lies and strips someone down to their truth.”
I paused, thinking of the last and most dangerous of all.
“And the Sword of Wern… that one is star-cursed. It is the most dangerous of them all. The sword holds incredible power, but only for the one it was destined for. If anyone unworthyuses it to kill, it’ll condemn their soul to float among the stars for eternity. But in the right hands… it binds itself to its wielder, making them unstoppable, even to the gods. We have to be careful, because it can kill old gods for good.”
“Where the hell are they at?” Ezra asked.
I shook my head. “No one but the veylanthi knows, and that is for the best. But the sword had been something that the Gods of Gilyx have been searching for, for centuries. I truly think they believe one of them will be the rightful owner. But one of the veylanthi said it is in Elloryon. I wonder if Loma knows that.”
“You’ve spoken to one of the veylanthi?” Ezra asked.
“Yes, each sister is living in a realm. Maris, from Valynth is mated to the God of Desires. She is the guardian of the bow. Bexla is in Gilyx, and she has the mirror. They will not even tell me who their third sister is or where the sword is located—that is how important it is to the realm that no one finds the sword. Besides, I had to step in; their fates were all fucked up like ours.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Haden sighed. “Maybe you need to use Loma to see if she knows where the artifacts are. Or maybe she’ll trust you and tell you.”
“Maybe Loma isn’t a bad guy,” Ezra sighed. “Actually, scratch that, her weird brother gave me the creeps.”
“Her brother?” I asked.
“Yeah, he refused to say his name and kept glaring at me like I personally offended him somehow.” He shrugged. “He even refused to go to Della’s home.”
That’s odd. I stood up.
“I need to go find Elowyn. I’m going to go ask around again.”
Nate popped into my mind. I hated that I was going to see him and see if he knew where my wife was, but I was desperate. Ezra stood up.
“Hell yeah, we are due for another bonding experience, so I’m coming. You need someone to watch your back.”
There was no use in trying to talk Ezra out of this. I knew he wouldn’t listen, and I honestly felt better knowing he’d be with me.
He was my best friend after all.
“Where are we starting?” Ezra asked.
“With a friend of Elowyn's.”
I used my magic to take us to Nate.
When my star mist cleared, we were standing at Nate’s pastry cart. His eyes bulged when he saw me appear, and he instantly got into a fighting stance. Ezra let out an amused snort.
"I see you've met before." Ezra chuckled.
Nate was staring at Ezra and me, wide-eyed. “Whatever you think I did, I didn’t. I’ve left Elowyn alone like you said to.”
“Have you seen or spoken to her? She disappeared, and we can’t find her.” I frowned.
He straightened and stared at me.
