And not one he liked.
She shivered slightly at the mention of the Death God.
Rune looked down at the ring on his small finger. “The stones dimmed the sun’s power, and I could walk amidst humans if adequately covered for brief moments. I could almost see them clearly if the day wasn’t too bright.”
Alora canted her head as she processed this detail, glancing at the blood red gem.
“Jökull then created other stones to fight against me. He killed many of my demons. Such are the bounds of family.”
He said it with humor, but she sensed the distant ache beneath his words. She thought of the Sunstone dagger still embedded in her wall and grimaced.
It was awful that Rune’s own brother would use his weakness against him and she’d done the same.
Rune tilted her chin. “I gave it to you as a symbol of trust and to provide you with protection, even if it was against myself.”
Which was a monumental thing, for a god to give her the means to kill him.
He chuckled. “It would not kill me, Alora. But it would have fucking hurt.”
She glowered at him for reading her thoughts. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because Jökull’s wife stabbed me with it before, through the back, mind you. Sunnëva was the true founder of its creation.”
Alora huffed, fighting back a smile as she thought of the figure in white drifting among the clouds when the Death Gate appeared. Another goddess.
“Hmm. Did you deserve it?” she teased.
“…Perhaps.”
She grinned. “Then I think I like her already. I simply must meet her.”
“The Netherworld would freeze before I allow that.”
At her laugh, he glanced away indignantly, muttering under his breath. Nexus joined them by the bank and swatted at Rune’s long black hair catching in the breeze. He eyed the cat on his lap warily before reaching out to carefully pet its head. Nexus purred, pressing into his palm.
She knew Rune had other brothers, the gods really, but he made no mention of them. This was the most he had ever spokenof himself or his family. Even if she asked, he likely wouldn’t want to speak of his father or mother.
Alora bit her lip, the question slipping out before she could stop it. “Rune… why were you trapped in the dark?”
The change in him was immediate.
He stiffened. His expression withdrew, closing like iron gates. Whatever softness the moment had coaxed from him vanished beneath a cold, unreachable stillness.
Whatever bound him to the dark… still lived in him like a wound.
“Even the brightest star will fall to ruin and burn in shadow and flame,” he murmured.
He did not look at her when he said it.
Rune set Nexus down with an almost careful, distracted touch, as though grounding himself in the movement, before rising to his feet.
He offered his hand. “We should go if we hope to reach Khar Avalen by nightfall.”
She took it and his palm was warm, skin surprisingly delicate. Mortal vulnerability. The pulse in his wrist beat steady against her fingers. A knot of worry tightened beneath her ribs.
He pulled her gently to standing, and Alora steadied herself, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
“I know I asked you to come with me,” she said carefully, “but it may be best to wait here. The ruins are dangerous.”
