“Have you come to take me home, Dark One?”
I nod my head, tears welling within me as her hand moves to my cheek. “I am sorry I could not come sooner. I am sorry that you had to suffer.”
“I have many regrets, Drayven, but spending these years with her isn’t one of them.” The goddess cuts her eyes to the window as she speaks. “I’ve been waiting for her power to manifest, but it hasn’t and I have no time left.”
“It will,” I whisper. “She is Light and Death. The daughter of two realms.”
“Three,” Selene corrects. “She is the daughter of three realms.”
The goddess turns her attention toward the doorway and the sleeping human just down the hall.
There’s a stabbing pain in my chest at the realization of how much Selene has grown to care for the mortal she married. I should be thankful for the life he gave her and our daughter, for the cover he provided for them both and the protection he offered them from Mikais. But I just want to kill him for having what I couldn’t.
“Ansel will watch over Ivy. She will be safe with him.”
“Ivy.” I turn the name over in my mouth, the name of my daughter.
“Princess of the Under Realm and Goddess of the Umbra,” Selene adds.
“Our little shadow has quite the name.” I spare one last glance at the girl and the green dress that floats around her in the water. My magic calls out to the sea beast, summoning her to fulfill her bargain.
It is time, Arcasia. Mark her.
With the flick of her scaled tail, the sea beast swims towards the girl. Brown hair disappears under the current, destinyconverging as the serpentine body of the Goddess of Protection grazes against her.
A child entered the sea, but it’s a goddess who will emerge from its watery depths.
“It’s time to go now, my light,” I say, gently.
Selene sits up, slipping the silver ring from her thumb. She places it on the pillow—a token for the mortal husband she leaves behind.
I recognize the gesture and follow suit, slipping the flower from my pocket and setting it beside the ring. A sigil for the daughter who will have to navigate the ancient power in her veins without anyone to guide her.
“Godsbane,” Selene whispers. “You remembered.”
“Seems fitting for the dark bloom who bring gods to their knees, don’t you think?”
She nods sadly, tears filling her golden eyes. Eyes that still sparkle despite Nobus’ best efforts to dull them.
“Kill me, my love, so that I may finally be beside you for eternity.” Selene places her hand in mine as what remains of her power ripples out in a blinding flash.
An eclipse washes away the light, the sun vanishing from the noonday sky. The shadow of a crescent moon splays across the sand as I wrap the Goddess of Light in my arms. My lips caress her skin, grazing gently across the constellation of freckles that decorate her cheekbones.
She may have been forgotten by the mortals, but I never forgot her. Not for a single second of the past eight agonizing years. And I will take my time reacquainting myself with every part of her.
I spare one last look at the child goddess crawling across the beach—soaking, trembling, and terrified.
The Prince of the Gods is not the only one who will be forged, broken, and remade by this realm. Today is the first of many trials she will face, but she will not be defeated.
Nobus fears what his son will become, but his fear is misplaced. She is a creature of the Under Realm, afterall. And one day, when she comes into her full power, baptized in fury and drenched in decades of rage, they will be the ones trembling.
“Drayven,” Selene whispers weakly against my cheek. “Take me home now. ”
The light from her golden eyes collides with mine in a kaleidoscope of shimmering magic. I call to my shadows, letting them wrap around us as my grip on her tightens.
“Your throne awaits, my queen.”
EPILOGUE
