“I know he is. But that… we—”
Raina appeared on the veranda, the look on her face a cross between urgency and surprise. “Thorn, they’re here.” She called.
Nymiria looked at her father as he palmed his eyes, that joy that’d been there merely a moment before now entirely gone. “You should leave.” He stated, the light in his voice having dimmed. “Everand has returned with his parents and the last thing I need at the moment is them looking at you like some sort of trophy.” He brushed the crumbs from his shirt and beard, motioning for Rhaina to allow them in.
The conversation she had with Aziel about Everand and his desire for power moved to the front of her thoughts. “Does anyone else know what I am?” Nymiria blurted. “You and Inasha both knew what I was—what I was meant to become, but didEverand’sparents happen to know?”
She could tell by the solemn look he wore that her suspicions, and Aziel’s, were correct. They were fully aware of her godhood. It came as no shock to her, as it seemed her mother was keen on parading her around like some prized possession rather than an actual child. Even Dorid had known well beforeshehad.
“Your mother used your future as a means to barter with people,” Thorn began. “I never approved, but there was not much I could do. I can do something about it now, which is why I have denied any request of you being involved in this discussion.”
Nymiria nodded, brushing her teeth over her lower lip. “Perhaps I should be involved.” She suggested. “Maybe not in terms of marriage, but there are other options.”
“Like what?”
She shrugged her shoulders, stomach curling nervously. “Instead of outright forming an alliance with Eadyn, perhaps they could dedicate themselves tome, binding the kingdoms by the blood of a god. I’ve been reading texts about how kingdoms of the past used to dedicate themselves to a certain god, inherently making any of the other kingdoms that served that god their brethren.”
Thorn’s thick brow drew together. “Dedications require a blood offering, Nymiria. If anyone betrays that oath, they will die.”
“All the more reason to put the offer on the table.” While she wasn’t particularly fond of the idea, herself, it seemed to be a reasonable bargain. If Alvaros wanted her favor, they would also need to prove themselves. She was not just a daughter or a being that could be traded as goods. She was agoddess, as much as the thought of it made her cringe. “Those with pure intentions have nothing to worry about.”
“And if they don’t have pure intentions?”
She smiled. “Then Aziel and Trio’s suspicions would be found correct and you’ve saved yourself from betrayal.”
He stared at her, visibly torn. “I’m not fond of using you—”
“Iam offering my help.” She assured him. “In the meantime, I might suggest looking for alternatives. While it is important to have alliances within the continent, Dorid’s greatest strength came from his external alliances.”
“Caddagh?” Thorn scoffed. “Yes, I’m aware. They’ve plunged their claws into any continent they can get their hands on. Traitors to their own kind, that lot.”
Dorid’s lineage traced back to one of the many Caddisian warlords. When he was able to prove his relation, Caddagh had pounced at the idea of having a hand in all political matters and war strategy. When Nymiria was younger, they were taught that Caddagh defied everything that should have been within their nature. They were brutal and cruel, with a bloodlust in them, and such an insatiable desire for power that they cared not about any sort of repercussions.
Even in terms of religion, Dorid had given reign to Caddagh. They’d created their own gods to fit their own agendas, so that they could absolve themselves. Dorid prided himself in that religion, in forcing his subjects to also follow the new gods, so that he might be granted leniency. So that his people could not argue his methods and practices. It was a religion solely based onlust.
Nymiria drew in a deep breath, forcing the bastard from her mind. She put on a smile, placing a gentle hand on her father’s shoulder. “Mention it to them. Tell them that I have offered myself to them, just… in a different way.”
Thorn nodded, pulling her into an embrace and placing a kiss to the top of her head. “Thank you.” He didn’t sound nearly as torn as he had before, but she could still sense his worry.
Instead of lingering around, Nymiria took her leave through the courtyard gate. She wanted to avoid facing Everand at the moment, her anger still very much present. While she did not hate him for his confession, she still could not work her way past the idea that someone would try andhave her,even if she did not want them. Everand had been a good friend, but she couldn’t see him as anything beyond that. The thought of becoming his wifenowmade her skin crawl.
“Nymiria!”
Groaning quietly, Nymiria turned to the man that was now running after her on the beaten path that would lead back intothe city. His eyes were wide with worry, appearing disheveled and distressed. When she met with Everand in weeks prior, he’d always been rather put-together—dowsed in finery and perfectly tailored suits. Now, he looked like a commoner.
“I saw you leave.” He came to a halt at her side, taking a long drag of air. “But I couldn’t let you go without apologising to you for what I said during our last meeting. You were correct, I had no right to speak about Aziel the way that I did and…”
His voice trailed off, his brow furrowing as if he’d only just realized something. He took a step away from her, his jaw going rigid. “I thought you said that you and Aziel were not together?”
Nymiria glanced around for any indication that she’d betrayed that statement, wondering if Aziel had appeared behind her or if she bore any marks of what’d happened a couple of nights before. “Wearen’t.” She pressed, unable to control the snap to her tone.
Everand carded his fingers through his hair, pausing when the gate behind them slammed shut. Nymiria’s heart kicked into a quickened rhythm, the threads of her soul gravitating to the presence that was now approaching them.
“Rather unbelievable given the circumstances, isn’t it?” Aziel said, a certain smugness to his tone that’d once been reserved forher. The cadence of that tone made the hair on her arms raise, as if the scent of his death had not already startled her senses.
“Aziel…” It was a warning. She knew that he did not say things, nor make promises that he couldn’t keep. He’d warned her once that he’d kill anyone who believed they could have her. And as much as she would have liked to pretend that it’d been said in the heat of passion, the look in his eyes as he observed Everand was unmistakable.
Everand looked between the two of them, his brow furrowing at their exchange. “The two of you…”
