The report of the rebel outbreak in Venia didn’t come as a surprise. Their forces infiltrated the city months, maybe years before. Araes’s thoughts flicked back to the forbidden ledger he’d flipped through so many months ago. Almost a year had passed since their visit to the Venian archives. He massaged his temples. If he hadn’t been so fucking focused on learning the truth of Enyo’s death, maybe he wouldn’t have simply brushed off the blaring sign that Theos wasn’t who he claimed to be.
What happened to the actual Captain Theos remained a mystery, but the man leading their battalion over the last few years was an imposter. His vague lineage and lack of battle tales should’ve been glaringly obvious. But Araes, along with the entire Venian military, missed them. Gods, how could he have been so stupid? He could’ve preventedso much destruction. So much death. If he had just come to terms with the past and allowed his brother’s memory to rest. If he had come clean about reading the ledger and alerted Tethys of the truth.
He gritted his teeth and shuffled through the remaining messages. It was too late to look back at the what ifs. His home burned. His goddess floated somewhere in the stars. He was completely and utterly alone in this world.Again.
“Lieutenant Araes.” The servant’s knock on the door was a small reprieve from the massacre of thoughts laying waste to his head. “The goddess is awake.”
Araes’s heart stopped. His body moved before his mind even registered the servant’s words. He flew back down the hallway, sending the candlelit sconces flickering as he crossed their paths.
Altair still sat beside Tethys, his eyes glistening with relief. The goddess was pale in the late dawn’s light, her curls disheveled and out of place.
“Tethys,” he breathed, racing to her bedside. Her eyes, although sunken and exhausted, flashed with their usual golden hues. “Thank the gods.”
He wrapped her hand in his, soaking in the warmth of her delicate touch. His pulse pounded in his throat, but he swallowed its deafening rhythm. She was awake. She wasalive.
“Lieutenant,” she said, her lips parting into a wide grin. Silence bounced between them as they drank each other in. Nothing beyond those golden eyes. Not this room. Not the realms. Not even the immortal god witnessing their silent conversation play out.
“How long was I gone?” she asked, her voice cracked and dry. Araes opened his mouth to reply, but stopped short. He realized then that he had no idea how many days crept by waiting for those gorgeous golden eyes to open. He’d watched the sun as it rose and set each day, but it’dmeant nothing. He would’ve waited until his bones crumbled to dust for her if he had to.
“Just over a month, sister,” Altair said, glancing between the lieutenant and the goddess. Maybe they’d given their relationship away in their shared prolonged silence, but Araes didn’t care. That was tomorrow’s problem. With Tethys back by his side, they would face it together.
“A month!? It feels like I’ve only been asleep for a few hours,” Tethys cried, wrapping her arms around herself. “What of Venia? The manor staff?”
Altair passed a glance to Araes. The news would break her more than she already was, but maybe the lieutenant could lessen the blow.
“After we left, the rebels overtook the city. The network of insurgents was far more extensive than we initially thought. Only a handful of battalions are left holding Antares from capture. I’m sorry, Goddess,” Araes said, recalling the news.
“No...” She stiffened against his words. “That can’t be true. You mean to tell me the city is in ruin? My city? My people? Has Ophis said anything about Jaide or your family, Araes? Did they make it out?” she asked, forcing herself to sit against the headboard. “Please, Eos above, tell me they’re okay.”
“My family is far enough from the city’s epicenter that they remain unharmed. Ophis advised them to shelter in place. They await news from his shades directly,” Araes replied. Altair cut him a warning glance, but he ignored it all the same. Tethys deserved the truth, even if it would rip her heart to shreds.
“Ophis’s shades searched Jaide’s townhome. All of her effects had been packed and moved. There was no trace of her anywhere, suggesting she knew of the attack before ithappened.”
Tethys curled the silken comforter into her fists.
“She was a rebel? This whole time?”
“That hasn’t been confirmed, my queen, but...” Araes trailed off. Rage radiated off of her thinned lips, like heat from a blazing hearth. He couldn’t imagine the betrayal of one closer than blood. Jaide fooled them all, and in the end, disappeared like dust without even the smallest look back. Araes vowed if he ever got hold of that lady-in-waiting, she wouldn’t live long enough to offer an explanation.
“And what of Euda and the council?” Tethys asked, her voice quivering under the weight of her sorrow.
“They’re safe for now in the city archives. Antares is still fairly secure, but they’re gridlocked. The few units still stationed along the outposts haven’t been able to return home to resupply them.”
“We must act. The Venians need me. Eos above, the whole godsdamned continent needs me,” Tethys cried, throwing the blankets from her pale legs. Araes threw her a cautious look.
“Sister, that isn’t wise. I think it’s time we alerted our father of this mess. Don’t you? Let him take action,” Altair offered. Just as the lieutenant suspected, Altair had caught on to the context of his sister’s hasty suggestions.
Tethys’s furious eyes sunk into him like daggers. Araes had been victim to that terrifying look once or twice before, and right now, although he agreed with Altair, he’d allow the immortal king to take the blades.
“Absolutely not, Altair. Father would only cause more of a divide between the mortals, and not to mention, he would ask questions about my whereabouts during the invasion. He’d ask why I’mhere,not with my husband in Canissa. How do you think that would go? Judging by the look on your face, I’m assuming Araes told you of the fifth primordial. Or maybe you’ve known this whole time.” Tethys bit into her brother with pin sharp fury, matchinghis unspoken acknowledgement face to face.
“Tethys, listen to me. It’s time the primordials stepped in. It’s not safe for you to go anywhere, especially not home. Your lieutenant can only protect you against so much,” Altair said, his voice low and calm. The immortal truly had a way with keeping his composure. When time felt as minuscule a measurement as an inch, Araes supposed not much could break those shields.
Tethys bit her lip, the muscle in her jaw straining against the sheer force of rage behind those bared teeth.
“Never in my life has our father come to my aid, Altair. What makes you think this time would be any different?” Tethys asked, sliding her legs off the bed.
“Because, baby sister, this is no longer just a Venian matter. Just as you said, the whole damned continent is at risk,” Altair replied, placing a gentle hand across her knee. “You’re too weak still to travel, and what could you do for your people without your magic? What they need is a queen who stays alive. Wait for the mortals to spill their own blood, let Obscuros handle the rest, then return to the east and pick up the pieces.”
