“Don’t like to meddle?”Talon asked, incredulous.“You mean like when Zaya created the Aztia and Kanaliza, or not that long ago, when Ciri aided Iyana?”
“A fair assessment, revitalized one.”Yrza smiled softly at him.“I have never claimed that we are not hypocrites, and we all find causes worthy of breaking our unwritten rules.I will do my best to circumvent the other gods to come to your side.Anything for my Gana.”
Before Kaz had the chance to say anything else to the goddess, the moon passed over the other side of the water and she disappeared.Kaz frowned at the empty place in front of her.Zane tilted his head to the side as he looked at the same spot.
“If she can only appear here at the lake during a full moon, how is she going to join us on a battlefield miles away?”he asked.
Kaz shrugged.“I’m sure she isn’t limited to only this lake.But if everyone knew that, then don’t you think they’d be trying to contact the gods everywhere all the time?They deserve some modicum of privacy as well.”
When they returned to the palace, they met with Zahar and Sekhan to discuss the small amount of information Yrza had given them.They all agreed there wasn’t much more they could do there, and while they bided their time behind the wards, humans were suffering and dying.
They would march for Athusia in two days.
Chapter 64
Zane
Thenightbeforetheywere set to leave, Zane and Talon bathed in a tub for what could possibly be the last time.Wordlessly, they climbed into their comfortable bed and wrapped each other in their arms.They simply gazed at each other—Talon with his kind blue eyes, and Zane with his emerald-green ones.Their fingers explored naked skin, but Zane wasn’t interested in starting anything, for once.He only wanted to memorize the way Talon looked and felt next to him.He wanted to sear the amount of love coming from his gaze into his mind.
In several days, one or both of them could be dead.
Zane would love to ask Talon to stay here within the wards of Nyr, where he would be safe for at least a little longer.They had been spending a fair amount of time with Perry and Nina—having dinner with Tal’s parents along with Em and Iyana—and his mother made her thoughts on the matter clear.She did not want any of them to go to war, but especially not her only child.Zane knew his soul would never agree to stay.Still, he had to try.Before he could open his mouth, Tal spoke first.
“I know what you’re thinking, my heart,” he said, threading his fingers through Zane’s hair.“Don’t ask me to stay behind.You know I won’t, and my place is with you, fighting at your side.My place willalwaysbe wherever you are, Zane.Never try to tell me otherwise.”
Zane traced the freckles on Tal’s nose and cheek.“I only want you to be safe,” he whispered.
“I could say the same thing about you,” Talon murmured.
“I’ve already watched you die once, Talon.I can’t do it again.”His voice cracked.“I can’t.”
Talon tucked him in closer, cradling Zane’s head against his chest and running his fingers through his hair.He wouldn’t offer Zane any empty promises, and for that, he was grateful.Zane didn’t know if he could listen to Tal telling him he’d never leave him alone again, only to have him do exactly that.
Pulling back slightly, Zane pressed his lips against Talon’s, wishing he could pause time and live in this bed forever.Tal deepened their kiss and swiped his tongue along Zane’s mouth.He opened for him with a sigh, clutching at his soul’s back as if that would keep him there with him, no matter what tomorrow brought.
When Talon’s hands began to wander, Zane let them.This could very well be their last night alone, and he would take advantage of each second.
Dawncamealltoosoon.Zane and Talon readied themselves silently in their room before meeting up with their friends.
Everyone they considered as family was waiting for them with the horses.While okapis were the preferred mode of transport within the jungle, they didn’t do well in colder environments, so they were taking horses instead.Zane lamented the fact that Ryunn had been left behind in the desert when the stars captured him and Talon.He hoped the horse had found his way to safety.Ryunn and Pryn had been the only things he had loved for many years.When Okab teleported Emmeric and Kaz to help with their rescue, they had brought Pryn with them.And after everything with Altair, he had been left behind in Athusia.At least, Zane knew he would be safe there.The stars would not let a prized war horse go to waste.
Iyana had lost some of her color and was more pale than normal.Emmeric was glued to the Aztia’s side.Within the past week, the two had stopped trying to hide their relationship, which was refreshing to see.A smile died on Zane’s lips before it could appear—the thought of losing any of them was unimaginable.
Kaz and her two brothers were with Jato, directing the warriors on the plan.They would stay within the wards for as long as possible before pushing into Athusa.Hopefully, Istora’s army would be there to meet with them.If they weren’t, or if the stars were lying in wait for them…Zane didn’t want to think about what the death toll would be.Honestly, most of the scenarios he ran through his mind ended in the deaths of all of them and the fall of humanity.There was an extremely slim chance that everything would go their way and they would end up triumphant.He sent a quick prayer to Thelena to watch over them.
One of the wild cards sat within Zane’s pack.He held onto the Lurra, while Iyana had Khollo’s Downfall.Part of their strategy would be to have the two of them on opposite ends of the battlefield so that they could use the artifacts if things were looking dire.They could ensure the maximum amount of destruction if they were split up.Everybody had hated the idea of not staying in one cohesive group, but it made too much sense to do it this way.
In all of their research on the artifacts, the only thing they had found on the Lurra was that‘lurra’in an ancient language translated to ‘souls.’They could only hope that it would be useful for them, but it was a huge risk.It was extremely possible that the artifact would end up killing all of them, not only the stars.
Khollo’s Downfall was even more terrifying because they knew slightly more about it.The God of Beginnings was allegedly trapped within that small, black orb.A vengeful god released onto a battlefield after multiple millennia in confinement—anything could happen.Shuddering, Zane mounted his horse with the others, and they walked out of Nyr’s capital.
Conversations were kept to a minimum.The warriors joked and laughed with each other as they walked, but Zane couldn’t find it within himself to join in.All of his companions appeared to feel the same—sitting atop their horses with stress etched into their brows.Sekhan was the only one joining in on the banter, but even his seemed half-hearted.
They moved slower than before with such a large group, and it took several days to reach the part of the border where they planned to cross.Winter was beginning to give way to spring—the snow was melting, and colorful flowers pushed through the blanket of white—and Zane balked at how much his life had changed in such a short amount of time.In spring of the previous year, he was dreading the annual balls that his father held—trying to get him to choose a wife—and planning ways to escape the city.Now, his father was dead andhewas emperor, and instead of a wife, Talon—the love of his life—stood next to him.Even though they were likely marching to their deaths, Zane was still grateful that the universe had gifted him this man.
The army stood at the precipice for several minutes; the warriors waiting for the command to cross.None of them seemed to want to give it, though.
“It’s now or never,” Talon murmured.Zane caught Kaz’s eye and nodded.
