Iyana glanced up at the full moon and noticed it had inched closer to the opposite side of the pond.When she looked back towards Yrza, the goddess’s full attention was on Iyana.Her head cocked slightly to the side as she appraised the Aztia.Iyana stood still, afraid to move.
“The answer to your question, Aztia, is yes,” Yrza said.Iyana’s stomach dropped, and suddenly the urge to vomit increased.
Emmeric glanced between them.“What question?”
“She is wondering if she is needed to defeat the stars, or if others could achieve it without her.But the Aztia is the only one capable of banishing them.Your victory is not assured, however much I’d like to tell you otherwise.”
That was not what Iyana wanted to hear.Although it made her feel like a coward, she was hoping Yrza would tell her that Zane would be able to win this war on his own without her help.She wanted to stay in Nyr where it was safe.
Yrza’s gaze was sympathetic as she continued to stare at Iyana.“You could not stay here forever, Iyana.Nyr’s wards are old, and as the magic of Arinem dies, so do they.”This was another shocking revelation.Iyana had thought the wards surrounding the kingdom were strong and steady.It continuously felt like the rug was being yanked out from underneath her feet, and it was impossible for Iyana to gain her balance.She was beginning to feel hopeless—like nothing she did was ever going to be enough.Like she was never going to live a normal life.
“Some of the answers you seek can be found in Istoria.”
The goddess hadn’t stopped touching Kaz during their conversation, and now she turned back to her.“My love…your place right now is with your friends, but I will see you soon.”
“Wait,” Zane interjected.“Please.”Yrza turned her gaze to him, then glanced up at the moon, which had almost crossed the entire pond.“I know it won’t make a difference in this war, but I need to know—”
“Yes, young emperor, Uther Holygazer was your true father.But you are more than he could have ever hoped to be, and if you survive this war, your reign will bring strength and prosperity to your empire.”
A soft glow surrounded Yrza then, and a quick glance at the moon showed only a small portion of it was still reflected in the lake.Without another word, the goddess pulled Kaz close and kissed her deeply.Kaz hesitated for less than a second, then was kissing Yrza back fiercely, clinging to her.
She stumbled forward a step when Yrza disappeared, pressing her fingers to her lips like she could keep the kiss there for just a moment longer.
“Well, then,” Talon started, “now what?”
“Let’s get back to the palace first,” Zane said.“We should all get some sleep and discuss this in the morning.”
Everyone nodded their silent agreement, and they began the trek back through the jungle.
Chapter 19
Emmeric
Thehikebackthroughthe jungle was subdued.Everybody seemed to be reeling from all that Yrza had told them—Kaz especially.Emmeric kept stealing glances at Iyana.He’d noticed her reticence the past few days to move forward with leaving Nyr, but he hadn’t expected the terror she’d felt when Yrza confirmed she was the only one who could banish the stars back to the sky.
Everyone exchanged murmured good nights as they reached their rooms, and they made vague promises of talking in the morning.
Iyana slumped against the wall and slid down it until she was sitting, cradling her face in her palms.Emmeric silently sat down next to her.
“Do you want to talk about it?”he asked.She shook her head.So they sat there quietly, Em hoping his presence gave her some comfort.It had surprised him the other day when Iyana had been against going to Istoria to beg their queen for aid.He thought she would be the one among them championing to save humanity.
But Altair had scooped out her confidence and her daring, leaving only a shell of a woman behind.Now, she was as timid as the mouse he’d named her, but that wasn’t who she actually was.
He’d named her Mouse after the mouse thistle cactus, because she was small and prickly, but also beautiful, sweet, and resilient.This broken woman next to him was almost unrecognizable compared to the one who had lived through torture and killing her enemy.The one who wasn’t afraid to put him in his place or argue with him.
Emmeric missed their arguments.
“Why does it have to be me?”she mumbled, her hands still covering her face and muffling her words.Iyana lowered her hands and looked up at him, her eyes wide and lined with tears.“Whyme?”
“I don’t know, Mouse,” he said gently.
“It’s notfair!”Iyana jumped to her feet and began pacing the room.Emmeric could only sit and watch as she finally let loose and was honest about what she was feeling.“I only wanted to be a healer.I wanted to stay in my little village where I was comfortable and keep my tribe healthy.All of this”—she flung her arms around her—“fuckingadventure…I never wanted it.I was happy.Content.
“And then you, and Zane, and Talon marched into Imothia and upturned my entire life!”
“Now hold on.”Emmeric stood swiftly and frowned down at her.“You’re going to blameus—your friends—for this?Absolutely not.I understand you’re hurting and scared—”
Iyana scoffed.
