“Our borders should be our main concern.”
“Samkiel has gone rogue.”
Athos held up her hand, and the room went silent. “I understand the concern and growing threat, but I will not act in fear or alarm.” Her head turned toward me, and everyone around the table followed her gaze. “Xavier. What can you tell me about Samkiel recently? You were the closest since his return.”
“And the Ig’Morruthen he protects,” Othello cut in. “We want to know about it.”
Athos cut the old bastard a look before turning back at me.
Sweat beaded along my scalp. I couldn’t lie, but I knew their prejudices, and they would not like this.
“He umm …” I started and then paused to suck in a breath. “He’s in love with her.”
The room erupted in chaos, gods and goddesses yelling to be heard over each other. They scrambled to toss in their opinions and thoughts. All but Blayne, who watched me with his chin resting on his hand.
Once again, Athos raised her hand, and silence fell.
“Now, given Samkiel’s notoriety with sexual partners, she may very well be no more than a tryst, like countless oth—”
“It’s not,” I interjected.
Despite the scowls and mumbles tossed in my direction, I decided not to hide the truth about Dianna or their relationship. Regardless of whether I told them or not, they would find out. If they hunted Samkiel down, they would soon learn just how much they cared for each other. Violently. So, I told them, leaving out some of the gorier parts of the story, but I told it nonetheless. I told them who she truly was, how Kaden had made her into a weapon, and how they fell in love.
The vast majority of them didn’t believe me. They scoffed at the idea or hated it because of what she was. Samkiel had changed so much since they’d last met him, and most especially since her. I seriously doubted they’d even recognize him anymore, not just how he appeared on the outside but inside as well. The world had changed him, hardened some parts that used to be soft, and Dianna had changed him, challenged him for the better.
They laughed, dismissing my words. I swallowed the growing lump in my throat and sat back. They thought Samkiel was still the young, reckless god king who loved no one but his crown and himself. They were so wrong.
“Thank you for your recounting, Xavier.” Athos smiled. “Truly.”
“So, the lost promised mate has returned to the realms, and she is imbued with ancient, archaic power.” Othello sat back, shaking his head in disgust. “It changes nothing. She—”
“It changes everything,” Blayne said. He rose to his feet, silver sparking in his eyes as he looked at every god in the room. “I may not have been around for the first fall, but I will not let another occur. Ig’Morruthens decimated Rashearim, and as we have witnessed, three of the beasts have returned. As we just saw, the World Ender seems to command at least one of them. It is more than worrisome, and we should all be concerned. At the very least, we must meet with them and discover his true intentions now that he has returned. We need to determine if they are a threat to us or not.”
“Neither Samkiel nor Dianna would ever be a threat,” I said. All eyes fell on me, and I knew I’d spoken out of turn. These beings were beyond powerful, and any one of them could separate my head from my shoulders. Yet, I couldn’t just sit here and let them talk about Samkiel as if he were the enemy. “I know how it may appear, but—”
“By your recant, Ayla died. The promised queen and all she represented died and was reborn into a horror,” Blayne said to me before meeting everyone’s gaze in the room. “And now, Samkiel wields that horror? The power he possesses is all-encompassing. He can lay waste to worlds, but with her by his side? That is a genuine cause for concern.”
Blayne paused, and some of the other gods murmured in agreement. Others just looked worried, but everyone quieted when he continued.
“The Ig’Morruthens betrayed the Primordials in the same way. Using their powers, they turned upon them. They cannot be controlled, let alone contained. They are unpredictable, wild, and ferocious. Fire made flesh that can bend to any form they wish. Nismera has four of them, and you’ve seen what she is capable of? Should Samkiel not choose our side in this war, we are then outnumbered and outmaneuvered. Do you all wish to risk more god blood because we assumed his intentions were good?”
Blayne sat back and watched as the room again devolved into words and questions while Athos nodded in agreement. Kryella’s eyes met mine, and I could see the doubt in them.
My mind spun. But how could they know or believe? They had not been around Samkiel in eons, and all they knew of Dianna was that she originated from their sworn enemies. They would see it as a rise in power, a threat held over them. Samkiel wasn’t like Kaden. He would never use Dianna as a weapon, and he would never even consider overthrowing them. If anything, he would be glad to know he was no longer alone, that his family lived and breathed and had reclaimed a home for themselves.
They continued to discuss, argue, and talk, the sense of worry and concern persisting. I had hoped to ease their mind, but it seemed my words had only done the opposite.
14
DIANNA
“Dianna Andrea Martinez! Stop, this instant!” he bellowed from behind me.
My hand landed on the table, and I vaulted over it. If he caught me, I was done for, and I was not about to lose something so precious to me. My breath caught as I rounded another passageway. I could hide here in the shadows or slip into the inbetween, but either way, I knew the large brute chasing me would sniff me out in a second. He was worse than a hound when he wanted something. But maybe … I ran, ensuring I was heard, and darted around another corner. This place was like a maze. There were so many corridors and doors in here that any fool could get lost. He wasn’t a fool, but I hoped it would at least slow him down.
I charged down the steps four at a time, and when I heard the pounding of feet behind me, I knew my hope was in vain. Lucky for me, I always had a Plan B.
Light poured from a hallway to the right, and I could hear the clink of silverware on plates and voices raised in celebration. I spun around the corner, the power at my back pushing me onward. I felt fingers slip through the ends of my hair and dropped onto my knees, sliding through the doorway. Three sets of startled eyes focused on me.
