Four of the eight principal gods stood before her, three Vemon dragons just behind them. Juno was in the front, atop a familiar dark-coated horse—Sgàilsuil, the creature that hadtaken Soren to the temple. Now, she knew for sure the beast was no mere animal but a spirit of fate.
Juno’s azure robes flowed in the wind as she dismounted, and Soren was reminded how much Ana looked like her, though Juno was taller than her daughter. Ether swirled in the goddess’ eyes as she dismounted and said smoothly, “Hello, Sora. It’s been a long time.”
Soren didn’t move, didn’t breathe, especially as Juno stepped aside and a wave of familiar shadows rushed forward.
The goddess of Night was crying silver as she looked at Soren. Just behind her, Thanatos stared like Soren was a phantom he had sent to its grave. She supposed that was not entirely untrue in some sense.
“Are you going to hand me over to him now?” Soren said calmly to Nyx, despite the terror making her feel ice-cold.
The mark on Thanatos’ forehead, marking him as Nyx’s, rippled with ether. Soren had seen it happen only once before as Sora, when she had been very small. The line between her parents was pulling taut, their emotions tangling, and the mark knew it. But when he took a step forward, Nyx put a hand on his broad arm.
When Nyx stepped forward towards her, Vane appeared so quietly and swiftly, Soren did not sense him. He angled himself in front of her, and though he did not lift his sword, Soren could feel his magic heating the air.
“No closer until you state your intentions,” he said, his voice sharp.
From behind Thanatos, Soren saw someone shift. Vulcan.
Soren remembered the god of fire had always been elusive to a degree, at least in Sora’s lifetime. But now, she saw him just a few paces from her. He was an inch or two taller than Vane, but beyond that, they were shockingly similar in appearance. Shesaw Vane’s gaze flick to where he stood for just a moment before he focused on Nyx again.
“Vane Evva,” Nyx stated. “The demi-god who we might call responsible for my daughter’s death.”
Vane didn’t move, but Soren felt him stiffen. She sighed sharply. “My husband is no more responsible than I am, much less responsible than you. What do you want?”
Juno exchanged a look with Vulcan, though Soren could not read it. Thanatos nodded at Nyx and murmured, “They’re ready.”
“Contrary to what you might believe,” Nyx said, “we are not here to deliver you to Kronos.”
Vane’s hands were still nearly aflame, and he hadn’t moved. “Don’t tell me you want us to play assassins for you?”
Vulcan laughed, a rough sound, and flame finally broke through, crackling between Vane’s fingers.
“I told you he wasn’t an idiot,” Vulcan said, glancing at Thanatos.
“How the fuck would you know?” Vane snapped, eyes on his father.
Vulcan’s eyes swirled with silver. “Don’t think I wasn’t watching you all these years. I must say, I have been impressed.”
Nyx cleared her throat, and Vulcan held out a hand, as if to indicate,Yes, yes, continue.
Soren’s mother appeared to be the leader amongst this group of…rebels? If they did not stand with the king of the gods, that was what they were.
The council of principals was divided.
This is what we hoped for,she reminded Vane silently.
He brushed heated fingers against hers.Not if they want to use you as a weapon.
Thatwasour plan too.
Not necessarily.
Nyx was watching them closely now, her eyes moving to Vane’s left hand, to the band there. She tilted her head. “You can speak to my daughter without words.”
Vane hesitated but then nodded. Nyx took a step closer to him, now barely a foot away. “How?”
Vulcan chuckled. “Nyx, dear, look up. The answer is quite literally staring you in the face.”
Nyx raised her gaze to where Thessa and Heles loomed above them all, watching closely with narrowed, blinking eyes. They were larger than the other three Vemon dragons gathered behind Vulcan, perhaps the biggest this realm had ever seen. But their allegiances were not to Vulcan, who had forged their kind from fire and the embers of life and light from Sol.
