“Sora! Please. Please, kill me. No, not her, you bastard. Don’t fucking touch her?—”
She gasped softly. Kronos looked down on her, his face too calm for what was occurring. It was a curtain pulled back on his madness, that he could be so serene as his hand reached directly into her chest cavity.
She was blinded by pain. Vane’s hoarse screams ricocheted off the palace walls. There was a pull and a tear, and then?—
Warmth.The void was ablaze as it welcomed Death’s daughter.
Chapter 22
Soren sankto her knees as the memory faded, the cruel vision disappearing like smoke in her hands, but the damage was done.
Now, she knew the truth.
She wanted nothing to do with it. There was enough chaos, enough heartbreak in her life without the knowledge of what her soul had already endured. Vane was a tether to that pain, and she could not give him what he wanted.
Her.
Sora, the only daughter of Nyx and Thanatos. A brave young goddess—hiswife.
She was none of those things. She was simply Soren, a slave-servant from Mise who had been thrust into a mortal war.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t do this. You…I think you should go. Tell the commander I need someone else to train me.Please.”
Vane, who was on his knees too now, ran a hand over his face. “I wish it were that simple, that I could give you what you ask. Because I would go, if that's what you truly wanted and I had the freedom to do so. But we are both bound to this war, down to its very core.”
“How—”
She was interrupted by the sound of a gong ringing through the camp. Vane swore softly next to her, his eyes on the horizon.
“What is that?”
He stood, scanning the area. “It’s a warning. They’re coming.”
“Here? But they all said Mise was pushed back to their border?—”
“Could be rebels from within our forces,” he said, throat working. He crouched, hands on her shoulders as he said quickly, “The commander will require you to fight now. I know we haven’t had much time to prepare, but Soren…” He put a hand to her cheek. “Despite what I’ve just told you, despite the fear you might feel or the allegiances you might want to uphold—do not hesitate. Your enemies will see it right away and take advantage of it.”
“They’re not my enemies?—”
“It doesn’t matter what you think. They see you as such and will be after you. This camp was likely targeted because word of you and Thessilnn reached them.”
She shoved him off. “I don’t care.”
He shut his eyes briefly then pulled the dagger from his hair, letting it fall in his face as he handed it to her. She set her jaw, even as he said in a raw voice, “I can’t lose you again, but I cannot protect you alone. I am bound to other roles. Please, Sora.”
She snatched the dagger from his hand, its weight unfamiliar in her hand. “That’s not my name,” she snapped before turning and running to where Thessa waited.
He is right, you know.
Soren glared at her before mounting the saddle.How could you not tell me?
It was not my place and you were not ready. Clearly, you are still not ready. The timing of this attack is unfortunate.
Really?
Thessa shuffled her wings, readying to take off.You may not want to, but listen to Vane. You cannot hesitate today. These attackers have wyverns.
How do you?—
