“Theoretically, yes. But there’s no telling what it would be like. A hundred years ago, many gods in Arcadia were already divided on Kronos’ ability to lead and hold so much of the realm’s power. You could be walking into a war, for all we know.”
She raised a brow. “I could never survive that.”
He didn’t laugh, though. “You would be alone, and you haven’t tested your magic to its full extent yet. I can’t send you on a suicide mission.”
“Thessa could go with me,” she said. “She would be a direct line to you and Heles should anything go wrong. She would protect me.”
“Soren—”
“I’ll go to Nyx. Surely after everything that happened, she doesn’t support Kronos.”
Vane looked doubtful. “She never did. She just bent the knee to him.”
“Then I willunbend it for her.”
She could do this—she had to. If she could gather enough gods in favor of ending Kronos’ rule, maybe it could be enough. Perhaps no mortals needed to die in this. Vane, Ana, Cion, and the others could be safe.
“I’m going to Arcadia tomorrow,” she said firmly, ether warming her insides and shadows dancing around the cavern chamber. “I’m going to kill him before he can kill me again.”
Chapter 31
The field wasdead and abandoned now. Twenty years ago, it had been one of the most flourishing high-altitude farms in Aren, thanks to the skilled mage who had owned and run it. He wondered now if his master had taken him on as an apprentice as a favor, as his ailing mother had said, or if he had sensed his power. Fire and plant magic didn’t exactly mix, but they were both earth-bound, so perhaps the old man just hadn’t been able to tell the difference.
His black boot crunched on the remnants of a weed. He glanced at the bank of the dried mountain creek and curled his gloved hand into a fist. Then, he sat down and, for the first time in two decades, he talked to his wife.
“You would hate me if you saw me now,” he said to the howling wind. “I hate me.”
He curled his fingers in the dirt. It felt like ash.
“I just don’t know what to do, Sora.” His voice broke; like a child, he curled his arms around his knees and rocked. “Sometimes, I wish to see your soul again, and sometimes—” He broke off, choking on a sob. “I wonder if this is what I deserve. But you know me; I’ve always been selfish when it comes to you.”
Tears stained the lifeless earth beneath him, and he whispered a plea to the place that was now sacred to him alone.
“Please come back, my love. Please. I’ll wait for you, I promise, just… Please.”
No one answered him but the wind. Eventually, the tears grew cold on his face, and he forced himself to wipe them away. He stood, staring out across the barren land one last time.
It would be a year before he would return.
Over and over.
Decade by decade.
He started to pretend he could go there and end it all, just to have something to look forward to, but the bastard king would never allow that.
Over three years into the next decade, he was lying awake in his barrack, debating whether he could convince Heles to do it for him. Death by dragonfire wasn’t pleasant, but then he could become ashes just as she had.
But everything changed the next morning, when Heles sensed her sister awaken from the slumber she had slipped into for nearly a century. He flew out to the temple grounds just to see for himself, because he wouldn’t believe it if he didn’t.
His world shifted when he saw Thessilnn approach her, clad in Arenean slave-wear and wearing a shackle. Suddenly, death wasn’t an option anymore. Now, he only wanted two things.
Her…and revenge.
Chapter 32
“You can’t.I never should have suggested it.”
Soren glared at Vane, ignoring the fear in his eyes and the way his body still trembled slightly.
