The void had called to her, and again, as she had nearly every night of her life, she had answered. But this time, she had been awake and fully able to wield her magic. Morgen had been the only one able to stop her from letting the world fall into the hands of that endless darkness.
“It might be for the best,” she could hear Vulcan saying for the third time in the hour. “We should at least try?—”
“I am not letting you drug my daughter!” her father snapped, this time not managing to keep his voice quiet or level.
“Vane, it’s for her own good. Just until?—”
“Until when? Until you and the others figure out a way to take away her magic? Unfortunately for you, I’m not stupid enough to believe that’s even possible, not without killing her.”
“We’ve been over this. We won’t hurt her, especially not with her tie to Morgen.”
A silence fell. Then, her father spoke in a voice so low, she could barely hear it through the door. “Yes, of course. But tell me, both of you: if not for him, would you say the same? You need Morgen. I understand that. Just stop lying that you care about your granddaughter—tell me the truth: you wouldn’t hesitate to kill her yourself if doing so didn’t kill Morgen and, in turn, destroy the embers.”
Neither of the gods replied. Nya shut her eyes and buried her face in the stiff couch cushions, forbidding herself to cry.
Her father laughed coldly. “I thought so. You all pretend you understand what love is, that you’re even capable of feeling it,but you only love others when it’s convenient, even your own children.”
Someone sighed loudly, and Thanatos said, “She’s awake, by the way. Has been for a while, probably eavesdropping.” His voice faded along with his footsteps as he added, “The walls of that room are thin. Sora often took ‘naps’ in there when we had council meetings at the house—at least, until we figured it out…”
There were more footsteps, a few low murmurs, and then the door opened, flooding the room with light. Nya hadn’t realized there was a hearth in the corner, but flames roared to life within it as her father entered the room, shutting the door behind him quietly. She didn’t sit up from the couch, hardly even looking at him as he sat on the edge of the armchair facing her.
“So, they want to sedate me.” Her voice was hoarse and grating, and the back of her throat tasted like iron.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, blowing out a breath. “I’m not going to let that happen.”
“Maybe you should.”
“Nya…” He shook his head, looking at her with a crease to his brow.
“Maybe it’s the best solution. Since they can’t just kill me.”
Silver flared bright in his eyes, and even as it dimmed, his voice was unyielding. “Don’t even go there, alright? You are not some problem that needs to be fixed.”
“The principals out there sure made it sound like it,” she said. She felt emotionless, even as a cold tear slid down her cheek.
“Yes, well, fuck them,” he said, but his voice caught. He rubbed his eyes, the gold band on his finger catching in the firelight. “I should have realized what was going on. I’m so sorry, Nya.”
She looked away, curling her hands into fists. “I never told you or Mama. How could you have known?”
“Except you did. I knew you were having nightmares, and I just brushed it off. I should have known it was more.” He sounded angry, but she knew even now, it wasn’t directed at her. “I’m supposed to protect you. It’s my one job, and I failed at it.”
She pushed herself up and took a deep breath, trying and failing to keep her jaw from trembling. “Yes, well, I think if every father was able to keep their children out of trouble their entire lives, the world wouldn’t be the way it is.”
His smile was very sad. “I suppose you’re right, but I still wish I could. If you have children someday, you’ll understand.”
She dropped her gaze, worrying her lip between her teeth. “Where is Morgen?” The question had been burning in her for hours now, simmering slowly into a festering fear the longer the pathway between them remained silent.
“Unconscious still.”
Her stomach dropped. “Here?”
“Yes.” He cleared his throat. “The others—the principals—were talking about taking him somewhere else, but Varax made quite the fuss about separating you two. Watching her argue with Heles and Thessilnn was like looking at three enormous cats get into a spat.”
Despite everything, her mouth twitched. Thatdidsound like Varax.
“Nya,” he began. His expression was just shy of a grimace, and he looked uncomfortable enough that she knew exactly where this was going. “I know there’s a lot happening right now, but?—”
“I don’t know,” she blurted out. “You were going to ask about what’s going on between me and Morgen, right?”
