“All right,” she said, opening her eyes to meet his inquisitive ones across the table. “They’re back because Kol—or the Scourge, orFlétrir, or whatever name Vatha has for the demon god of Enfara—got Mariah to shift. Oh, Mariah can shift, by the way. Into a dragon. Like how I’m assuming Ydros can.” She took a small sip of wine. “Long ago, at the end of the First War, the gods locked Kol away with a spell that would hold as long as they didn’t return. But Qhohena, without telling any of the other gods, gave her grace to the first Onitan Queen. I guess to keep her from being tempted to return and free her sister.”
Nik’s eyes were wide, his jaw slack. “To the Onitan Queen…” He scratched the stubble on his chin. “That’s why your queens have always had such long lives and unique magic, isn’t it?”
Ciana nodded and winked. “Nailed it, Your Majesty.” She took another sip of wine.
“But what does that have to do with the other gods returning?”
“Right. Yes.” She set down her glass. “So, since Mariah, as the new queen, has Qhohena’s grace—or godhood, I guess—she had the power to shift. But once she did, the god’s spell treated that as one of them returning to the earth, which broke Kol’s prison in Enfara. He was able to return, but I suppose the impact of the spell breaking woke the rest of the gods, too.”
“Wait,” Nik interjected, “so the dark god is back? He escaped Enfara?”
Ciana nodded solemnly. “Yes. Mariah fought him. Apparently, he’s a real shithead.”
Nik thumped back in his seat, shock written across his face. He muttered a word, some curse in a language Ciana didn’t know. “And your queen is who freed him?”
Ciana shifted, something warm blooming in the pit of her stomach. “Not on purpose,” she said. “Kol murdered her mother in front of her. She lost control. He’s free, but it wasn’t her fault.”
“Of course, Ciana.” Nik leaned forward suddenly, his shock and confusion clearing. “That’s not what I meant. This is all just very…surprising. And troubling. The First War was a long time ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s dark stain on history has been forgotten.”
Ciana relaxed. “You’re right.” She paused, her full stomach and the buzz of wine giving her a new-found sort of courage. “That’s why I’m here. No place on the continent has knowledge like the Vathan Archives. What if there’s a way to defeat Kol once and for all somewhere in its rows?”
Nik lifted a brow. “And here I was, thinking you were here to grow the diplomatic relationships between our two nations.”
Ciana shrugged. “Can a girl not be in a place for more than one thing?”
“I will concede to you there,” Nik said, chuckling. He rose from the table, Ciana following his lead. The king circled the carved tree trunk, offering her his hand. “I fear I’ve kept you quite late. May I accompany you back to your rooms? Before your Armature companion getstooworried.”
Ciana grinned, taking the king’s hand. The moment her skin touched his, though, her exhaustion slammed into her like a tidal wave, a rush of tiredness that made her want to collapse right back into her chair and go straight to sleep.
“That would be—” A yawn shuddered through her. She blinked up at the king, embarrassment twinging. “That would be lovely,” she finished.
He thankfully only gave her a warm smile, and before she knew it, he was leading her through the beautiful, flower-laden palace. It was a blur, a dream-like haze, but somehow she was suddenly outside her rooms, staring up at a pair of concerned hazel eyes.
“Ciana? Are you okay?—”
“I’m fine, Sebastian,” she said sleepily, yawning again. “I just had the best meal of my life and am exhausted.”
The king laughed again. Ciana liked the sound of his laugh. She turned to him, grinning as he raised her hand to his lips. They brushed her skin, soft as a feather, a barely there kiss. “Thank you for the lovely evening, Lady Ciana. I look forward to the next.”
“I do as well, Nik.” Warmth blossomed in her chest, spreading up her cheeks, and for a moment she thought she truly meant her words.
With a final, lingering glance, the king left them, his proud frame striding confidently down the hall and disappearing around the corner.
There was a brief pause, a thick silence. “Ciana?—”
Ciana ignored Sebastian, stumbling into her rooms. She made for her bed, not even bothering to remove her dress or shoes, and collapsed amongst the down comforter and silk sheets.
The deepest, most dreamless slumber of her life found her quickly, wrapping around her mind and sweeping her away.
Chapter 49
Anniliese had never been to the city on the crossroad, but she recognized it anyway.
Andburgh. A medium-sized town with an open central square, located in the center of Onita. It was a little out of the way for their journey from Khento to Verith, but this stop and detour didn’t surprise her.
After all, this was the birthplace and childhood home of Mariah Salis.
“Oh, it is so good to be home!”
