“Aday’shead start.” I watched him carefully for a reaction. He started to object, but I interrupted him before he could. “I thought this sword couldn’t hurt you. Why shouldn’t you agree to day’s head start if it’s impossible for me to win?”
His brow slammed down. “Vow you won’t cheat and use that bloody Mortal Blade instead of the sword.”
I tapped the sword, considering my reply.
“Ah, see.” His lips curled back in a sneer. “You and the other mortals of this wretched world have no honor. You plan to—”
“I vow I won’t use the Mortal Blade against you inthis fightand this fight alone. After our day’s head start, this fight will end. And then I’m free to use it against you.”
“Very well.” He held out a hand. “Your vow is accepted.”
I took his hand and shook it. His skin was like ice, so cold it burned. He dug his fingers into mine, and a flare of pain raced through my wrist from where he’d shattered the bone. It felt like I was being stabbed by a million needles. I winced and jerked away.
With a chuckle, he spread his arms. “The deal is done. Have at it, little pet.”
Twenty-One
Tessa
Ilevelled my sword and examined the God of Famine. Steel plate covered most of his body. Other than his neck and face, the only exposed sections were around his hips and just below his shoulders, where one plate ended and the next began. I could try to chop off his head, which was likely what he expected me to do. Fortunately, I was no fool. I had no better chance of causing damage there than Kalen had.
No, this was a game to him and nothing more. But every game has a winning move, even if it’s only one out of a million.
I hefted the sword from one hand to the next, trying to find a brief respite from the weight of it. I’d been holding it aloft for ages now, and my muscles felt strained.
“Careful,” Orion said with a glint in his eye. “Kalen might get jealous of how much you’re staring at me.”
I didn’t rise to the bait. “Why do you wear plate?”
“Clever question. But not so clever if you think I’ll actually answer it.”
“Something can harm you other than my dagger. And you must think we have it, or you wouldn’t be dressed for war.”
“Hmm, could be.” He gave me a beastly smile. “Unfortunately for you, you’ve just revealed you have no idea what it is. Now get on it with it, pet. You’re stalling for time, and I’m weary of speaking mortal words.”
But I knew the answer.Nellie.
She’d harmed Sirius, even if it had only been temporary. And it hadchangedsomething in him, something fundamental. An idea started to take shape in my mind. It wouldn’t help me now, but it just might be the salvation we’d been hoping for.
Destruction wasn’t the answer. Killing them was impossible, anyway. Even if I trapped them in these odd gemstones, I’d only be punting the problem forward several centuries, just like King Ovalis Hinde had. Trapping the gods would saveus. But they would find a way back again, eventually.
So maybe there was another way…
For now, I needed to escape Orion. Shoving the sword into his neck wouldn’t work. Fortunately, there was something else we hadn’t yet tried. The only other exposed part of him was his wings.
I raised the sword over my head. Orion watched in amusement.
Bracing myself, I brought the blade down hard. The steel cut through flesh and bone, spraying black feathers. They filled the air like ash and shadows. Orion screamed and jerked away from me. Black blood sprayed my leathers.
I watched as the god tumbled, head over feet. He scarcely caught himself before he fell, one broken wing barely beating. His head whipped toward me, and his eyes were full of fury.
He spit, “Fuck you, Tessa Baran. You get your one day’s head start, but then I’m coming for you. We’reallcoming for you.”
And then he was gone.
* * *
Kalen was pacing when I found him, his body wound as tight as a ball of string. When I gently landed before him and tucked my wings into my back, he crushed me against his chest. He breathed long and hard, like he’d been stuck underwater all this time.
