“Kalen seems frustrated,” Nellie said.
She’d waited until the glittering city was nothing but a smudge of gold against the moonlit night before she’d brought it up, but I could tell she’d been thinking about it since we’d left. We wended through the gathered beasts on the other side of the Bridge to Death, silent and careful even though we knew we controlled them with the stones. There was no sense in tempting fate.
It was quiet out here in the darkness. The mists still hung around the gathered beasts, but it was clear up ahead. We could see for miles, especially with the torches we carried across the once-verdant fields. Answering torches flickered on the distant horizon. The fae army of the gods was coming, but they were still at least a full day’s walk from us.
“Kalen thinks we’re making a mistake by using the gemstones. And he’s frustrated that we have different views about it. We’ve been through a lot, he and I, but this is the first time we’ve disagreed on something as mundane as a battle strategy.”
Nellie laughed. “Onlyyouwould see a battle strategy as something mundane. This is probably the most thrilling thing I’ve done my entire life.”
“Spending time with Toryn isn’t thrilling?” I asked with a small smile.
“Don’t you start.” She frowned. “What I don’t understand is why Kalen is letting us go through with it if he thinks it’s a terrible idea.”
“Because Kalen Denare sees me as his equal, and he will not tell me what to do. That said, Boudica is likely watching us.”
Nellie tipped back her head to search the skies. “I don’t see her.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s not there. Either way, Kalen’s not far, either. He and the others are waiting in the chasm. If we run into any trouble at all, they’ll come running.”
“What? No one told me that. What if the gods sense them and realize this is a trap?”
“Kalen is made of mist and shadow. He knows how to remain hidden.”
Nellie gripped my arm and hissed. “Good. Because they’re coming.”
I followed her gaze. Dark forms moved toward us, borne on wings. I dropped the torch and tossed sand over the flames to douse the light.
It only took a few moments for them to reach us. Andromeda thundered to the ground. Sand sprayed from the powerful beat of her wings, and wind whorled around my body like a storm. The others shortly joined her. Perseus and Sirius took up the rear while Orion landed beside Andromeda. My two ‘allies’ wouldn’t meet my gaze. She’d changed them, like Sirius had warned.
“I must admit,” Andromeda said by way of greeting, “I’m surprised to find two little Barans wandering around unaccompanied.” She sniffed. “Where’s the fae filth?”
“Kalen and I had a disagreement. We left,” I said. Technically, not a lie.
“You left?” Andromeda laughed, turning toward Orion. “Orion guessed you would, but I didn’t believe it.”
I looked between the two of them, then tried to catch the attention of Perseus and Sirius. But they kept their gazes rooted to the ground. “You thought we’d use the gemstones and change our minds about joining you. Why?”
“It was designed to be your final trial. Once you used the stones for your own gain, you would realize you were better off with us. No human or fae can withstand the call of them.” Andromeda smiled at my surprise. “Though I will admit, it hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. I wanted you to use the gemstones in Malroch and avoid all this…mess. I didn’t anticipate your escape.” She shot a sharp glance at Sirius.
I withdrew the Mortal Blade from my sheath and turned it sideways so that the gemstone flashed its crimson light upon their faces. “So when I got my hands on this, it was your doing?”
Andromeda pointed at the blade. “That is my sister, Pandora, who has always been loyal to me. I would never let her out of my sight unless I had a good reason.”
Sirius shifted on his feet. Andromeda merely smiled, but didn’t acknowledge his discomfort. I was certain she would make him pay for what he’d done, if she hadn’t already.
She held out her hand. “Now give her stones back to me. Callisto’s, too. I know you want to. Why else would you have left your lover, your army, and your people?”
“You’re right. I don’t want these gemstones.” I started to give the blade to her, but stepped back instead. “I just…I have a few questions. Indulge me in my curiosity.”
Andromeda frowned. “I do not have time for this. Give me the gemstones, Tessa Baran. Don’t make me kill your sister to make a point.”
“Ah, ah,” Nellie said, withdrawing Callisto’s gemstones from the front of her fighting leathers. She glanced back over her shoulder at the beasts gathered by the bridge.
Orion’s gaze snapped to my sister. Instinctively, I shifted my body in front of hers.
“Questions first,” Nellie said, her voice as calm as pond water. I felt her tighten her grip on the gemstones. She was quietly ordering the beasts to inch closer, stealthily, so the gods wouldn’t notice.
“You get two questions,” Andromeda said. “If you try a third, I’ll slice open your sister’s neck.”
