The ascent was peaceful. The lotus glided through the air, effortless, carried by divine force. Below, I could see the rooftops of Steel Haven, the glint of the Iron Sea, the rivers winding through the land, and, far off in the distance, the shadow of Starborn Peak, the Silver Dominion’s Anchor, looming high against the horizon.
The lotus continued to rise, its petals glowing brighter as we ascended into the sky. I felt the wind in my hair, the hum of magic surrounding us, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, letting the moment of peace linger. Just for now.
36
The higher we ascended, the more it felt like we were leaving the world behind, climbing toward some forbidden realm.
Blake clutched my hand, his other deep in Kingsolver’s thick ruff. I half expected us to crash into the heavens themselves. Wind whipped through my hair, and the vastness of the sky closed in around us, blurring the line between mortal and divine.
Flame’s presence hummed at the back of my mind, steady and warm, a flicker of reassurance in the storm of my thoughts. She was with me, always. So were Edith, Nelly, and Thyme; here in my heart, their voices were echoes of the life I was fighting to protect.
I thought of Yvonne, discarded by a world that deemed her unworthy, and little Poppy, so small and powerful. I thought of the Thirst demons that had nearly taken them, their hunger an abyss that would swallow us all if given the chance.
I didn’t know why I had been chosen. But I had been. And that meant they were all my responsibility now.
I wanted that boon. I wanted my memories more than anything. But the past weeks had shown mewhyI should do this. The lives we were preserving. The beauty our world had to offer.
Uncertainty in my own abilities clawed at me, my inability to control my magic, whispering doubts, spinning nightmares of what lay ahead.
I tightened my fingers into fists, Blake’s hand still gripped in mine like an anchor. No matter what came next, I would not break.
Then, with a gentle shudder, we came to a stop.
The landscape before us was something out of a dream. A vast platform suspended in midair glowed faintly with otherworldly energy while clouds swirled beneath us like a sea. We were perched far above the world, on the very edge of the lesser gods’ Immortal Realm, where our worthy ancestors also dwelled. The great gods like Kuan Yin, Guan Yu, and Nuwa dwelled in the Heavenly Realm, the upper part of the Kingdom of Sky.
Slowly we all stepped off the lotus and onto the solid platform.
“Welcome to the Haven of the Gods,” the Diviner intoned.
I wondered what sort of accommodations the gods had prepared for us. What did divine creatures know of earthly comforts?
“Here you shall rest. Tomorrow you shall meet the other dominions before you begin your quest.”
The Diviner waved her hand with a graceful motion, and doorways shimmered into existence, tall and imposing, formed from lacquered wood as dark as gleaming ink. Intricate carvings spiraled up the sides, depicting scenes of battle and ancient magic, their details so fine they almost seemed to move.
To the right of the doorways, an arched gate opened for the tygers, wide and curved like the crescent of a rising moon. Throughthe archway, I glimpsed a vast garden that stretched almost beyond sight. Flowers bloomed along quiet paths. It looked like tyger stables lined the far end.
Flame hesitated for a moment, then turned her great head to give me a long, searching look before Kingsolver’s massive bulk pressed to her side and pushed her along, almost playfully. She batted at him, but followed him through the gate nonetheless.
—
The doors for us wereset within frames of carved stone, the surface of which was embedded with faintly glowing runes that pulsed softly, as if alive. Above each doorway hung a silk-paneled lantern, casting a pale glow that highlighted the runes’ delicate patterns. The air around the doorways crackled faintly, a low hum of magic vibrating through the space.
Though identical in design, eachfeltdifferent.
“Choose your room,” the Diviner commanded.
We all moved, drawn slowly to different doors. Blake gave my hand a comforting squeeze before he moved away.
I took a deep breath, then opened one of the doors, stepping inside.
I stopped in my tracks, my breath catching.
There was a tree in the center of the space, its trunk and branches made of gleaming silver stretching upward, spreading out in a canopy of mirrorlike leaves that glittered with a soft, magical glow. It seemed to grow out of the floor, its roots curling into the dark stone like veins of light, pulsing gently.
Beneath the tree of mirrors, the bed sat low to the ground, its frame made of dark mahogany that gleamed in the light. To the side, a small matching writing desk stood near the wall, its surface inlaid with delicate golden filigree that curled and twisted likefire. A plush chair with silk upholstery in deep blue sat in front of it.
A sitting area had been arranged near the foot of the bed, where a low table made of etched glass and hammered gold mirrored the elegance of the room. Two deep-cushioned chairs flanked the table, upholstered in a soft, pale blue fabric that shimmered under the magical light from above.
