Page 16 of Once Written in Gilded Blood

“I guess so.” He nonchalantly flips pages in a book he grabbed while helping me search. “Why are you so upset about it? It happened a millennium ago.” He laughs, flicking his attention briefly to me before he closes the book.

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. I take a deep breath. “I don’t like when stories end like that…with someone getting away with something horrible.” Nikolai just grunts and shakes his head at me, amused. I think about it more and then finally ask, “Have you ever met one?”

That gets his attention.

He looks at me with shock. “A god?”

“Yeah.”

His eyes widen before he quickly looks around us to make sure no one is near and leans in closer to me.

“Have you met a god, Alira?” Nikolai’s voice is serious, and his eyes are just as steady. I stiffen at his unexpected reaction but try to relax my muscles.

“No, I was only curious if the demons were closer to them than the demigods are.” I play it cool and offer a disarming smile. “Is it not common?” I ask harmlessly, and it seems to work. He studies me a moment longer before sitting back in his chair and exhaling.

“No, it’s not common. And I wouldn’t ask anyone else. If King Achill thinks you are speaking with the gods, he’ll have your head cut off.”

“Oh.” My hand goes to my throat. Kalel took my head clean off in at least eight of the time loops. I never want to experience that again, especially since I wouldn’t be coming back this time around.

We read in silence for the remainder of the afternoon, then head back to the palace before dinner is served. Nikolai didn’t notice me sliding a few of the books I picked up into the hidden pockets of my dress. The librarians didn’t realize it either. Thank the gods.

I make a beeline for my chambers and once the door is locked and the blinds are shut, I pull out the curses and god books from my heavy dress pockets and place them beneath my mattress, ready to spend the evening learning.

I can’t believe that worked.

Chapter 6

Alira

The horse lets out a brisk neigh as it crosses the veil and breathes in the cold winter air of the barren lands just on the other side of the magical wall. It’s a shock to the system, to go from a lush green paradise to the charred wastelands with snow and ice building up on the tallest boulders in one mere step. Black cubic rocks protrude from the ground, making the footing uneven. They steam with the heat within them. Does snow ever stick in a place like this?

I wonder what Devicit was like before the veil—before it disappeared from the rest of the world.

Kalel turns to look at me, his black hair wild with the wind gusting up from the gorge as we cross the immense stone bridge to the other side.

He’s dressed in his imperial armor: beautiful beige metal plates with intricate engravings along the edges that almost look like small crowns or jewelry, shimmering as they catch the light. His red cape is a lovely contrast of pomegranate against the dull scape we’ve entered.

I cannot believe that King Achill agreed to let Kalel take me on an outing with him. If only to soothe my worries, but even then, I’m content and happy to spend the day with Kalel. Even if I don’t trust him and plan to break the oath bond, I still want to find some assurance between us.

“Where are you taking us today?” I ask as I pull the fur cloak around my shoulders tightly. I forgot how painfully cold the air outside the kingdom is.

Kalel grins as my horse catches up to trot side by side with his. “Half a day’s trip southeast from my kingdom. King Achill would like me to verify that the Gates of Mortem remain closed. It’s a trip I make twice a year, and it’s quite beautiful along the way, so I figured we could go together.” His eyes brighten a fraction with warmth.

My heart flutters. “Thank you for speaking with him. I know you’re tired, and spending the day taking me out of the kingdom means a lot. I just wish they didn’t have to tag along,” I jest, jerking my head back at Tessa and Nikolai, who are bickering already about who should hold the food rations for the day.

Kalel nods. “Honestly, I’m glad you brought it up the other night. I’ve been needing this too. Our knights are busy elsewhere for the time being, so there is no need to take them away from their duties. Tessa and Nikolai worked perfectly.”

I look in the opposite direction we are headed and try to spot any evidence of battle or bloodshed but see nothing. Only the vast and jagged ebony rocks. A small weight lifts from my shoulders, and it feels a little easier to breathe. But it’s still odd that most of the knights are so preoccupied.

“There’s no threat to the kingdom, is there?” I query.

Kalel’s features smooth into a blank mask. “Nothing to worry about, little godling. You are no longer a knight, so don’t keep your thoughts entwined with things beyond the veil. Our people are at peace; we are entering a new era. A better one.” He doesn’t look at me as he says the words.

It’s nothing. Just enjoy the trip.

The day is long, but I thoroughly savor it. It beats being stuck at the palace. Even though these past couple of days have been much better than the last few weeks.

I made quick work of reading the books twice over and even tore out the page with the herbs I need to be on the lookout for today. There’s only one more herb I need to finish the potion to undo the oath bond. I’m not sure why it feels right, but every fiber of my being screams for me to sever it. I doubt he’d even notice right away… I can explain it away, I’m sure. Tell him it’s the passage of time that faded the bond. Guilt resides deep inside me and churns.