Page 35 of Once Written in Gilded Blood

I blink away the stray tears that fight to fill my eyes. Rage quickly takes over the emotional side of me.

“Why have you shown me this, Minerva?” I clench my fists at my sides.

I know what she’s going to say. She wants me to get revenge for the demigods. She wants me to be remorseful for my decision to marry a demon to stop a war that cannot be prevented.

The demons are everything I thought they were. And I let them trick me. I let him trick me.

Stupid girl. I bite down on my inner cheek until metallic liquid hits my tongue.

I hate what I am…who I am.

It’s always been our gilded blood everyone is after, and why wouldn’t it be? If it can create a veil as powerful as the one Devicit has made, we are all but done.

Minerva gives me a hollow look that I can’t see through.

“I have shown you this because war is at Devicit’s door. Alzhor waits at the edge of their veil, waiting for it to fall. The flowers cannot remain here against the demigods’ will, because of this, their souls are trapped here.” Her eyes search mine until it clicks.

“You want me to take down the veil? But…” I trail off. All I can see is the aftermath. The blood in the streets, the burning kingdom. Red and gold mixing until there’s nothing left but chaos. “I can’t…”

Can’t I? It’s what they expected of me anyway, isn’t it? Is that not why they locked me in this dark, dreary dungeon? Why am I fighting to not become the very monster they assume I am…the one Kalel believed I could become?

Minerva offers a frail smile. One of understanding and pity. It doesn’t make me feel any better, but then again, I don’t believe it is meant to.

“It’s your choice, half-god,” Minerva says softly and taps my forehead gently.

I’m thrown from the vision as if I’m being cast backward and falling from a rooftop. My senses take a moment to come back to me, but when they do, I’m sitting on the edge of the bed in the same dark cell. Every part of me is cold and hollow.

I take a deep breath and stand.

I don’t feel like me anymore. I’m no longer the tired demigod who wants to stop dying at the hands of the Blood Knight. I’m not weary any longer.

I’m filled with malice and hatred.

All this time, I’ve felt guilt for what I’ve done to the demons. I never asked what they’ve done to us. It’s so awful that I have to see it for myself…and try to set right these wrongdoings.

I have to free their souls.

I need to get out of this cell.

Chapter 13

Kalel

The apothecary I cherished is now made up of only broken glass and ripped pages from my life’s work collecting herbs and my findings on them.

My back is pressed against the wall in the corner of my study, in the ruin of what I’ve done, with my head in my hands.

The way Alira looked at me with such despair and betrayal was enough to kill a man. Why didn’t I do something when Achill had her taken away to his dungeon? I just stood there… I should’ve listened to Nik and run away with her while I had the chance. I never should have returned. After meeting with King Achill when we returned from Mortem, I spoke with him, and everything seems fine. It wasn’t apparent that Tess had told him about the wisp. Regardless, I planned to take Alira away after the festival. I just wanted one more night with her here…to see my kingdom in a good light before I run off with her and subject her to a life of uncertainty.

My chest shifts painfully with the broken pieces of my heart.

I hate this, but I only have myself to blame. It’s me who lied to her…and if she finds out about the time-loop curse I put on her…or the flowers…

Anxiety rolls through my system and makes each breath cumbersome.

I never wanted to be this way, so why did I do all these things?

“You look pitiful, you know that?” A sharp tongue from a young woman.