Page 59 of Once Written in Gilded Blood

“I don’t know if we have a choice,” I murmur, letting my eyes shift across the room to the dagger on the table. Kalel pulls back and looks at me.

“Why not? Haven’t we given them enough?” He smooths my hair from my face, and I swallow nervously.

“I didn’t leave the village…at least not intentionally. The Fates brought me to their cave, where they gave me this.” I walk across the room and grab the dagger from the table. Kalel follows me over and studies the blade.

His eyes widen a fraction. “Isn’t this your mother’s dagger? How is it here? The Fates gave you this?” There are so many questions in his gaze and worry.

I nod. “They said this is how I change the fate of the demons and demigods. A sacrifice out of love.”

Even after how much I’ve dwelled on it since being trapped in the swamp, I’m still unsure of what the sacrifice means. No matter how many ways I look at it, it seems one of us must die.

Kalel’s brows firm and lower. “A sacrifice, as in a death, to be provided to them?”

His thought process is very much the same as mine. I give him an uncertain nod. “That’s what I think they meant by it.”

He shakes his head and hands the dagger back to me. “No, something must be off. There’s always a trick up their sleeves, isn’t there? There must be something else. Just like the gods are always toying with us and never giving us a straight answer.”

He’s not wrong. They’ve been doing it this entire time, pulling the strings behind the scenes, having plans set in motion long before we even know we are on the path. Maybe that’s why we couldn’t think as clearly as we can down here. Anger washes away all sense; you’re only left with the truth of things and your sorrow.

Regret, mainly.

“We can talk about that tomorrow,” Kalel says as he carries me to the sofa and sets me down. A loose grin pulls at his lips. “I’ve missed you, and honestly, everything else can wait until morning.”

I smile at him as he gets up and walks to the kitchen, opening the cupboards and looking for cups. He pauses and looks at me with familiarity in his eyes. “Does this cottage remind you of somewhere we’ve been before?” he asks, brows quirked.

“I thought the same thing.” I look around and take in the cottage again as if I’m walking into it for the first time. I was so cold that day, and instead of cruelness, Kalel brought me here to warm me up before we continued our day of travel. The memory warms my chest. “Doesn’t it remind you of the house we stopped at on our way to Devicit?”

His eyes widen, and he nods. “How strange that it would end up here,” he murmurs as he finishes preparing the tea and setting the kettle on the stove.

My smile fades, and I stare at the ember slowly cooling in the fire. I consider whether or not another log should be added. “I think all abandoned things end up here, one way or another.”

Kalel makes his way back over to me and takes both of my hands into his. “We could stay, you know,” he says, as if he’s proposing we commit a crime. It would be selfish, knowing that we’re the only ones who can stop our kingdoms from tearing each other apart, and our friends facing untimely doom. Why do we have to sacrifice our happiness for everything, for everyone except ourselves?

“I can be talked into staying for a little while now that I’m not alone anymore,” I say softly, my eyes locked onto his lips as he leans in closer. His knees are on the floor, and he’s leaning in, spreading my legs, and bringing his lips to mine.

He kisses me, and his lips are softer than I ever remembered them being. I melt into his arms, desperate for every touch. He smooths his hand down my back and the other up my neck, cupping my cheek and deepening our kiss.

“My little godling. I thought I lost you forever. I’ve dreamed of this moment since the first step I took to finding you. Even as I crossed sunless deserts and moonless ice. I have never stopped looking for you in Mortem.” My heart dips at his words.

Kalel strokes his tongue up my neck and bites into my gilded vein. I let out a small cry.

“I tried to find a way out of here. I tried to look for you, but no matter how long I walked, I only ended up back here. There are so many things I regret. I wish I had listened and heard you out. I know that your heart is not dark anymore. I shouldn’t have let my fear win.” My voice is trembling.

Kalel takes a few more sips of my blood before he withdraws his teeth and swipes my neck again with his tongue.

“I shouldn’t have let my fear win. I was so consumed with what you would do once you found out I’d been lying. Once you found out what I really was and what I’ve done to you. I thought I hated you when I first met you, but the more I got to know you, the more I realized it wasn’t you that I hated. I hated myself. Because you showed me that not all demigods are bad.”

“And you showed me that not all demons are bad.”

The teakettle starts to whistle just as Kalel starts kissing down my chest. He glances up at me with his amber eyes, and it melts my heart.

“Let’s have tea. As much as I want to ravish you, I want to hear your voice and thoughts for as long as you’ll allow, Alira.” He dots my forehead with a kiss and gets up to grab the tea.

I pull a blanket up around my shoulders and smile. I haven’t felt this happy in a long, long time.

He sits next to me on the couch so that our feet are tucked up and facing one another. I accept the mug he extends to me and take a few sips, shutting my eyes and humming at the sweetness the honey brings.

I hold the mug to my lips and glance up at him from over the rim. “Did you get to speak with your mother?”