Page 66 of Once Written in Gilded Blood

I fist my hands at my sides and look away from him. “No. And I won’t be killing anyone else either. I’ve had enough of the bloodshed. Haven’t you?” I narrow my gaze at the ground and don’t wait for him to respond. “I’ll see you at the end of this, my friend. Take care of the wounded.”

My armor clinks as I walk away, quickly making it through the packed corridors and out the front doors of King Achill’s castle.

Most of the streets leading up to the castle are still untouched and vacant. Barrels and baskets of goods have been knocked over in the frenzy. It won’t be long before the demigods work their way up here. Jupiter’s lightning seems to be mainly focused on the business district, mansions, and castle.

My throat burns as the smoke thickens the farther into the center of the kingdom I go.

I run to the cathedral since Nikolai mentioned that King Achill may be there, seeking aid from other gods. The deities have never agreed on anything, so it’s not so far-fetched to believe that some may be willing to help us. Even if only to go against Jupiter. I hold on to that hope as I throw open the doors.

The Krinsle is standing at the altar before the stained glass, praying, I think. But I don’t see anyone else in here. Lightning must’ve struck the rafters because there’s a gaping hole in the ceiling and debris scattered across the pews. Little to no fire spread, thanks to the building being made mostly of brick and stone.

“Kalel, you’ve come back already,” he says ominously. He’s always known more than he should. Sometimes I think he shares the Fates’ powers in that sense.

“Where is the king?” I ask, figuring that he probably already knows.

He ignores my question. “Did you learn what you needed to?”

My brows pinch together, and I firm my fists at my sides. “You tell me.” I turn to leave, not having time to waste on this. Although I am shocked that he knows I was in Mortem with a lesson to be learned.

“Remember that not all sacrifices must end in death. There is but one path that leads to the salvation of all.” The Krinsle’s voice is weak and followed by a thud.

I stop and turn around quickly, finding the Krinsle on the ground, the cloak covering his body and the hood nearly revealing his face.

“Are you okay?” I ask, rushing over and kneeling at the Krinsle’s side. I prop his head up on my lap so he can breathe easier. My eyes instantly catch on the burn that goes straight through his heart. I slowly look back up at the ceiling where the lightning struck.

A cold chill spreads through me. Numbing me and making me sick.

Jupiter did this. Tears tug from behind my eyes, but I keep them at bay.

“Keep an open mind, and let love guide you,” he says gently before his head falls back and his limbs relax.

My entire body is trembling. No more. Not one more person is dying in my arms. Never again. I force myself to my feet and refocus on the task at hand. I need to find King Achill. There’s only one chance at this, and time is ticking away quickly.

“Kalel?” Tessa’s voice startles me, and I whirl around.

My blood boils, knowing what she did to Alira, but there’s no time for that. I suppress every fiber of my being to yell at her and instead go around her and push the front doors open and step outside. Tessa is quick to follow.

“I just got reports that you flew in on the back of a dragon? What the hell is going on?” she asks, wiping golden blood from her cheek.

“Tessa, there is a path to peace. Now tell me, have you seen the king? I need to hold an audience with him immediately.”

Her eyes are wide, and she stares at me like I said something ridiculous, then she realizes I’m not joking, and her brows furrow together. “You’re serious? Kalel, what has that demigod done to your head? There’s no peace to be had; we’ve seen it time and time again. Not our king, not their king, nothing can stop this.”

I take one large step toward her. She shrinks into herself at my fury. “Not even a horde of dragons? Or a wish the Fates can grant? Not even an ounce of hope from the hopeless?”

She looks at me as if I’m betraying my own kingdom. “What have you done with the demigod? Is she bringing them here now?” Her eyes flick to the skies, scouring them for any sight of dragons. Panic is well seated in her eyes.

“Tessa, don’t you understand? It doesn’t have to be them or us. We can all exist together.” I set my hand on her shoulder, but she shoves me away and gives me a scathing look.

“You will be considered a traitor to your kingdom,” she spits at me, venom in every word.

I give her a cool stare, not willing to meet her malice.

“And it is Alira and I who will save our kingdom. You don’t understand it now, but you will one day. Even if it takes a century, you will see what we did this day.” I leave her with that and walk forward, lifting my hand to the sky and whistling for the dragon to return to me.

I’m not sure if it will hear me, but within a few seconds I hear the beating of its wings and the whoosh as it flies down to collect me. I run out onto a wide street and grab on to its leg. It flips me back up onto its back, and we take off toward the battleground.

All I can see from the sky is the blood that mixes in the snow.