Page 110 of The Arcane God

Tears began to fill Ena’s eyes at his words, and part of her still didn’t want to let them in, but he wouldn’t let go of her chin, and she couldn’t look away.

“There is chaos in life, Ena. There is change, and there is pain. There is loss, and there is suffering. But in between, there is balance, there is peace, and there is joy. And you are strong enough to handle it all—I see that in you. I always have.”

Ena scoffed slightly, rolling her eyes a bit at his unshakable faith in her. How could he have it, when she didn’t have it herself?

“You think I haven’t changed?” Ty asked, challenging her reaction. “I’m a husband and a father now too—that’s weird as fuck for me. My mother is back in my life, when I never thought I’d get the chance to meet her. I am responsible for so many.” Ty’s voice cracked, and for a second, she could feel the weight of all that for him too. And he’d held it all in so well—so stoically—she never would have known. But she should have guessed, and the fact that she’d been so self-centered made her feel unimaginably guilty.

“But I’m here to change with you, Ena. It’s you and me. There is nothing we cannot do together—I believe that. And even if you didn’t have me…there is nothing you could not do alone. Because you are you, no matter your circumstances. No matter what you’ve been through. You are so smart and capable. Kind and brave. Vicious and strong. You are my viper, my dark goddess, and I fucking worship you because I see all that in you. You just need to see it yourself.”

Tears were streaming down Ena’s face now as he spoke. Because he was right. She knew he was. Feeling lost was just that—a feeling. Something she told herself when she felt unsure, when she didn’t know what to do, or couldn’t do something perfectly.

But in reality, maybe she did have that strength already. Maybe she just needed to be reminded that it was there—that she was herself, no matter what, and she could find a way to thrive.

Could she do that? Could she believe in herself, and let herself become whatever it was she was becoming?

Ty released her chin and held out his wrist to her. He reached down and pulled out his dagger from his belt and slowly dragged it across until blood welled up from the cut.

Ena watched it, enthralled, and her heart began beating faster—the smell of it suddenly permeated the air, making her mouth water. She dragged her lip into her mouth, holding herself back.

“Drink, Ena,” Ty commanded. “Drink and Change, and I’ll be right here for you. Whether I’m buried deep inside you or dead in the ground, my love will always be with you. Always.”

Ena didn’t think. She just looked up at him, meeting his eyes for a second, before she reached out and grabbed his wrist, pulling it to her mouth.

The blood hit her lips, and the taste of it almost made her eyes roll back in her head. It had only been a day or two since she’d last drunk from him, and yet this time, she didn’t just do it to keep her bloodlust at bay. She did it to draw power into herself.

She fed on his strength, on his love, on his desire for her. His confidence, his vulnerability, his very being filled her, and as she drank, she reached down into her Knowing. She Knew the blood running in her veins, felt her own as well as his. She felt her bones and her skin, her hair, her eyes, her muscles. She Knew herself and her body like never before. How it worked, how it thrived. Where it was strong, where it was weak, and then she went deeper—into her well of power where her Gift lay. She could call for her visanis now if she wanted to, but instead, this time, she reached for something different. Something deeper. Something that dwelled in her very bones—in the very heart of who she was—and she summoned it.

It was a will of her own that she drew from—not like Gaia’s or Iblis’s. It was her very own, and she willed herself to Change. To grow. To become something new, different, but something that was still inextricably her.

All at once, she pulled her lips back from Ty’s wrist, and met his eyes—hers wide and full of awe, as she looked down to see her body Changing. She felt her muscles fusing together, and her bones shrinking—altering her very makeup. It hurt, it ached, but just like labor, it served a purpose—to bring new life.

Involuntarily, she let out a grunt as she fell to the floor on all fours. She shut her eyes—too scared to see, and needing to just feel.

And what she felt was…otherworldly. Her old self melted away—her skin shedding from her like leaves in the fall. She let out a quiet exclamation of pain as she felt her limbs disappear—her hair, her eyes, her internal organs changing seamlessly—as if this was what she’d been meant for all along.

It wasn’t without pain—in fact, it was excruciating—and she felt confused and elated and afraid all at the same time. But for the first time in her life, she didn’t fight it. She let the fear flow through her—the joy, the pain, all of it. And she embraced it.

When the pain and movement inside her finally stopped, she cautiously opened her eyes. She was lying on the floor, so close down to the worn wooden boards she could feel the grain of it everywhere along her body. Movement caught her eye, and she whipped around to see a large man crouching on the floor, looking down at her. Whatever she had Changed into was smaller than her human form, but faster. Much faster.

She stared at the man in confusion for a second, the memories taking a second to click into place, until she recognized him.

It was Ty.

He reached out to her slowly, cautiously, extending his hand toward her in offering. Instinctively, she moved towards him, her powerful body doing so with ease.

She slithered onto his hand—it was warm, and the feeling brought her a deep sense of pleasure, so she moved onto him further, sliding up his arm, onto his shoulder, and nestled herself into the crook of his neck.

Curling around him, she saw her sleek, black body for the first time. Covered in scales, but strong and solid. Powerful and dangerous. She squeezed him, wrapping around him like he belonged to her, and she felt his throat vibrate as he spoke.

“There’s my viper,” he said, and even in her new skin, she Knew that his voice was full of love.

Chapter Forty

Ty

After word spread of Ena’s ability to Change, the plan all but fell into place, and two weeks later, they found themselves riding towards the Underworld.

Greya had sent a message to Syrelle, asking her to join them on the outskirts of Aquilo, and Thyla had been sent to Cris with word of their arrival, asking him and whoever else he’d been able to convince of the righteousness of their endeavor to do the same.