Page 54 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

Tears streamed down my face, and I burst through the back doors into the garden beyond. Ryvin was standing there, as if he’d been waiting for me this whole time. I cried out in relief, then ran to him, but he stepped back, avoiding my attempt to wrap my arms around him.

“What is it?” I asked. “What’s going on? Why are you moving away from me?”

“We don’t have time,” he said. “The sea is angry. Ceto is going to take the city.”

My brow furrowed. That didn’t make any sense. “Why would she do that?”

“I don’t know. But if you don’t stop it, all of Athos will be destroyed. You must come with me now.” He extended his hand, and I hesitated. There was something wrong with all of this.

“Is that why everyone left?” I asked.

“Yes, they’re getting to higher ground,” he confirmed.

Some of the tension eased. It was going to be alright. The people had fled, which could also explain the destruction at the Opal. They’d probably pillaged it for anything valuable. I was going to have to leave that out when I saw Nyx again. It didn’t help her view of humans to know how destructive they could be. But it wasn’t like the gods were any better.

“But how can I stop the sea?” I asked.

“Your magic. We’ll both channel whatever we can and we’ll send the rising tide away from the city,” he said.

“Your mother, she took my magic,” I said. “At least she said she was going to. I can’t help.”

“We have to calm the sea or everyone’s going to die,” Ryvin said.

“You can do it. You can use my magic,” I said.

“I need you with me, you can help me. Tell me what to do.” His jaw was set, his expression serious. “I think if you’re closer to me, I can channel more of your magic. I’m not sure I’m strong enough on my own.”

I nodded. “Alright. Together.”

“Why is Ceto sending the water?” I asked as we made our way out of the palace grounds, the two of us jogging to move faster.

“She thought the city turned on you when they sent you to Nyx,” Ryvin said.

“But I went on my own.” I glanced at him and noticed the pained expression on his face. “I need to tell her. She can spare the city.”

“It’s too late,” he said. “She knew they fled to the site of Nyx’s new temple and she’s sending everything there. She’s going to kill everyone.”

My heart thundered in my chest and I picked up my pace. “We have to stop her.”

Suddenly, Ryvin grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. “I have to tell you something.”

My breathing was coming in rapid breaths. His expression alone was enough to break my heart, and I braced myself. “What is it?”

“It’s your sisters,” he said.

My chest felt tight. “Tell me.”

“Ceto took them. They’re on an island that shouldn’t exist near Nyx’s temple. If we prevent the water from reaching Athos, your sisters will die.”

“No.” I shook my head. “No, that’s impossible. How could she do that?”

“I’m sorry. You’ll have to choose. We might be able to save them, but it’s not a guarantee. The monsters could get to us before we reach them. But if we try to save them,everyone who lives in Athos will die.” He squeezed my hand. “The choice is yours.”

I felt like I was dying already. How could anyone expect me to make a choice like this? Everything I’d done was to help my sisters; to keep them alive. It was how I ended up in Konos. It was probably the reason this stupid war was even happening. I couldn’t let them die.

But if I attempted to save them and failed, I’d lose everything. All the humans who called Athos home were counting on my family to keep them safe and my father had done nothing but harm them. He’d sent their children to their deaths, he’d kept a goddess locked away. He was the reason we were in this situation in the first place.

“Do you think we could save them?” I had to ask, even if I was already trying to find a way to say goodbye.

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