Page 55 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

“We might. But we have to decide soon. We can’t do both. There’s no way we could do it ourselves. Splitting up would mean we both lose.” He rubbed his thumb across my hand soothingly. “Whatever you choose, I’ll support you.”

Lagina wanted to be a great queen. She wanted to serve her people. Sophia had been angry when I sacrificed myself in her place. Even Cora seemed to be coming around to helping Athos rather than only thinking of herself.

They’d never forgive me if I saved them and then returned them to a ghost town. While I knew there were other humans living in Drakous, they were few. Athos was the greatest hope for humans to survive.

I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I knew what I had to do, but dooming my sisters was impossible. It was all impossible. Tears blurred my vision. “How am I supposed to do this?”

“You do what you think is best and no matter what, I’m here by your side,” Ryvin replied.

I knew what he’d choose. I knew if there was a chance to save me and damn the rest of the world, he’d choose me.

But I wasn’t him. I couldn’t do it.

Please forgive me.

I knew they’d understand. I knew they’d encourage me to save our city, but it broke everything inside me to turn to Ryvin and tell him my choice. “We save Athos.” The words barely came out. My throat was so dry, my tongue too large. My heart a million slivers that I’d never rebuild. I knew I’d never recover from this, but it was what I had to do.

He nodded, then silently, the two of us raced toward Nyx’s temple.

21

Ara

An ornate dorictemple stood on a hill overlooking the palace. Neat rows of cypress trees lined the pathway, leading to a lush garden overflowing with flowers. I stopped, then looked over at Ryvin. “How is the temple complete?”

His brow furrowed. “Are you feeling alright, Ara?”

I bristled a little, unused to hearing my name on his lips. When was the last time he’d called me by my name, and why did it feel so off? “Exactly how long was I in Naxos?”

“We can discuss that later,” he replied, his attention fixed on the sea in the distance.

We could see the city from here andalready the water had covered the harbor and was washing up against some of the buildings down below. It would destroy everything if we didn’t appease it.

“Let’s go.” I would figure this out after we’d calmed the sea.

As we continued along the pathway in the garden, I couldn’t shake how strange everything felt. Nyx’s temple shouldn’t be finished. And why would Ceto come after Athos? What had happened with the fae?

Before I could ask any additional questions, I saw the citizens of Athos nestled among the gardens. Some were bundled in blankets or sitting on cushions they’d brought along. They crowded together, wary looks on their tired faces. I passed crying children and shivering elderly couples. There were people filling every space as far as I could see. Thousands all crammed into one place.

“Up here.” Ryvin led me closer to the temple. We were standing at a cliffside, looking down into the churning sea below.

The sea was an angry, steely gray. The waves crashed against the cliffs with brute force that sent fear creeping through me. I’d never seen it this destructive. I could practically feel the urge of the water to destroy everything in its wake.

Suddenly, I heard cries and shouts coming from nearby. When I turned, my heart stopped and I couldn’t breathe. My sisters were calling to me from what looked like a large, flat rock in the middle of the churning water.The waves splashed over the stone, soaking them and making them scream. They were huddled together, the three of them soaking wet and shaking, holding on to each other through their last moments.

“It’s getting worse,” Ryvin shouted. He pointed toward town, the opposite direction from my sisters, where the water was now filling the streets. Homes were being crushed by the waves, sending debris and pieces of Athos out into the water.

If we were going to send the water back to where it belonged, we’d have to do it soon. Even this hillside wasn’t going to be high enough to save the people of Athos if we waited much longer. As it was, already half the city was gone.

“You sure about this? I can go to your sisters instead,” he offered.

I looked back at them. They were so far from shore I wasn’t even sure we’d be able to get to them in time. I felt like I was dying, like my soul was being pulled from my body. I couldn’t sacrifice an entire city for them.

“Send the water away from Athos,” I said.

Ryvin nodded, then lifted his arms. “If you’ve got any magic you can access, send it my way. We’ll need everything we can get.”

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