Page 56 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

I could still hear my sisters screaming in the distance, but I worked to ignore it. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I searched for that space inside where my magic resided.

The water was already responding to Ryvin’s magic.Well, my magic through him. Each rushing wave had less power and stretched less into Athos. It was receding, retiring to where it belonged.

Even as he sent the water away, I fought to find my magic, to aid him in any way I could. And because I kept hoping that if I was strong enough, if I could make this go faster, then maybe, just maybe, we could find my sisters.

I couldn’t hear them anymore. They were silent. A heavy weight settled in my stomach.

“Send me everything you have!” Ryvin shouted.

I shut out my feelings and worked to focus. The magic had to be there, at least a little bit. There had to be something. But it didn’t matter how much I struggled, or how hard I tried. There was nothing there. I felt like a hollow, withered shell of myself. Not human, but not magical, either. I lost everything. Myself and now my family…

Ryvin lowered his arms, his breathing heavy. “I think we did it.”

I turned, but the rock was gone. And so were my sisters.

I didn’t remember falling to my knees, but somehow, I was on the ground. Somewhere very far away, I thought I heard the sound of cheering. They were celebrating, but they didn’t know the cost.

Inside, I died. Inside, I was defeated.

I closed my eyes and leaned down until my forehead was resting on the cool grass. I’d given everything for Athos. And I felt like I had nothing left.

Silence hung heavy around me.The sound of the cheers dissolved. The roar of the sea faded. I could only hear my breathing and the pounding of my heart.

The scent of something sweet filled my nostrils, and I forced my eyes open. It was dark, and I was shivering. My forehead was resting on dirt and I could feel the sting of a few small pebbles that were embedded in my forehead and palms.

I pushed myself up until I was resting on my knees, then looked around. A single fae light flickered in front of me, illuminating the gray, rocky walls. I wasn’t in Athos. I was in a small cave.

My eyes stung and my cheeks were still damp from tears as I stood. I exited the cave, walking into the darkness of Naxos. Stars glittered overhead, and the moon shone down on me with its cold, watery glow. I scowled at it, then looked around for the goddess I knew had to be nearby.

When I didn’t see her, I began to walk. No Nyx, no Obsidian, just starlight and the sound of waves crashing against the shore. After walking for a bit, I caught the sight of more fae lights glittering in the distance. I had never been so grateful in my life to see Dion’s home.

Nyx was waiting for me outside. The goddess was clothed in a sheer sparkling black peplos that was shimmering with gold sparkles that glowed like actual stars. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was wearing a piece of the night sky.

She swirled a glass full of ruby liquid, then took a long sip while studying me in silence.

“That was cruel,” I said after a long pause.

“You agreed to my terms. The challenges are my choice.” She watched me with a pleased feline expression.

“It wasn’t real,” I said, more to calm myself. There was no alternative. I couldn’t accept that my sisters were actually gone.

“I worried the illusion would give it away, but you didn’t start questioning it until you saw my finished temple. Really, when would such a situation ever occur? Your mother doesn’t even have that kind of command of the sea.”

“You made me leave my sisters to die,” I said, my tone accusing.

“I needed to see how you’d respond. You see, I know how selfish humans are. I know they’ll choose themselves over others. I thought your sisters were the most important thing in your world. I thought for sure you’d choose them and watch the rest of your kind perish.” She frowned. “I hate that you proved me wrong.”

“I told you. There are good humans and bad humans, just like the gods. But we’re worth saving.” My words came out flat. I was too tired and too relieved that it was all a dream to fight her.

My sisters were safe. They were alive. I couldn’t allow myself to consider any other alternative. Besides, I was convinced that if anything had happened to them since Iarrived, Nyx would revel in sharing that information with me.

Movement made me turn, and I saw Dion coming through the door to join us. He had two glasses of wine in his hands. “She’s finished for the day, correct? You assured me she’d be my guest while she was here. And a guest needs a drink, a meal, and a good night’s sleep.”

The god handed me a glass. “Drink. It’s the good stuff.”

I accepted the glass, not realizing until that moment how much my hands were shaking. I took a sip, not caring enough to wonder if he was tricking me. My body still didn’t know that losing my sisters had been pretend. I could still feel the pain of it, still feel the missing pieces of my soul where they were supposed to be. I wondered how long it was going to take to recover from what Nyx had just put me through.

“You may rest for now,” Nyx said as she rose to her feet. She tossed back the rest of her wine in one gulp, then passed her glass to Dion. “I’ll return soon for your final challenge.”

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