Page 66 of Queen of Serpents and Shadows

I turned to see the path I’d traveled, still illuminated by sparkling fae lights that Dion had left to light the way for the goddess. At least he said that was why he lit the path. I wondered if it was because I’d traversed the trail in the dark last night for a moment of peace by the water.

In another life, I might have enjoyed living on thisisland. It certainly would have been better than serving at a temple. Dion’s maenads avoided me, but when I saw them, they seemed happy. I caught them gardening and painting and splashing in a river. They didn’t spend all their time catering to the god. They seemed to do it because they wanted to.

Though, I knew there were things I wasn’t privy to, and I wasn’t foolish enough to think that Dion’s reputation was all false. If I learned anything from my time with the fae and the gods, it was that reputations were earned. And they were rarely inflated.

“I thought I might find you down here.”

“Don’t tell me you can read minds,” I said to Dion as he stepped into the soft sand.

He lifted a brow. “Thinking about me, were you?”

“About how different your island is from what I thought it would be,” I admitted.

“You’re different than I thought you’d be, too,” he said.

Neither of us offered any followup and I don’t think either of us wanted it. He stood there next to me, staring into the dark sea for a long while. Finally, he spoke, “She’s back. She sent me to find you.”

I nodded, keeping my attention on the sea.

“She’s going to push you harder this time,” he warned.

“It is the final challenge.” I’d spent the last several days imagining all the terrible ways she could torture me for her own amusement.

“The stories about her are true, you know.”

“I know.” I glanced over at Dion, hating that his expression didn’t hide his concern.

“Do you know that it’s alright to do what’s best for you? To allow yourself happiness? To let yourself live,” he said.

“I’m not sure I know how to do that,” I admitted.

“All the things you’ve done have been brave, there’s no doubt about that. But have you ever stopped to wonder if the people you continue to sacrifice yourself for would do the same for you? Do they deserve what you do for them?”

“I can’t let myself ask those questions,” I said.

“You should. You should always ask those questions. Because everyone else always asks them,” he replied.

“The only question I ask is whether or not I can live with myself if I don’t help.”

“You’re far too good for any of them,” he said with a sigh. “Come on, she’s waiting.”

Reluctantly, I followed him back to the house.

Nyx was waiting outside, holding a glass of wine in her hand.

“He’d choose her even if they weren’t mates,” Dion suddenly said.

I glanced at the god, my brow furrowing.

“I didn’t ask your opinion,” Nyx replied. “And I certainly don’t need you here right now. You may leave.”

Dion squeezed my shoulder. “Remember what I said.” He walked into his house, leaving me alone with the goddess of night.

“Is that what this is actually about?” I asked. “Nothumans or how they treated you, but the fact that you don’t think I’m good enough for your son?”

“This can be about more than one thing,” she replied.

“I got you out of your prison for him,” I reminded her.

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