Page 10 of The Blood of Gods and Monsters

“How,” Kiera finally asks, “am I the salvation?”

Caedmon’s gaze slowly returns to her. The skin around his eyes squeezes, forming wrinkles on either side. His lips twist into a grimace. “You, Kiera, are of Tryphone’s blood,” he says, “and you are going to kill him.”

Chapter 6

Kiera

“Kill Tryphone?” I repeat the words as if I heard him wrong. I know I must have, but then Caedmon simply nods, confirming the correctness of the statement. I sit back in shock. A beat of silence passes and then two and three. They continue to pass until I can’t take it anymore. “Are you insane?” It’s a legitimate question. If he thinks I’m somehow capable of killing the King of the Gods—never mind what he’s revealed about the fact that they’re not Gods at all but some sort of ‘magical’ species from another world—he has to be insane.

It’s at that moment that Ophelia sits forward and sets her glass next to Caedmon’s on the table set before them. “I have to agree with Kiera,” she states. “She is well trained, but even she isn’t capable of killing Tryphone. Even if what you say is true, he has several hundred years of experience on her. She’s more accustomed to catching targets unaware.”

“She will be able to catch him unaware,” Caedmon states, gaze settled on my face as if he can somehow delve into my mind with simply a will of his own.

I frown as something more penetrates my realization. “You said that I was of his blood, what did you mean by that? My father was mortal.”

Caedmon is shaking his head before I’ve finished my statement. “Your father was not mortal, Kiera. Not completely.”

“He was,” I insist. “He never had any abilities and?—”

“I know this, Kiera,” Caedmon says, interrupting me. “Because I knew your father as well as your mother. Your father was a Mortal God and he was one of the first to—” His words cut off and he closes his eyes, raising a hand to his temple yet again as if he’s in pain. Then he shakes himself and his lashes flutter upward once more.

Tension spreads through my limbs. I picture my father, the strong, barrel-chested man who had raised me, who had taught me right from wrong, who had carried me in his arms as he showed me the Hinterlands where I’d been born. He had been a Mortal God? Then … what did that make me? More God than mortal? No, the Gods weren’t Gods.

I shake my head. “You said that the Gods aren’t actually Gods,” I say, fixing my gaze on Caedmon again. “What are they? What are you?”

Caedmon’s lips spread into a mockery of a smile. “You would not know of it here, but in our world, we were known as Atlanteans. Our Kingdom was massive and great and we stemmed from a city of prosperity called Atlantis.” His pseudo smile falls in an instant. “Unfortunately, when we crossed over into this world, our great city fell and with it, the remains of our legacy.”

“Atlantean.” The word sounds strange, like something that doesn’t belong on my tongue. My eyes squint. “Atlanteans are not Gods?” I clarify.

He shakes his head. “No. Atlanteans are simply long-lived humans,” Caedmon answers. “In our world, Atlanteans are simply descendants of what are known as Fae and human races. Our magic and longevity come from our Fae ancestors and everything else, our human ancestry.”

They weren’t Gods but Atlanteans. Humans. Mortal. His earlier words make all the more sense. No wonder Tryphone had needed to find a way to lengthen their lives. They’d come into this world masquerading as Gods and Gods didn’t die except under special circumstances.

Then the memory of what I’d discussed with Regis that very morning comes slamming into my head. “Does that mean that anyone can kill the Gods—the Atlanteans?” Is that why Regis had been able to kill that Mortal God? But then, why had the man disintegrated? If he, like any normal person, was just able to be killed then he wouldn’t have turned to dust. Could Regis be wrong? Could he have been drugged when it happened?

Caedmon’s lips pinch tight into a mulish line. “You’re correct,” he says, his words stilted, and for a moment I think he’s read my mind, but then he continues. “There are many things that Tryphone spread to keep the people of this world from attacking our kind. The belief that mortals of this world are unable to kill us is one of them.”

“Regis—” I stand abruptly and turn towards the door as it flies open. All eyes shoot to the figure standing there. It’s not Regis though. Nor is it Carcel. Instead, the plump harried figure of Madam Brione stands in the doorway, her bosom heaving with great effort.

Her eyes fly wildly over the three figures of the Darkhavens—each of whom steps closer to me—and then skitter over Caedmon before focusing on Ophelia. “There is trouble, Ma’am,” Madam Brione huffs out, her ruddy cheeks flushed with color.

Ophelia stands. “What’s happened?”

“The Academy is alight with the flames of welcome,” she hurries out, her words stumbling over one another. “Fires are being lit throughout the streets and,” she swallows, an edge of fear and concern filling her voice, “carriages are entering.”

Caedmon, too, stands. A hard hand lands on my shoulder and grips me tight. I look up as Ruen’s face blanches. His normally tanned skin seems to leach of color in front of my eyes. Unthinking, I reach up and cup my fingers over the ones settled on my shoulder. Midnight eyes flick down to meet mine. I frown at him, but he merely shakes his head and removes his hand from me. I let him go even as confusion pours into me.

“What do the carriages have to—” Before I can finish my sentence, Caedmon curses low.

“The God Council,” he snaps. “They weren’t supposed to arrive for several more days.”

I push up from the chair. “We have to get back,” I say. “We can’t be caught out.”

Caedmon waves a hand in my direction. “Worry not about that,” he says absently even as he drags a palm over his face, suddenly appearing far older than he looks, especially when his fingers tremble ever so slightly.

“Azai will be there,” Theos says quietly on my other side.

As I turn to look at him, Caedmon responds. “Yes, he will, and I have no doubt that he will wish to see the three of you.”

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