Page 74 of The Blood of Gods and Monsters

Kalix’s attention goes to his brother. “He seemed quite agitated on our way there, but the moment we were traveling he settled. When the Terra set to go with and serve him asked, he said it had to do with his power. He doesn’t just like to travel, he needs to. He can remain in one place for a short period of time, but if he goes too long without traveling then he grows more than agitated, he becomes like an alcoholic in need of a drink.”

Ruen nods and his expression turns contemplative as he closes the book in his hand. I reach for it, taking it from him and holding it closer to my chest.

“Okay,” I say. “So the Gods need to feed their powers and we don’t. That doesn’t help us figure out what’s going on with the Mortal Gods. Enid’s name is next on the list. If we don’t do something then she’s going to be transferred.”

“What if that’s all it is though?” Theos asks. “What if she really is just being transferred to another academy? There’s nothing wrong there.”

I shake my head. “No, the book wouldn’t mention it if it weren’t important,” I argue before flipping the book around with the front facing outward. “Look at it.” I point. “Look at the title.”

“To Those Who Have Been Stolen,” Theos reads the title aloud and then sighs. His shoulders slump in defeat. “You’re right. That doesn’t exactly sound like the title for a list of names of people who are okay.”

“They’ve been stolen,” I insist. “But what does that mean?” Frustration colors my tone, and to my surprise, it’s Ruen who steps closer and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“We’ll figure it out,” he says.

The sharp bolt of heat that spreads from his palm through the fabric of my tunic makes me look up at him, my eyes fixating on his lips in remembrance of how they felt against mine. He’d been so heavy on top of me, controlling, commanding. My thighs press together. Would he be the same if we did it again?

Thankfully, my thoughts don’t lead me to do something stupid like lean forward and place my mouth back on his to find out. Because, in the next instant, a loud cracking against the window has all of our heads turning in that direction. A groan rumbles up my chest and I quickly thrust the book back into Ruen’s grasp as I turn and stalk across the room. Flipping the lock and opening the glass, Regis’ crow flutters into the room.

“Caw! Caw!” The bird flaps its wings and circles overhead before landing on my shoulder in a fury of feathers. Its beak pecks lightly at my head.

I glare sideways at the damn creature before ripping the scroll off its leg. I’m already halfway to the fire of the hearth, intending to toss this note where all the others have gone when I stop. There’s a splotch of something dark, a stain, on the side of the scroll. When I lift it to my face, the scent of blood hits me.

I slip open the note with fast, trembling fingers. There are only two short sentences, but they turn my insides to pure ice.

Underworld has been breached. Stay safe. — R

Breached? The Underworld has been breached? When? How?

“What is it?” Ruen is across the room and at my side in a split second. He takes the note from my hand and curses. “Kiera?” He looks at me. “What does this mean?”

I lift my gaze to his. “It means the Underworld is collapsing,” I say.

“How?” he demands.

Regis’ crow nuzzles its beak against my cheek as if seeking comfort. I reach up, absently rubbing my fingertips over the bird’s feathers along its neck. No wonder the animal was acting odd.

“I don’t know,” I answer Ruen without emotion. “It’s never happened before. The Underworld has been around for decades—hundreds of years—Ophelia is only the most recent head.”

“Do you think the Gods…” Theos’ question drifts off as my eyes move sharply to him.

“No, they can’t know.” I don’t know if I say the words because I believe them to be true or because I want them to be.

Regis is alive though. If he weren’t then he wouldn’t have been able to send me this note. I straighten and glance at the bird perched on my shoulder. Regis’ crow looks back at me with deep black eyes.

“We need to go,” I say.

“Go?” Ruen crumples the piece of parchment in his fist. “Go where?”

“To the city,” I snap, storming forward. “To the shop.”

I hurry past Ruen and then Theos, both theirs and Kalix’s eyes watching me as I rush for Ruen’s room. I grab my cloak and thrust it on. Regis’ crow caws at me again but he leaves my shoulder to allow the movement and then circles me as I head back into the living area.

“Kalix, I need—” A little tap on my booted foot nearly sends me jumping out of my skin and I cut myself off to look down and spy a snake with a glimmering shimmer of jade green scales peering up at me. There’s a dagger handle sticking out of its mouth along with a leather strap.

Bending, I take it from the creature and look at Kalix, who’s looking at me rather smug, and nod my thanks. The snake slithers away now that its task is complete and I hook the strap of the dagger sheath around my thigh, buckling it into place.

“You’re not going alone,” Ruen barks. “So don’t even think of it.”

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