Page 171 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

She takes a deep breath, as if trying to collect herself. “The mortals have begun abandoning their keepers. Malachi sees that as a sign of rebellion and has made examples of dozens tonight, in the arena.”

“How?” His voice is steely.

“How do you suppose? With his favorite pet.”

My blood turns cold. “There’s a daaknar here?”

“That is right. You fought one bravely and survived. How are those scars?” Sofie studies my shoulder as if she can somehow see the marks through leather and cloth. “I’ve heard they are hideous.”

I ignore her petty taunt. “We’ve swapped one king executing mortals for another. How is this better?”

“Believe me when I tell you, the last king’s hangings were far more humane.” She shifts her focus back to Zander. “Since you asked, the rumor is that your sister escaped Cirilea in a ship.”

Zander pauses a beat. “To Northmost?”

“We do not know, but the ship was mostly empty, and she was held at knifepoint by a male with black hair.”

“She was taken hostage, then. She is likely in Northmost.”

“That is for you to discover, but the information is my gift. I have kept up my end of the bargain.” She gestures to Wendeline. “See? Alive and well enough. Now it is your turn to hold up your end.”

“Let her come with us!” I blurt before I can quell my urgency. “Please.” I know Zander wants her here as a potential ally, but seeing her now … Wendeline isn’t the only one who played a role in everything that’s happened, but she seems to have suffered the most for it.

“I cannot. If the priestess is missing and the king should ask, it will raise alarms. I have enough to cover up with these nightly visits of yours.” She sets her jaw with determination. “Do not return until you have an answer.”

“What if it is not the answer you hope for? What will you do then?” Zander challenges.

Her eyes narrow. “I will protect my Elijah until the right answer arrives, whether that is today, tomorrow, or three centuries from now.”

“At what cost?”

“Any!” she snaps, her composure fraying again, like a worn rope that can no longer bear the tension it holds.

“And will he accept that?” Zander steps forward, testing the boundary of my shield. “When Elijah learns all that you have done in his name, do you think he will fall to your feet in praise or in agony? I know how I would feel if Romeria sat idly by and allowed the murder of innocent people. I could not live in my own skin after that.”

Sofie’s eyes glow brighter, as if she’s about to strike. “Do not be reckless enough to think that if you were to kill Malachi today, that you would be protected from him tomorrow, when he finds the next suitable host waiting within the Nulling. As long as the rift is open and he wishes to walk this plane, you will never be free of him, in one form or another.” Her posture stiffens. She looks ready to pounce. “But if you harm my husband, you will also never be free of me.” Suddenly, her head whips left. “Someone approaches. You must leave now,” she hisses.

“Metal. Soldiers’ footfalls,” Abarrane confirms.

“Lucretia?”

The sylx materializes at my side, her hand on my shoulder.

Sofie’s mouth hangs.

“We will find an answer,” I promise, offering Wendeline one last smile that, I hope, says, “Hang in there” before I whisk us back through to Ulysede.

46

Sofie

I will dwell on that creature that appeared out of thin air later.

For now … There’s not enough time to incinerate the bodies.

Drawing on every thread of Aminadav I can find, I force the grassy ground to swallow the half-dozen Saur’goths whole, burying them deep in the dirt. The last ripple in the grass moves just as two more round the corner.

Wendeline shrinks under their looming forms.

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