Page 222 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

“I am feeling compassionate. And Malachi is testing my patience in ways I do not appreciate.”

I swallow. “You’ll block everything from coming through the Nulling?”

“For a time. Not for all time. My mercy is not limitless.”

I nod. “I understand. Thank you. Both of you.”

Vin’nyla hovers behind, dissecting me with her tarnished silver eyes. Wherever that wyvern took Neilina—Aoife—I’ll bet all the jewels in Argon’s castle that it was by this fate’s order. “You are bound to us now, to call upon when you next have a request.”

“Oh, I’m not summon—” I cut myself off before I admit that if we survive the coming days, I will never stand in front of these two again.

Their laughter rings out, Vin’nyla’s a musical song, Aminadav’s a lover’s deep chuckle.

“She denies us while she wields gifts we tore from our very forms.” Suddenly, his massive hand is in my satchel, pulling out the silver mask and the horn.

“The nymphs gave me those,” I stammer.

Anger ignites in his eyes. “They were gifts from us! This is bone, ripped from my very skull!”

“They’ve been very helpful. Thank you.” I should just keep saying this over and over again. Or better yet, shut my mouth entirely.

Aminadav drops the silver mask back in but holds the horn. “You do not even know what it does.”

“The elders told me it was for when all hope is lost.”

“Is that what they said?” He sneers. “You could use it today. Now.”

I throw caution to the wind and ask, “What would happen?”

“There is only one way to find out.”

“Would someone die?”

“Someone always dies in war.” He cocks his head, surveying my face like an archaeologist might admire a perplexing find dug out of the ground. “You do not value my gift.”

“I do! I just … I’m afraid of it,” I stammer.

“You are afraid of extraordinary power?” He holds the end of the horn close to my lips. “You could end your people’s suffering right now. All it would take is a sacrifice.”

I pull back a touch, afraid I’ll accidentally blow into it. “What do I have to sacrifice?”

Again, Aminadav studies me as if searching for answers hidden deep within. “That is for you to tell me. Who is the Queen for All willing to exchange for peace in her realms? Who would she sacrifice to save the lives of her people?”

I resist the urge to shrink away as I process his words. Agatha was right in her warning. A gift of this magnitude would come at a significant cost. I suppose the fates aren’t all that different from the nymphs. And there is only one answer to that question. “Myself.”

His eyes narrow. “You would sacrifice your life for these people from this foreign land, many of whom would have killed you ten times over? Would kill you still.”

I’m not doing this for them. “If you are saying the people of these realms will live…” Forget the ones who hate me, if we are in our darkest hour with no hope in sight and giving my life will save everyone I love … “Yes. My life for those of the realms. All the realms, including Islor.”

Aminadav’s gaze traces my features as he sets the horn in my hand. “That is a commendable sacrifice. An acceptable one.”

My dread bubbles. What have I just agreed to?

“If there is nothing else …” Vin’nyla’s voice trails.

I sense my time with these fates is running out. I hesitate, my fingers gripping the bronze token tightly. “Can I ask a question?”

“A question about a question.” Aminadav’s heavy eyebrow arches. “We are waiting.”

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