Page 130 of Wings of Death

“She tried to kill me, but Amaros stopped her. Then I flew here and found her, and blasted her ass deep into the ground. And here we are.”

Demetros pulls me into his chest and rubs my back, and I find myself finally able to relax. It has been the hardest few weeks of my life, but it’s over. Hethenos has lost, and she’s going to pay for all of it.

“What can we do to help?” Lacinda asks.

Demetros releases me.

“We need to move Hethenos to the cells before she drowns down there,” I tell them. “She’s going before The Throne to pay for what she’s done.”.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

After the three of us lock Hethenos in the cells, I fly back to the castle to check on Harlum. It’s strange to call him that, and not call him my father, but the reality is he’s not. I can’t even call him my father based on him raising me, because he’s never really been there for me. It’s clear to me now that I was nothing more than an item of power to him. A goddess he could use to his advantage, just like he did with my mother.

I didn’t tell Demetros or Lacinda about that yet. Once the dust has settled, I’ll debrief them on the twisted branches of my new family tree. I’m still in shock about it myself, but also somewhat relieved to finally learn the truth.

Anxiety creeps up on me as I move through the corridor toward Harlum’s quarters. I’m half expecting to see the twins guarding his doors, but I know that isn’t possible. They’re both dead now. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought, at how easily Hethenos could take their lives, as if it was nothing.

I spot two young guards I don’t recognise standing outside his quarters, and they immediately step aside and hold the door open for me. I give them a nod in thanks when I pass them and walk into Harlum’s quarters.

The room is dimly lit as usual, and the fire is crackling away somewhere to my right. I cross the room to the double doors that lead to his bedroom.

Mikel stands guard on one side of his bed, and Amaros on the other. He scans my body, his wide eyes silently telling me he’s glad to see I’m okay.

My stomach does a little flip as nerves fly around inside me. I have learnt things about Amaros that concern me. A lot. The fact he’s really a god, for one. Despite Hethenos’s lack of clarity, I know he’s involved. I heard him speak of their plans myself, even though he said I misheard him. I didn’t, and I’m going to find out the depths of his involvement.

I shift my focus to Mikel and smile at him as I approach Harlum’s bedside.

“Zarla?” Harlum mumbles while he shifts under the covers to face me.

I take hold of his hand, his skin rough with calluses. “Yes, it’s me.”

He blinks, trying to focus on me, and he appears so much older, no doubt due to the poison weaving its way through his system.

“After I learnt of the poison, we had the healers remove it. He woke from his coma a few hours later,” Amaros explains.

I don’t look his way, but I dip my head in acknowledgement.

“Hethenos did the same to me,” I explain to Harlum. “Alaron removed it.”

Harlum’s expression hardens. “How do you know Alaron?”

“It doesn’t matter. He saved me, and that’s what counts.”

I have to be careful around Amaros. Although he and Harlum both already know I’m a goddess, I don’t believe they know Kyle is a god, and I need to keep that information to myself. I can’t risk them entrapping me within the Kingdom to prevent me from seeing him. Or worse, trying to use me against him.

Harlum shuffles until his back is pressed against the soft pillows lining his headboard. “Where have you been?” he asks though a strained voice.

Taking a deep breath, I explain what Hethenos and the twins did to me, how Amaros saved me, and how Hethenos and I fought in the Dark Forest. I tell him how she used Finlay to lead the watchers to kill Kyle, and how she’s now locked up in the cells. And finally, I tell him how she confessed to murdering my mother.

His reaction is interesting, and it’s clear he already knew, but he tries to act surprised anyway.

I don’t mention how I know Amaros is a god and was involved in Hethenos’s plans, and I think it surprises Amaros, judging by the way he’s looking at me. But I don’t do it for him; I do it for me, allowing myself time to figure out his involvement and decide what to do about it. I don’t mention the way Harlum treated my mother, the fact he isn’t my real father, or the fact both Hethenos and Astelle are goddesses, too.

“Zarla, I am so sorry,” Harlum whispers. “I had no idea she was capable of such atrocities.”

Another lie.

“I will have Amaros bring on new guards. I can’t say I’m sorry to hear of the twins’ fate. After what they did, they deserved nothing less.”

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