Page 73 of Vanquished Gods

My thoughts flowed into the tree, showing it who Sion truly was. Not just a king, not just a vampire, but a starving boy who only thought of food, who once watched his mother executedbefore his eyes, a man who had protected his friend’s life over and over again. A man who’d savedmylife.

Slowly, the roots began to release their hold.

But as they did, Epona’s hand tangled in my hair. She yanked me back sharply, and I felt her fangs sink into my neck, piercing the flesh.

I slammed my elbow into her gut from behind, but she didn’t let go. I brought my elbow back harder that time, aiming for her ribs, and heard the crunch of her bone as I made contact. She released her grip on my throat, but she still held my hair, trying to drag me into the flames. I reached back, grabbing her hard, driving my thumb into the sensitive nerve cluster on the outside of her upper arm. She yelped in pain, releasing me.

Maelor ripped her away, slamming her onto the rocky earth by her throat.

I turned back to the tree, focusing my magic again.

The last of the roots slithered away from Sion’s body, and his golden eyes snapped open, blazing with the reflection of the fire that raged all around us.

“Took you long enough.” His low, quiet voice made my chest unclench.

His gaze flicked behind me, and I spun just in time to see Maelor drive the hawthorn stake into Epona’s heart. Her mouth fell open, her eyes wide, but there were no words this time. No final cries of love.

She simply crumbled into ash.

CHAPTER 34

Back at the castle, Sion immediately swept into action, taking charge as if he hadn’t been impaled to a tree for several days. In the great hall, standing before his throne, he issued sharp commands to the seneschal. He wanted provisions for the families of the six dead soldiers. He wanted Aveline interrogated, and for reports on anyone seen talking to Epona in recent weeks.

Sion had found his traitor.

The scent of cinders wrapped around us both—as did the tension, coiling tighter with each passing moment. He knew what I’d done, that I’d killed Bran and lied, and we still hadn’t spoken of it.

I hadn’t wanted to talk about it on the way back to the castle. Not with Maelor around. Not until we were alone.

Just as I started to turn away, Sion’s hand shot out and gripped my bicep, his fingers like iron. His gold eyes flared. “I need to speak to you. In private. Come to my room in thirty minutes.”

I sighed. “I’ll be there.”

As Sion turned to Aelius, I dragged myself back to my chambers. My thoughts were tangled briars, twisted and thorny.Maelor was right. It reallywasn’teasy to talk to someone about murdering someone they cared about.

I pushed through the door into my room, stripping off my filthy clothes. I marched directly into the bathroom and filled the tub.

After days in a cage, dirt and grime covered every inch of my skin.

I slipped into the bathtub as moonlight poured in through the high arched windows, catching the steam in coils of silver. Heat from the bath warmed my body. I ran the lavender-scented soap over my skin.

I tried to relax, but Epona’s screams still echoed in my thoughts. She was gone, but I felt her loneliness deep in my chest.

She’d said I didn’t deserve Sion. I’d shagged his best friend, murdered another friend. Admittedly, it didn’t sound great when it was summarized that way.

I sank deeper into the bath, the water warming me up to my shoulders.

When I thought Sion had killed someone I loved, I’d looked at him like he was a monster. Now, I had to wonder how he would look at me, knowing the same.

The steam curled around me as I stepped out of the bath, water dripping down my bare skin. I dried myself and flung open my wardrobe, frowning at the dresses Epona had brought me. How had no one else noticed that she was doing the job of a servant?

I pulled on a long red dress and turned to catch sight of myself in the mirror. I looked like another woman—smoother, stiller.

I hurried out, crossing through the torchlit castle to get to Sion’s room. The walk felt longer than it should have as my thoughts spun.

When I reached his door, I hesitated. My fist hovered over the wood for a few seconds before I finally knocked.

Sion’s voice carried through the wood. “Come in. I’ll be out in a moment.”

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