Page 102 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

“The Covenant said I would become God. Not quite the same thing, is it?”

“I guess that depends on what you decide to do with your power.”

“Oh, Lennon. You need to put your sulking behind you and come with me. We have much to discuss.” He glanced at the sky and his eyes shifted back to green. “But first, maybe you could demonstrate your good will, as it were…”

“And prove I’m no longer unlocked?”

“Here, where there is plenty of space, just in case.”

I called to Kivi.

You are safe?

I am safe. But please, only hover. We will not let him see what we can do.

I got to my feet and felt Kivi appear behind me, though I didn’t bother to look. “Satisfied?”

He scowled. “She is only spirit?”

“Unless I wish otherwise.”

His attention was torn between studying my face and staring at my dragon. For my own safety, I had to be honest.

“Look, buddy. I know for a fact that you would steal my dragon and kill me if you could. But you can’t. I’m the last of the DeNoy, and without me, there is no dragon.” Then I took a stab in the dark. “Without me, there is no…transportation home.”

He was genuinely taken aback by my frankness, and he opened his mouth to respond, but eventually shut it again. Instead, he offered his hand and helped guide me out of the thick growth of the meadow. One of the pink cosmos blossoms caught my eye and shook her little head, warning me not to go with him. I could only smile back.

I was sure many in Fairy would feel the same, as did some in the mortal realm. They just didn’t understand. I had a world—maybe two—to save.

37

Reforming The Devil

Orion took my hand and popped us into the now-populated throne room, inside the arch at the back. I didn’t invite Kivi to join us, so she would fade and go to wherever it was she retreated when I didn’t need her. He held my hand high while he led me through the parting crowd to the throne and mini throne at the front of the room, with their high backs to the purple universe. He enjoyed making an entrance.

My dramatic dress and glittering tiara were worthy of the overdressed crowd. I just hoped my butt wasn’t covered with grass stains as I passed Feathers near the front. And if she was jealous when Griffon called me his other half, it was nothing compared to her reaction when Orion insisted I take the second throne. I thought she was going to have a stroke. But then, Fae didn’t have strokes…

A man with a ledger came forward to consult privately with Orion. They spoke so low I couldn’t catch a word of it. But when the man stepped away, Feathers was there to hiss in Orion’s ear. She was far too emotional to control herself, and I heard her easily.

“For my reward, sire, I want Griffon Carew. Nothing else.”

Orion shook his curls. “Impossible. There will be little left of him, I think, when this is finished.” He waved her away, then checked my reaction.

“I don’t want him dead, you know.”

“We shall see how you feel when the time comes.”

He raised his hand, which cued the start of music played by an orchestra I couldn’t see. The crowd took it as a signal their attention was no longer needed, and they meandered away from us and began speaking amongst themselves.

“All right,” I said. “Let’s hear what you have planned…once you become God.”

“The Naming Powers already in my possession are impressive,” he said. “Surely you’ve witnessed at least a few of them before they came to be mine?”

“I have.” My friends and I had also noticed how he’d been wreaking havoc all over the world with his corruptive powers of Vanity and War. At least, we hoped he was behind much of it. It was impossible to believe otherwise. Whole countries were falling apart, and civilization wouldn’t last much longer if we—ifI—couldn’t stop him.

“Since you are familiar, then, is it so difficult to believe I want power for power’s sake? What more could I want than to be God over the entire earth? Fae and Man.”

“And witch.”

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