Page 139 of Of Blood & Stone

“Come back with me to Vutror. You and Kharis. We’ll heal Orym, get my crew, and then we’ll find a ship and get off this damned continent.”

Birds chirping and dragonflies buzzing, Sylzenya considered his words. Shecouldgo with him, away from this daunting, impossible task, and she could live a life far away from here. She’d heard of the ocean, had seen pictures in books; it was treacherous more often than not, but it seemed Elnok felt confident his crew would navigate it well enough.

“We could,” she whispered.

She felt his smile against her neck, a calloused hand wiping hair away from her face.

“Your goddess did this, not you. She can’t expect her creation to clean up her messes.”

Squeezing her eyes shut, Sylzenya rubbed her forehead on his shoulder. He was right—everything between Aretta and Distrathrus was a product of their own selfishness, not hers. It was unfair to bestow this on her shoulders.

And yet, there was no one else.

Monsters would kill every last human on the continent while she sailed away, leaving everyone else to reap thedestruction she’d had the chance to prevent. It didn’t matter that she shouldn’t be responsible for killing Distrathrus. The fact remained that, according to Aretta’s vision, only she could kill him.

“I can’t,” she whispered. “His blood still runs through my veins, and enough people have died by my hands. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself knowing I could’ve prevented more from dying.”

Elnok tensed. “But this isn’t your fault.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Sylzenya retorted, straightening and leaning back, staring into his eyes. “I’ve killed a lot of people, Elnok. Stolen their lives without a second thought. I may not have intended it, but my intentions don’t change anything. Aretta thought she was making the right choice, but it turned out to only make matters worse.” She stared at his tunic, the black texture glistening in the golden light, purples, oranges, blues, and reds shimmering. “What kind of person would I be to walk away knowing thousands of lives could’ve been spared by my hand?”

His shoulders drooped, his hands squeezing her arms as he shut his eyes.

“But what if you die?”

Light filtering through the surrounding willow trees, Sylzenya flexed her hand. The earth—this strange earth within this powerful tree—sang to her. But this melody was different—soft and aching, a yearning for home. It flitted through her hair, danced along her skin, and melted into her flesh.

A strange sense of calm wrapped around her veins, like vines covered in salve. If she was going to die, then she would make sure Distrathrus died with her. No more destruction by her or her people’s hands; no more taking what wasn’t theirs; no more death.

She needed to end it once and for all.

“Then I’ll die knowing I finally did what I’ve always wanted.” A small smile peeled across her mouth. “Being here for my people—and for the continent—when I’m needed most.”

Elnok no longer stared at her. Instead, his gaze turned to the ground, his body shaking as shimmering tears fell. Filled with a new sense of purpose and longing, Sylzenya tilted his chin up. His bloodshot eyes searched hers as if trying to find some way to change what had to be done.

“Then I’ll go with you,” he said, standing tall.

Sylzenya shook her head. “We both have our own responsibilities. You have Orym and your crew while I have?—”

“The entire fucking continent,” he muttered.

She laughed, wiping the tears from his face, the stubble of his jaw rough against her fingers. She’d miss it—miss him.

“Same thing, really,” she chided, brushing stray strands of hair from his face.

A harsh laugh mixed with his sobs. “And here I thought I was going to be the one to comfort you. I should’ve known better.”

She tilted her head. “Why’s that?”

“Because,” he leaned down, his breaths evening out as they brushed her lips, “you persevere, even when no one has the will to do it. And while I hate your goddess to the deepest, darkest pits of hell, she couldn’t have chosen anyone better to see that Distrathrus finally gets what he deserves.”

Lower lip quivering, Sylzenya’s smile wobbled. Her heart, her nerves, and her resolve steadied, and she didn’t question herself as she said her next words.

“I’ll never forget you.”

Elnok’s brows dipped, his grip squeezing her arms tight. A small warm silence floated between them. She wanted him to understand that, if it had been possible, she would’ve gone with him to the ends of the earth.

“How dare you undo me like this,” he whispered.

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