Page 149 of Of Blood & Stone

At the end of it all, he did what no one else had done.

He came back when it mattered most.

He breathed into her neck, cupping her head with his hand. “And I’m not letting you and Kharis fight this god alone. We need to see this through together.”

Together.

Together.

Together.

She squeezed him tighter. The sweetness of that word, the comfort and safety it sang in the air, gave her a strength she didn’t know she’d been needing for this final confrontation with Distrathrus.

“Together,” she breathed.

Elnok released her, looking up to Kharis and extending a hand. “You too, Kharis.”

Kharis stepped next to them, taking Elnok’s hand, resting his other on Sylzenya’s shoulder. She smiled, grabbing his hand.

“Who would’ve thought it’d be us three?” Kharis asked, taking a knee, “I supposed Distrathrus has taken something from all of us.”

Her parents and childhood. Elnok’s family. Kharis’ lover.

“Bastard,” Elnok agreed.

“Then let’s end this.” Sylzenya said, standing up.

The forest looked to have been trampled by giants, most of the dead trees sprawled on the ground, creating a pathway to the end of the forest. She checked her compass.

The path led straight to Distrathrus.

“Of course that’s where he is,” she whispered, grabbing the hilt of her sword.

All three of them walked along the path, finally arriving at the Willow Grove. Sylzenya’s first willow tree stood tall, its green leaves a luscious waterfall.

But Distrathrus’ marble throne was gone.

Instead, a great hole sat in its place, a flight of stairs leading down into the earth, glowing orodytes lining the path.

“The passage to the orodyte mines,” Sylzenya said, her heart pounding as she stared into the steep stairwell, “Distrathrus wants us to meet him down there.”

“Is there no other entrance?” Elnok inquired.

“No,” Sylzenya said. “This is it.”

“Then we march forward and remain wary of any traps he’s laid out for us,” Kharis said.

“A fairly sound plan, given our circumstances,” Elnok said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Sylzenya rolled her shoulders, gripping the hilt of the only weapon able to kill Distrathrus’ god-form. The only weapon that could end him—the god who’d controlled her since the day she stepped into the temple—once and for all.

“Well then,” she finally said, “let’s go kill a god, shall we?”

Chapter 36

A Celebration of Blood

Orodyte cast a soft glow on the marble steps, the path growing steadily steeper as they continued down into the earth. Sylzenya fumbled her hand over the sword’s hilt, practicing a quick grasp while trying to remember Kharis’ instruction on how to use power like a Dynami.

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