Page 128 of Of Blood & Stone

“I’m going to get him healed and then get off of this damned continent you and your brother ruined.”

“I am agoddess.How dare you speak to me like this?”

Elnok scoffed. “A goddess trapped in a fuckingtree.”

The birds stopped their songs. The breeze, which Elnok hadn’t noticed until now, stopped brushing his hair across his face.

“Nothing will save you from my brother’s wrath,” she said carefully.

“You’d certainly like me to think that, don’t you? Get me caught up in your little war like you’ve done to this kingdom? I came here for Orym. I was told you had his cure and…” He took a deep breath, realizing bartering with a goddess was a poor time to not wear a mask, even if she was trapped in a magical tree. “Please, it’s the only reason why I came to Estea in the first place.”

She sighed, kneeling next to him. “I know your heartaches, Elnok. Your brother, your parents, the damage it’s caused you. But you need to know the truth of what actually happened.”

“Unless the truth can bring them back, then it doesn’t matter. They’re dead, end of story.”

“Your brother isn’t.”

“He is to me,” he argued. “I’m not here for an explanation about my family history, who did what or why. And I’m not a part of your fight.”

“But you are,” she replied. “Elnok, it was Distrathrus who warped your brother’s mind. It was his wine—his blood.”

Elnok’s heart raced, his hands clammy as he crawled backwards, away from her touch. Sharp pain sliced into his neck. Of course it’d been Distrathrus. He’d been too busy trying not to die to fully accept it.

She shook her head, “But that’s only the start.”

“I don’t need to know,” Elnok sneered. “Besides, weren’t you the one supposed to destroy your brother? Be the savior of thisworld? So, in reality, I should be blaming you for my brother’s crazed state.”

Aretta’s nose flared.

He continued anyways, “Orym has less than two days, maybe even less than a day until he’s dead.”

“What of Sylzenya?” she pushed.

“What about her?” Even as he said the words, something in his chest twisted. He’d made it this far, was this close to getting Orym’s medicine, and he’d do anything to retrieve it. Just because he’d imagined a life with Sylzenya—wanteda life with her—didn’t mean he could have it.

Not if it meant sacrificing Orym’s life in the process.

“I thought you cared for the woman?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Fool.” She shook her head. “Wasn’t Orym the one who told you that, even if you find medicine, he wouldn’t take it unless you had enough for everyone? I don’t have the power to heal all your people, and you knew this. So why come all this way knowing it would amount to nothing but his inevitable death?”

“You know, I really don’t appreciate how much interest you seem to have taken inmylife while being caged in this paradise of yours,” he growled. “Orym will take the medicine, even if I have to force him.”

“I’m sure that will go well,” she retorted, “but you’re avoiding my question, Elnok. Why are you really here?”

“I already told you?—”

“If I’m going to give you the medicine, you need to be honest with not just me, but yourself. Why are you here, Elnok Rogdul of Vutror?”

Rage and sorrow collided into him like a fresh storm off the coast, lightning and thunder raging all around him, his brother’s face cast in shadow as the waves crashed over Elnok, tasting like dark putrid wine.

“Because I’m not going to lose Orym like I lost my brother!”

Fresh tears ran down his face. The goddess’ face—his mother’s face—stared at him unflinchingly.

“Since you seem to knoweverything, then you already know I’ve lost everyone I ever loved,” he said, his salty tears thick on his tongue, “and I won’t lose anyone else.”

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