Page 289 of The Sins of Silas

I desperately tried to piece it together.

“You…you are the God ofVengeance. The God of Justice…” I blinked. “Your power, your magic, that is the magic to stop all magic. The white flame in Asael’s painting.”

Silas's words filtered through.

“He told us the weapon was in Ames, but if your seer had seen it coming, perhaps he moved it.”

“In Ames…” I whispered.

Igon's words from the Chamber of Time came to me next.

“I must teach her everything I know. She needs to be able to piece it together when the time comes. She must be kept safe.”

I blinked, Kayin’s words rushing to me.

“She is a Mage. A powerful one. Or, I should say she will be. Her power…it is unlike anything anyone has ever seen.”

“You look…you look like my father.” My eyes raised to him. Yes, he looked exactly like Waylon.

Or…Waylon looked exactly like him.

Ilooked like him.

And the final words that came to me, Igon’s words, are what finally made me understand.

“You are more special than you know.”

“It’s me,” I breathed. “Iam the weapon.”

Azrae’s eyes sparkled with pride. “And how is that possible, dear?”

It was all starting to make sense now. There was a reason Waylon looked like Azrae. Waylon—who was always described as too handsome to be just a fisherman.

“You changed his appearance to match yours…”

“Why?” Azrae pressed.

Waylon’s appearance was altered…because…

“Because I was not sired by Waylon,” I breathed. “I was sired byyou.”

The God of Vengeance’s smile grew. “You acquired your power at a young age, far younger than normal. You have grasped magic with ease compared to those around you.” He stepped forward, staring down at me as I lay on the rack. “You sense darkness. You feel it even when your friends do not.” He leaned down, brushing his hand along my face. “Who are you, Lena?”

The gated door to the courtyard creaked open, but my eyes remained on Azrae despite the bodies that began filtering in.

PURIFICATION WILL ENSURE BALANCE, JUST AS HER FATHER HAS.

“I am a God,” I whispered. “I am your daughter. The Goddess of Purification.”

“That is right, my dear.” The God of Vengeance's smile grew proud. “And you shall bow tono one.”

Chapter Eighty-Two

SILAS - THIRTY DAYS AGO

My vision was blurring, the pain from my wound radiating from where my chest was impaled down each of my limbs.

I had no concept of time; I believed I was going in and out of consciousness.

---