Page 28 of The Oracle of Dusk

“I’ll figure that out when I’ve had more than a few hours of sleep.”

Goddess, a soft bed, and something to dull the pain enough to sleep, sounded absolutely sublime. Not that she was likely to get that in this thrice-damned mountain hideout. He was probably lying about the healer. That would be appropriate for a monster, letting her hope until the pain was too much to bear, then throwing her into a pit of despair. It was a technique her less savoury imperial tutors had discussed at length.

“Will we actually be safe in here?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Maybe, if you prove worthy of that information, I’ll tell you.”

She snorted with derision. There was no one more worthy of the information than she.

“Triad’s titties, you sure you’re not one of Orithyia’s henchmen? You sound just like her.”

He grunted angrily.

“I could leave you here.”

Why did that make him so angry? Wasn’t an avatar supposed to be devoted to the high priestesses? Though maybe not. The temples hunted down those with divine eyes almost as zealously as the Viridian crown did. After all, high priestesses could have their fates stolen and altered just as easily as princesses by people like him. She shouldn’t forget what he was, even if his smooth voice was the only thing that helped keep her mind off the pain.

“You don’t strike me as a coward.”

“Just a monster?”

Phaedra kept her counsel, turning her head. He was a monster by anyone’s estimates. But perhaps he could be useful too. Aurora slept on. Lucky, that. Less lucky was her fate. Could a fate such as hers even be altered by someone with divine eyes? Could Phaedra take this terrible burden from Aurora’s shoulders?

“Can you change someone’s fate?” Phaedra asked softly.

He was quiet for so long, she didn’t think he would answer.

“After a fashion.”

“Make me a promise, Silvanus.”

“No, Phaedra.”

“You haven’t heard what I was going to say.”

“I don’t use my magic to benefit the Viridian crown.”

“I wasn’t going to ask for myself.”

“Still no.”

She ignored him.

“Promise me that if Aurora’s fate is to die and mine is to live, that you’ll switch our fates.”

The cart stopped.

“Don’t ask that of me.”

Fuck him. How dare he? If Phaedra wanted to keep her best friend alive by all means at her disposal, who was he to stop her? Viridis had six princesses. It only had one Aurora.

“Why not? You hate me, don’t you?”

He hobbled over to the cart and glared down at her, his eyes glittering like faceted sapphires.

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