Page 98 of A Clash of Embers

“And whatthingsare we talking about?” I countered.

“Lyetta.”

I knew that name. I remember it. From where? The surge in my chest at the realization of where that name came from nearly stopped me from walking. The dream I had. We were running from them. From the Lyetta.

“She keeps them hidden, in case of emergencies. They were supposed to be in Tetharus, but she conveniently didn’t put them there after the last battle.”

“What about the last battle? What happened there?” I asked.

She sighed, “It was awful. Your grandmother, Goddess Colette, was severely wounded. She called for Garrick and he came to her. He was madly in love with her, even though they weren’t divine mates. He chose her as his one true love, despite themagic. Garrick Morgan left that battlefield that day, trying to save as many of the first and second-generation children as he could. He was able to get to Phillip, Griffin’s brother, to get him to safety, but everyone else was in danger. Garrick was considered to be one of the most powerful beings in the witch kingdom, and what he did changedeverythingfor us. He was the one to counter the curse against Athiana. It wasn’t Theo. She only wanted you to think it was Theo because that meant you couldn’t be her enemy. But you are exactly that, Clara Morgan Artesia. You are Athiana’s number one enemy.”

I was completely stunned into silence. I stopped walking and so did Consul Loveridge. The rest of the group realized that we were no longer moving and modified their walk to a slower pace.

“Garrick Morgan? My grandfather was the one to counteract Athiana’s curse?”

Consul Loveridge nodded. “Yes, he did. His selflessness and love placed Athiana in a never-ending loop, one that needed the blood of her enemy to end it because Athiana doesn’t know what love is truly, but you did and so did Theo. He had selfless love for his sons and you did foryourfather. Clara—” She stepped in closer to me. “I might have doubted you at first, but I need you to know that I no longer feel that way about you. You have given me hope. Something I haven’t had in a very long time and I thank you for that.”

She reached out her hand to me and I looked at it before glancing back to her pristinely polished face, “Is this a truce?”

She laughed as her other hand grabbed mine, placing it in a handshake. A truce. The start of a new friendship.

“We should probably catch up with the rest of the group. Don’t you think so?”

I nodded. “I think so. They might think we became best friends.”

Her laugh was spiteful as she said, “Ah. Don’t get a big head, Clara. We’re not.”

Damn, this woman and her ability to ignore my charm.

I felt the scratch at the base of my neck as his voice answered my snarky comment.

I think you’re winning her over. Slowly, but still winning.

I smiled because I had made progress. And wasn’t progress a funny thing? Something that I wanted to be instantaneous, but what I’d learned was that progress was different for everyone. Success looked different for everyone. I knew today would be a great day because of the outlook I had on my life right now. It was different and unsure, but it was a step in the right direction.

We stepped through some larger sets of trees with markings etched into them. We were getting close. A strange, shocking feeling pulsed through my veins the closer we got. It was asong. A call to me. It needed me.

I noticed the entire group stopped their forward march to the Cliffs of Heir. They all turned their heads and looked back at me. I quickly glanced around at the faces. They were apprehensive about continuing, looking to me for an answer.

My steps were muffled by the soft, white snow that layered the ground and my breath swirled with steam with every breath I exhaled. I felt Ev’s eyes on me closer to the front of the group I got. It was a sense of dread that I wasn’t anticipating. When I found his gaze, his eyes were glowing. The soft lavender that I had gotten to know and understand. The look of pure love.

“Clara, the tree is just a few steps ahead. We will stay here as you go and open the lock,” Consul Loveridge announced to me. Everyone could hear it because no one mumbled or mentioned a thing.

I nodded and walked forward. As I broke through the line of soldiers near the front, a hand gripped mine, turning me to face my divine mate.

“I know we said no goodbyes, but I still need that kiss from you.”

I chuckled and he leaned in, kissing me harshly, longingly, a kiss that neither of us wanted to pull away from. Once we finally did, we were out of breath, staring at each other like we were the only two standing there.

“When our stars align,” he whispered, leaning his forehead into mine.

I replied, “When our stars align.”

The tenseness in my shoulders was tight, and with every breath the muscles pulled together, making each step harder for me. When I finally made it to the tree, I remembered the three things I needed. The onyx ring, the sword across my back, and the necklace. But I knew something about the necklace that no one else knew.

Under the curse, Amari had given me a special rose-gold necklace, the one that helped me solidify my powers. The necklace that now lived inside of me. Within my skin. I held all three keys.

When I looked at the tree, I saw the sketches, and markings that I couldn’t make out or understand. But I was drawn to them. I knew what I needed to do.

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