Chapter 30

Chapter

Thirty

ELRIC

D own below, a sea of black armor and ashes covered the temple's frosty grounds. The afternoon sun was high in the sky, its light reflecting off the crimson-dotted snow. Metallic shields glinted, spilled blood and forgotten weapons by their side. It had only been a few days since the eclipse on Bruma and Selene and Emrys were now resting in their tent as the Gods searched for a way to destroy the Crown of Daemonium.

Now and then, a flash of gold could be glimpsed beneath the bodies that lay still, some of Gambriel's soldier's having fallen to their demise. But many more were injured rather than deceased, their moans hushed by the healers within the erected tents. Keva's guard had been on the front line, the first ones to go head-to-head against Atrium's surprisingly meager battalion.

They were the first and only to have fallen, the battle short-lived with our Rebellion's teeming numbers and the Gods' children at our sides. Even the warriors that traveled across the Circadian Sea from Insulam, a tiny but putrid country down south, had fled in our army's wake.

But even in the panicked midst of fleeing in their gigantic ships, they didn't stand a chance against Cordelia's vengeful Sirens swarming them. It was fast and bloody and efficient, too far away from the Temple of Haco for me to witness but I knew that the Princess of the Circadian was just as unforgiving as the sea herself.

The remainder of the battle all happened so quickly, the moon eclipsing the sun as our warriors cut down Umbra's Kingsguard. The earth had trembled, pieces of cracked marble lifting from the sludge-filled soil and reforming the Temple of our King of Gods. Blistering red light shot up from the central courtyard, followed by wispy shadows and more tremors.

Then the realm went completely silent, soundless, and depthless.

Even the Raken that screeched as we pushed them into Haco's pyres had stopped their struggling, their decayed bodies fading to ash on the wind.

The months of pressure that had been building up, only to be released almost instantaneously, sent my head into a whirlwind.

It almost didn't feel real.

I couldn't tell if it was my past creeping back, its wicked tendrils latching onto my present. There was this foreboding feeling inching across my soul, that even with the High King and his undead army gone, this wasn't over yet.

There were still the High Fae he'd made the Blood Oath with, wicked and power-hungry and most likely freely roaming this earth now that their master was dead.

It would take years to restore both Atrium and Ladon, the latter already blossoming through Selene's blood. The curse was still lifting across Menodore, mountains and lakes and terrain reforming, causing the earth to quake with tremors every hour.

Heavy clouds moved overhead, drooping closer to the fortifying earth as I watched Minka and Jude hand out steaming bowls of soup. I was surprised that Minka had chosen to stay within Menodore's rebudding land rather than go with Cordelia back to Gambriel's Coast. But the feisty human warrior had decided against it, knowing that her Siren could handle herself, especially in her own home.

Only a few were gathered around the large campfire, their huddled forms accepting the meal graciously. Most were either in their tents, with the healers, or on their way back to their strongholds.

The King and Queen of Jindera were the first to head back south, their enormous army in tow. The vicious assassins of the desert saw no fighting, their trip up to Menodore seemingly for scenery rather than battle with how quickly this war was over.

It is far from over, Mersana's departing words crept back into my mind.

And the queen of that free nation was right. The war against darkness would be never ending, its hunger never satiated. Even in the brightest corners of the world, midnight still lingered, waiting for its moment to consume.

It was both a chilling and freeing thought—That that balance would always exist, but so would the battle against it.

Next, it would be Gambriel's army to head back down but not until Keva's command. Menodore had been cursed and abandoned and left to rot during its siege, and the Queen of Gambriel wanted to see it through that Menodore became the kingdom it was years before.

She had promised to stay by Selene's side while also managing her country and finding new political maneuvers to restore peace but even that was forward-thinking.

I couldn't even begin to process the potential future that was laid out before me. So many ideas and strategies and alliances and treaties, ones of the past and new ones that have never been explored. And Mags' question about reinstating High Lords in Atrium was the loudest, the one that left me pondering all morning long about my country's politics.

But right now, we needed to breathe. To take the day and be thankful that we made it.

To thank the stars and the Fates that the High King hadn't bound himself to the most corrupt magical artifact in existence. Selene and Emrys had fulfilled the prophecy, the High King's blood serving as the payment that needed to be made.

There was still too much smoke and blood and ash in the air. Too much death and rot still permeating to begin the political rantings of advisors and gold and land.

And just like any battle or war, we needed days, weeks—possibly months—to regroup despite the war itself being over in a millisecond.

Another tremor moved through the earth, my booted foot vibrating with it. Another mountain or tree sprouted off somewhere in the distance as Menodore continued its reformation. The scent of white peach and violet drifted on the wind, making my heart race and distracting me from looking for Menodore's newest fixture.

I didn't even need to turn my head to catch Keva's sensual form moving past me, another book clutched in her brown hand as she headed towards the Temple of Haco. Her braids were swept back, tied by a leather strap that showcased her alluring features. That cerulean gaze looked forward, plush lips pursed as she marched with tenacity in my oversized tunic and cloak.

An inked hand snaked out, lightly grabbing her slender arm, but the Queen of Gambriel was on a mission. She placed a chaste kiss on my cheek and gave me a brilliant smile, my heart stopping in my chest. "I'll be in the temple if you need anything out here."

A plain brown leather journal sat in her hands, another book that could possibly help the Gods destroy the Crown of Daemonium. Even with the Book of the Divine in our clutches, we didn't have a clue on how to eradicate that cursed crown. But with it in our possession, at the very least we knew it was safe and we'd continue to find a way to contain it, to protect the world from its vile energy.

Leaning down, my lips brushed against Keva's and she sighed, the leather journal drooping. My groin tightened, her every waking movement driving me to the point of insanity. I couldn't hold back the groan, her addicting taste lingering on my lips.

She always had that effect on me.

Keva pulled back and smiled again, but warmer and simmering with lust that made me chuckle. We had far more important things to do than be wrapped up in each other so I forced my hand back to my side.

"Let me know if you need anything," she started to turn, the white pillars of the temple calling to her. All nine of the Gods were still within, spending every second looking for their answers and most likely waiting for Keva to return, but I just couldn't help myself.

No amount of time with her would be enough.

" Anything ?" I queried, my gaze fixed on her curvaceous backside, my soul already feeling lighter. I let it slowly rake up her form, loving the way my clothes swallowed her body.

She narrowed her pretty blue eyes, dark lashes fanning. She pushed her shoulders back, fake scorn lacing her words as she tsked, "Watch yourself, Commander."

I only laughed, a scarred hand running through my hair. "So many other interesting things to watch." I tilted my head as her gaze fixated on my bicep, that same lust peeking through. "Isn't that right, Keva?"

She snapped out of it, and I laughed again. At least both of us were under the spell and I wasn't alone in my obsession.

"Goodbye, Ric, " she waved her hand dismissively but was still smiling, brown cheeks blushing that rosy shade of red I loved so much. "Go play with a sword or something." Then she turned and walked away, her hips swaying with every step. Crodic and Igor scampered behind her snickering, their short goblin legs barely keeping up with her long strides.

The scent of salty broth hit my nose followed by patchouli and rose. Golden curls brushed against my arm as Minka pushed a bowl of soup into my hand and wistfully watched Gambriel's Queen. "I always liked her," she sighed before taking a loud, obnoxious slurp from her own bowl, making me grimace.