Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

P ytho sat on a cloud of pillows, her spine straight, her arms out in front of her with her palms up as she muttered words Terena couldn’t hear.

The room was hazy from the burning incense and the smoke made her want to sneeze. She took a few steps closer, calling out to Pytho.

The next moment, Pytho stood before her, holding Terena’s face between her ice cold hands as she continued to mutter in a language Terena did not know.

“I don’t understand,” she said, but Pytho’s hands squeezed, her nails biting into Terena’s jaw.

Pytho’s muttering became more forceful. Those strange black eyes stared back at her as if she hadn’t heard.

“Pytho,” she said.

Terena’s eyes widened as she watched a line of red appear at Pytho’s throat. The wound gaped and Terena screamed.

But Pytho’s hold on her face hardened.

“They’ve found me,” she hissed.

“Who?” Terena asked as she sobbed. Her hands clutched at the oracle’s arms.

Come find me come find me come find me come find m e

Terena’s scream echoed in the smoky chamber as blood covered her hands and raced up her arms.

“….your father’s blood.” Pytho gurgled, blood now seeping from her mouth.

the heir the heir the heir the

“FIND ME!”

Terena jerked awake, thrashing away from arms trying to pin her.

Was she drowning?

Was that blood coating her throat?

What were they doing?

Why—

“It’s me,” a familiar voice said. “Terena stop, please! You’ll reopen?—”

She flailed again when someone forced her mouth open, slapped at hands too close and cried out when the movement sent an arc of fire racing down her arm and through her bad leg.

“It’s me, Ren, it’s me. It’s Croak. Stop. Stop!”

Her body shook and she blinked furiously as bile rose in her throat, the liquid poured down her mouth now coming back up.

She lashed out again but someone had hold of her arms. They were like vices.

When she finally focused, she saw Melanos, his enormous hands bracing her as he stared back with concern in his eyes. Croak was on the couch at her side, panting, his face pale and eyes bloodshot. He was holding a glass away from her.

Terena willed herself to calm down as she looked between the two.

“Was it—was it another dream?”

“Where am I?” Terena mumbled, her voice raspy.

Croak sat back. “We’re in Melanos’s sex cave.”

Melanos flashed him a flat look.

“How do you feel?” Melanos asked her .

Terena closed her eyes and leaned back onto the pillows as he slowly released his hold.

“What happened?” she asked.

“What do you remember?” Croak countered.

She pursed her lips. Then, as if recalling something important, she shot back up, her hand wrapping around Croak’s wrist tightly.

“Daris! What happened? Is he all right? Where?—”

“He’s fine,” Croak groused, waving his hand as if she’d asked something stupid.

Terena looked at him a second longer before lifting her left arm up, looking at it even as she winced. The bandages hid the wounds the serpent had left, but she did not forget the feel of the fangs in her arm. A ghost of that pain returned as her memories flooded back.

“Fucking gods,” she swore, her body shaking. She looked up at Melanos. “She was bigger than you said.” Terena’s eyes narrowed accusingly.

Melanos shrugged, his face blank. “Well. It’s been a millennium.”

“Drink this,” Croak said, shoving the glass in her face. Terena’s stomach curdled. She tried shoving the drink away, but Croak swatted her hand. “It will ease the pain, idiot.”

Terena eyed him, then took the glass from him and took a sip. She immediately spewed it out.

“What… is that blood?”

“It’s mostly wine,” Croak mumbled, wiping the spit off his face. “But there is some of Rydon’s blood?—”

“Oh gods,” Terena whined and put a hand over her mouth. She closed her eyes and waited a few precious seconds. When she could speak again, she held up a finger. “Why the fuck would you give me Rydon’s blood to drink?”

“His blood will help you heal faster.”

“Ugh. Being a god is not fun.”

“It should’ve healed your wounds by now. At least, the pain in your shoulder,” Melanos said. He regarded her a moment, then shrugged. “Well. At least it saved your life.”

“How’d I get here? ”

“Your lover brought you,” Melanos answered, and she and Croak answered at the same time.

“He’s not my lover!”

“He’s not her lover!”

Turning to Croak, she asked, “So how’d he find the rest of you? We were looking for a way out when Bethana found us.”

“He probably led it right to you,” Croak grumbled.

Melanos grinned. “He didn’t say.”

“We were all walking around looking to see if there was another entrance we could find and then we heard him yelling,” Croak said. “Then he was just… there. Running right to us with you in his arms.” He shook his head. “Gods, Ren, you had those fucking things sticking out of your arm and I thought I was going to faint.”

“You did faint,” Melanos snorted.

“Has he—” Terena started to ask when a shout from the cave entrance drew their attention. Croak shot to his feet and Terena slapped at his leg for him to move out of the way.

When she caught sight of Rydon, his face lit up when he saw her. Next to him, Gabriol grinned and slapped a hand on Rydon’s shoulder.

Terena smiled and propped herself up higher. Rydon bent over when he reached her side, giving her a kiss on the forehead. Gabriol squeezed her shoulder and moved back, pulling Croak into a hug that morphed into him holding Croak’s head in his armpit, hauling him away while Croak yelped.

Daris stopped a few steps away. Terena reached up to smooth her hair. Her smile became reserved when she looked at Daris, who smiled back at her with as much affection as he would give a tree. She raised her eyebrows but looked past him to see the other Liodari, who were both smiling in relief.

“You’re looking much better,” Rydon said, moving to the end of the couch when Terena motioned for him to sit. Gabriol moved in closer and perched on the arm. Daris remained standing near Gabriol as he watched her, his face unreadable .

“I feel a thousand times better,” she said, looking at Rydon. “They gave me a tonic made from your blood, so that was weird.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Aye, it was weird for me when it revived you.” He patted her knee. “But I’m glad you feel better.”

Daris shifted, his eyes moving to Rydon. Terena saw the tension between the men and shot Rydon a quizzical look. He shook his head imperceptibly.

“Oh!” she exclaimed and laid her hand over Rydon’s as she recalled, “What happened to the fangs? Did you?—”

“I have them,” Daris said in a soft voice.

Rydon snorted. “Of course you do.”

Terena shifted her gaze to Daris then. Heat crept up his cheeks, and he looked at Rydon like he wanted to rip his head off.

“I was asking Croak what happened after Bethana tried to eat me, but maybe I can get the actual story from one of you?” Terena asked with a grin, looking at the three men.

“Not much to tell,” Daris said, and Terena saw Rydon scowl. “I grabbed you and ran the hell out of there. Found everyone else shortly after and we rode like the Furies were after us. Melanos took care of your wounds.”

“Well, thank you for getting me out of there,” Terena said sincerely. Daris ducked his head.

Rydon snorted. Again.

Terena looked between the two. “What’s going on with you two?”

Rydon looked confused. Daris shrugged. Terena looked to Gabriol for help, but his only response was to widen his eyes.

“Fine,” Terena murmured. “Help me up,” she said to Rydon.

“Are you sure you should?” Gabriol asked, waving a hand at her. “You were almost Bethana’s dinner.”

“I need to get up,” she said with a shrug. “My body’s too stiff lying in bed so much.”

Rydon gave Daris a look, and the man moved back. Gabriol stood and backed away as well .

“Hey,” she whispered to Rydon when he bent close, “did he say anything about what happened in there? In the cave, with Bethana.”

Rydon nodded tersely. “Aye. And then Melanos told them everything.”

Terena cringed. “Great. Now everyone knows, right?”

He nodded again.

Terena sighed. “Do I need to worry?”

Rydon sat down at her side again and leaned in, his face earnest. “Not from us, Ren. And if he tries anything…”

Terena shook her head. “He won’t. I know he won’t. But I’m not worried about him, so much as I worry about his king. Altos might try to use the knowledge for his own purposes if Daris or the others tell him.” She leaned closer. “We need to get those fangs back to him and get Sonah so we can head north as soon as possible. It’ll take us months as it is, so we’re already losing time.”

“I know it,” Rydon snarled.

He made to stand again when Terena stopped him. “What’s going on with you?”

“Just watching your back,” he said. Then he looked over at Daris and dropped his head.

“Listen,” he said as he turned back to her. “We need to talk. When you’re feeling up to it.”

“About?”

“We’ll talk later.”

Daris pretended to be interested in the food in front of him as he stole glances across the table at Terena. While his men and Terena’s friends pestered Melanos with questions, Daris kept to himself, preferring to listen while he kept a surreptitious eye on Terena for signs of pain or discomfort.

Melanos had manifested a table with enough chairs for all of them and food enough to feed the Spartan army. It was surreal to be sitting at a table with a god—make that two gods—and yet Melanos behaved much like any man Daris had ever met. He laughed, and he made jokes. He shared stories with them about the Immortals before the war and listened with rapt attention, leaning in close to the others as they shared their own stories.

Daris glanced up as laughter erupted at the other end, and he found Rydon watching him. He held the man’s gaze a moment before turning away dismissively. The revelations of the past few days sat heavily with him.

A tingling sensation crept over his scalp and he raised his eyes again to catch Terena watching him this time.

“You’re quiet, Commander,” Melanos called out, his booming voice startling Daris. He looked over at the god, then at the others who were now watching him. The barely concealed dislike on Croak’s face made him duck his chin.

“He’s always like that,” Terena said. His gaze shot to her and he blinked, his eyes widening at the smile she gave him.

Melanos twisted his lips at her. “I thought you’ve not known each other long.”

Terena started, a pretty color rising to her cheeks. “We haven’t.”

“Well,” Jason said before swallowing something he’d been chewing on, “You have the right of it, lady.”

Daris frowned and Jason looked away.

Melanos regarded Daris in silence, his hand stroking his chin, then he pointed a finger at him. “There’s something about you, Commander. I cannot put my finger on it but something seems…” He shrugged and picked up a hunk of bread, tearing it with his teeth.

“Off? Aye, that’s murderous intent you’re picking up on.” Croak snarked, then cried out when Gabriol slapped his arm.

Melanos turned to Terena. “The Eudaemon’s blood should have healed your wounds by now. Maybe you should try the other.”

Croak gagged. Daris flicked his gaze to Terena and saw her lips twist.

“I don’t know what to say to that,” she laughed.

“You healed enough you didn’t die,” Melanos went on, still watching Terena thoughtfully. “Curious you’re still not healed, however. If you try?—”

“Godhood hasn’t gone well for me so far.”

Melanos grunted but continued to regard her in silence.

“Do you think she’s well enough to travel?” Rydon asked.

“Should be,” Melanos said, “but again, she’s not healed yet, so take it slow if you can.”

“I’d like to be back soon,” Terena said with a glance at Rydon. “I want to get Sonah.”

Croak threw Daris another dirty look from across the table. “And offload some of this dead weight.”

Daris leaned back in his chair, his face blank as he held Croak’s hard gaze.

“Stop,” Terena muttered. She gave Daris a wan smile. “Would you mind walking with me, Daris? I’d love some fresh air.”

Daris’s eyes widened, and he sat up slowly. His eyes darted around at the others before settling back on Terena, her lovely eyes sparkling. “Aye.”

The chair scraped along the rough stone floor and heat flooded his face. As he saw Terena begin to stand, he strode toward her side, only to have Rydon’s big body block him as he, too, stood and looked him square in the eye, his chest puffed out. Daris frowned at the man and shifted his gaze to Croak who also stood, his eyes dancing.

“Really?” Terena murmured at Croak, pushing him aside as she hobbled closer to Daris. He shot out a hand to grip her good arm and his stomach bottomed out at the smile she flashed at him.

“There’s a cave off to the left on the path just outside,” Melanos called out, pulling everyone’s attention back to him and breaking the tension. “It’s closed off, so no need to fear another encounter with Bethana,” added Melanos with a smirk as he caught Daris’s scowl. “We used to meet there in better days. You’ll see why, when you find it.”

“Thank you, Melanos,” Terena said as she smiled at him.

Turning to Daris, she twisted her hand so her fingers threaded with his own. Terena called out to the others they’d be back soon and hobbled toward the entrance. Daris stared down at her and saw the tight set of her jaw. He moved closer to her, locking his arm to take more of her weight.

“I wanted to talk to you privately,” she said when they were outside. The sun was setting to their right, and when she turned her face up to smile at him, his breath caught as the last rays of the sun picked out the gold in her eyes.

He let her choose the direction, uncaring of where they went. It was quiet out and he was glad to be away from the others at last.

“I’m sorry for the way Croak is treating you,” Terena said at last. They followed a path away from the cave. “And Rydon. In case he didn’t apologize for whatever he said to you last night, I’m sorry. He can be a bit,” she scrunched her face up and waved her bad arm, then winced.

“I don’t mind,” Daris replied.

Terena’s brows pulled together. “You are not like any warrior I’ve ever known,” she mused. “What’s wrong with you?”

Daris laughed.

“No, truly. You’re quiet, you don’t drink, you’re the youngest Commander of the Liodari in history.” This last she said in a deep voice, mimicking Jason. She gasped when her foot slipped on the dirt path and he released her hand to wrap his arm around her.

When she was steady once more, she laughed. “Thank you. Clumsy.”

“May I ask you something?” he asked, his heart hammering beneath his ribs. “Do your visions…”

When her fingers tensed on his arm, he apologized.

“It’s all right,” she said after a pause. “What do you want to know?”

Daris pursed his lips, his eyes searching for the words. “Are your visions premonitions? Can you see the future?”

Terena laughed. “I wish. Actually, for the longest time, that’s what I thought they were.”

“And now?”

She shrugged. They walked in silence as he waited for her to continue. When she didn’t, he didn’t press her .

“Oh!” she exclaimed, tensing. She grabbed his forearm, staring off at something ahead. “Is that the cave Melanos spoke of? Let’s look.”

Daris’s brow furrowed as he stared at her, then off to where she was looking and saw a faint light in the distance.

Terena walked toward it, the sun so low on the horizon they were surrounded by a dark blue and russet colored sky. Daris saw the mouth of a cave with dim blue light dancing at the entrance. Terena flashed him an open-mouthed smile and reached for his hand at her waist, threading her fingers once more through his and tugged him toward the cave.

Daris dug in his feet. “Absolutely not.”

“What?”

“We’re not going in there. Come on,” he said and tried to turn her back. “We’ve been gone long enough. I’m sure your brother will come looking any second now.”

“Don’t be a baby,” she teased and pulled on his hand again. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Uh, we run into a crazed giant serpent?”

Terena laughed, and the sound did funny things to his insides. “Melanos said it was closed off. Come, now.”

The cave was not as dark as he’d feared. The antechamber opened up into a larger cavern with a hole in the ceiling opening to the sky, a small pool of standing water beneath reflecting the blue light glowing along the cave ceiling and walls. Terena stared, her mouth slack and eyes blinking slowly, her grip tight in his hand.

“Glow worms,” Daris murmured as he watched her wide-eyed stare taking in the tiny insects lighting up the cave.

He had to admit the effect was beautiful. The tiny pinpoints of light haloed translucent strands hanging from the ceiling.

Daris moved his thumb across Terena’s hand as he stared down at her. Thunder rumbled in the distance and Terena sighed, stepping closer to the water’s edge.

A minute later, rain poured in through the opening in the cave and she laughed. She let go of Daris’s hand and hopped to the center. Turning her face up to the rain, Terena closed her eyes .

Mesmerized, Daris watched her joyous expression as the rain fell all around and he walked toward her, his heart pounding unevenly. The rain flattened his short hair, and he pushed it back as he looked down at her, stopping a foot away.

Terena opened her eyes and looked at him. For a second, he thought he saw her eyes reflecting the same wonder that must be in his own.

Daris reached for her. Her lips trembled. She tilted her face up to him and he lowered his head. His hands went to her waist and she stiffened, backing away a step as her mouth opened. Raising her hand to her lips, her nostrils flared.

“I saw this,” she whispered, and Daris leaned closer to catch it. “I saw all this.”

Terena looked up at him, her eyes wide. “You were standing right there. And then you… and then you kissed me.”

Daris started. He opened his mouth to reply and she gasped, her hand stretched out as if to touch him.

And then she ran.