Chapter 28

W e turned to see the God of Autumn himself with arms crossed, leaning against the frame of the dark corridor's entrance. I dropped to my knees, bowing deeply before him. Like Polaris, he hovered above the floor as he started towards us, a long, red robe trailing behind him.

The god was glorious in every sense of the word. Tattoos clawed across the olive skin of his bare chest, wrapping over his shoulders and down his spine. He had long brown hair neatly pulled into a braid that hung to his hips and a full beard that enveloped his hardened chin. A crown of gold-dipped antlers wrapped around his broad forehead with a regal weight that only a god could withstand.

"King Procyon, please, listen to us." Aryx rose from his bow.

"You dare command me, Spring Prince?" Procyon's husky voice boomed over us with a transcendent force that could crumble even the strongest of citadels.

He knelt before me, running his thumb across my lower lip.

"Stand tall, my Queen, embrace the power you've inherited with grace."

Aryx watched as Procyon guided me to the table, his mouth now a thin line across his face.

"Sit. We will speak like civilized folk." Procyon pulled out a chair with one long arm and motioned for me to sit.

Collecting myself, I lowered to the chair and clasped my trembling hands tightly. The god sat across from me, motioning for Aryx and Zecharius to join us.

"Lords and Ladies of the court, you are dismissed for the day. Tell no one of what happened here." The council flooded through the exit, figures fading into shadow as their steps receded.

"Now, what is it you wish to discuss? What's so urgent it cost six of my best guards their lives?" he asked.

Procyon raised his hand to Aryx as he opened his mouth to speak. His palms were larger than my face. With one quick grip, he could crush my skull to dust. Procyon looked at me, the deep orange of his eyes sparkling with curiosity and a faint trace of amusement as the half-god beside him grew red in the face.

"It's Tethys. She's gathering an army to unleash on to the mortal realms. We plan to stop it by bringing the attack to her, but we need your help," I explained, stammering through the words.

Aryx nodded silently, encouraging me to continue.

"We think she's manipulated the Elders. She's fortified their island and is using it as base camp. We plan to lead an attack there and hopefully take her down on her own home front," I said.

Procyon fiddled with a large golden signet ring on his little finger. An intricate image of a stag, his emblem, was carved into the solid gold metal.

"I figured she'd get her talons into those fools eventually," he said, flexing the muscle of his square jaw. "We will provide aid on the terms that when you defeat her, Ursae resumes their trade agreements with my people. The city isn't what it used to be. We need those supply routes to thrive."

"I'll try my best, but I'm in no position over the city. The entire royal guard is looking for me on charges of murder and treason." I lowered my eyes, nervously wiping my sweaty palms across my trousers.

Procyon raised a brow.

"They don't know who you are?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. The wooden pegs beneath him groaned under his dense weight, as if they'd succumb to it any second.

"Until a few days ago, I didn't know either," I said, my cheeks hot under his flaming, tangerine eyes.

"I see." He stroked his beard, twisting the golden beads laced through its coarse, brown hair.

"Well, I must alter my conditions then. I will give you command of my army if, when this is over, you reclaim your throne and re-establish our trade agreements yourself."

I gawked at him. I didn't want to be queen or the crushing pressure of the monarchy. I'd seen firsthand how poisonous power truly was.

"Procyon, I-I can't be queen."

"Yes, you can, and if you want my aid, you will." He rose to his feet. "When you've agreed to my terms, send a westward arrow and my army will be yours to command."

I choked on the words now stuck in my throat.

The god turned to take his leave, patting Zecharius on the shoulder.

"Zecharius, old man, if you've learned anything today, I hope it's this: don't get in the way of an angry woman; she won't hesitate to destroy you."

He chuckled as Zecharius's cheeks swelled with humiliation.

"Oh and um, maybe it's time to find a new Elder, eh? One that isn't a conniving snake."

In the threshold hallway, Procyon glanced back at us and blew me a kiss. Before I could plead for him to reconsider, he evaporated into the air, leaving only a trail of mist in his place.

"Well, that was… interesting," Aryx said, relaxing in his seat. "My King, we're sorry for the violence and pain we caused here today. Like Procyon said, an angry woman is the most dangerous force in nature."

"Oh shut it, boy," the king snapped, digging his nails into the grain of the mahogany tabletop.

I snorted, scratching Arcturas's chest as she wagged her tail beside me.

"You will have our support, Queen Elpis. We'll await your signal." The King nodded to me and hobbled across the chamber. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few petrified lords I must tend to and new widows I have to notify."

He motioned for us to leave.

We traversed the narrow passageway and exited the temple, leaving the King blue-faced.

"That was easy," I said, laughing away the tightness in my chest.

"You never fail to leave me both utterly amazed and utterly terrified." Aryx grinned, wiping the grime from his leather breastplate.

"Now, I guess we trek to Aquilae. I don't think that meeting will be as, um, easy as this one." Aryx hooked his bow into Kratos's saddle and climbed on to the horse.

"My Queen." He extended his hand to me with a dramatic bow.

"You know, maybe we should ask Procyon to come back. I like how quiet you get when your masculinity feels threatened." I slapped his hand away and climbed into the saddle .