Chapter 34

" My Queen," a voice behind me boomed, "it seems you're as skilled at breaking hearts as you are shooting that bow." Procyon placed his large hand on my shoulder and chuckled. His electricity radiated against me, drawing beads of sweat from my brow.

"I need to change our bargain," I said, shoving away from him.

"You've shot the arrow. Our agreement cannot be altered, sweet cheeks." His tanned brow creased as he smirked at me.

Altair was right; this God was a snake.

"I'll request a meeting with my nephew and make an introduction. You can discuss whatever you want with him. He is the rightful king, after all. The true patriarch being of mortal royal blood."

"You are also mortal, or did you forget that with all this scaling cliff sides and earth singeing?" He took a seat on the rattan bench beneath the trellis.

"Yes, but I'm also immortal. Only one of mortal blood can take that role in the high court. Besides, Vikar is a far better rule than I'd ever be." I sat in the matching chair across from him.

"Hmm." He stroked his long beard, twirling the black beads between his forefinger and thumb. "No."

"What's so special about me, anyway? Why is it so important that I take the crown?"

He raised his hand in the air. Before he could snap away, I jumped for his fist.

"Wait! Please, I'll promise you anything else. Just not that," I pleaded.

He raised a thick, bushy eyebrow. "Anything?"

"Yes, whatever you want. Please."

"Fine. I'll break the rule of bargain this one time." The brown in his eyes ignited into an inferno as he grinned widely at me.

"Tell me, what is it you want?" I asked.

"Aside from the obvious," his eyes glanced down at the flesh of my chest, peeking out from the gossamer folds of the robe.

I grunted in disgust, wrapping the fabric tightly around myself.

"Worth a shot." He shrugged, "I want the Spring Prince then. Trade his freedom for yours. My armies could benefit from a ruthless killer like him."

Time seemed to stop. Pacing to the ledge, I looked down at the half-god now trailing the beach, his fists clenched at his sides. Was I so cruel I'd give his life for the sake of mine? I thought of his lips, his touch, the tenderness in his eyes when he looked into mine.

I'd trade one puppeteer for another. Everything he'd fought for was waiting at the cliff side, waiting for me to make the final push as it dropped into the abyss.

"Hurry, my queen, time's ticking."

"There's nothing else I can bargain?" I asked, watching Aryx stand in the shallows with rolled-up trousers and boots in hand. Deep in contemplation, the sunlight spread thin across his cheekbones, blazing against his blonde hair.

"Afraid not." He leaned back onto the settee and crossed his leg.

How casual immortals were when dealing in life. In freedom. In choice. It truly was disgusting how easily they toyed with the lives of their mortals.

The weight of his words nearly broke my spine. Closing my eyes, I thought of the clearing. I thought of my wolf. I thought of myself. Wild, free, at peace in nature. So far from where I was now. Then I thought of the crown upon Vikar's little head- how it pressed into his skull, forcing its heaviness upon the shoulders of a child. He handled the burden with poise, but in its wake, he lost all of himself.

I couldn't, wouldn't, sacrifice the future I had chosen.

Nothing would come between me and my freedom.

If I had to bargain in cold blood, so be it.

No more distractions.

I pocketed my trembling hands and turned to face the god.

Procyon stretched his arms across the bench and uncrossed his leg. The powerful muscles of his thighs pulsed in anticipation. His tattoos ebbed and flowed across his neck, as if alive with secrets. With bargains.

"Fine. Now, send for your army," I said, staring at the floor, my cheeks red with shame.

"You sure about that, Goddess?" Procyon stood from his seat and met me against the ledge, his brow wrinkled into a satisfied smirk.

"Yes," I swallowed, "I'm sure."

"Well… I wasn't expecting this. You sure know how to keep me on my toes." He chuckled. "But so be it."

With a snap of his fingers, the bones of the palace shook. A vigorous tremor whipped through the earth, producing ripples in the beaches below. Thousands of men in gleaming bronze armor clawed from the sand until only a sea of helmets was visible across the horizon. The sounds of an army setting up their tents and sharpening their blades floated in the salty breeze. No longer was the beach a peaceful haven. It was a war camp.

"Now, a kiss to seal the deal," Procyon said, leaning over me until his face was inches from mine.

"You said the bargain had already been set as soon as I sent the arrow- so no chance," I snapped.

"Ugh, fair enough." He flicked his long brown braid back over a shoulder.

"Well, have fun storming the castle." With one more snap of his fingers, he vanished .