Fear like Ambrose had never known swallowed her. Devoured her. Consumed her as it clawed at her chest and though she didn’t want to, willed her to do the same—but Akadian held her on her feet.
It couldn’t be—
“My Liege,” Jovian purred. “Welcomeback.”
“Akadian,” Ambrose muttered against his chest. Something in him went rigid at the sight of the being and she could feel him tensing beneath her as though fighting against something she couldn’t see.
The prince stiffened, back straight as Valdis looked directly at him. He flexed his wings, eyes narrowed as Valdis approached them, never taking his eyes off Akadian. “Bow.”
Akadian almost buckled and sweat pooled on his temple. “No.”
“Maybe we should…” Ambrose didn’t know why she said the words. She didn’t want to, and while the rest of the room instantly fell to their knees, she forced herself to stay on her feet. Fear clawed at her chest like a rabid animal stuck in an ivory cage, threatening to tear itself out with hooked fingers.
“That’s the god who created me,” he told her.
The God of Mind. The King of the Gods.She thought. It had to be. That was the only explanation for the magick trying to slip inside her, bend her to its will—caging her inside of her own mind, beckoning her to listen.
Demanding.
“Bow, boy,” Valdis commanded but Akadian refused and backed away with Ambrose tucked into his side.
“No.” Akadian took a deep breath and his lip trembled as he bit down on it. He gently squeezed her side as though to still the crushing fear inside of her. Defiantly, he met Valdis’s eye. “You’re not my god anymore.”
Ambrose stared at Akadian and something like pride swelled inside her. She looked at Valdis who simply cocked a head at Akadian and released whatever hold he’d been attempting to take. Akadian relaxed in her arms and breathed a little easier, but he didn’t let her go. If anything, he held her tighter.
Valdis eyed them both, the slits of his pupils narrowing. His eyes locked on Ambrose and though she could feel his magick around her mind, coaxing her, shredding her insides with a fear like she’d never known, she tilted her chin up and refused to look away.
“Interesting.”
Casimir rushed forward and threw himself to his knees in front of Valdis. “My Lord, this must not stand. You mustkillhim.”
Valdis stretched his wings and hissed at the king who bowed before him.“You donotmake orders of me.Know your place,Casimir.”
The crowd remained on their knees as Valdis swept his gaze over the room, falling on every one of the rulers one at a time. Each of them kept their head down, their breathing as ragged as Ambrose’s.
“I can’t take it anymore!” a servant screamed wildly and grabbed one of the Imperial Guard’s swords and plunged it through his own chest.
No one moved.
No one made a sound.
No one even breathed.
Valdis turned to Ambrose and Akadian, then to Magnus who was the only other one who remained on his feet, Hammer of the Gods still swirling in front of him in a glowing display of pure energy.
“You may leave, Champion,” Valdis spoke, his voice ancient and furious. “Per Divine Law, no one here will stop you. Fate has decided… So, we shall see what becomes of you.” Valdis glared at her through a stony expression, though his face betrayed none of the fury his eyes clearly displayed. “Prepare yourself for the next trial,” he spat venomously. “I have a feeling our paths will cross again.”
With that, the god called Valdis launched himself into the sky from an open window and disappeared into a whisper of purple.
Chapter 45
Akadian rushed Ambrose and Lily down the hall towards Magnus’ study. Their footsteps carrying them as they shifted the bags on their backs and silently processed the night’s events.
Magnus had ordered him to get them there after the events no matter what got in their way, and gods be damned, he’d burn anyone who stood between him and getting her to safety. Heart pounding in his chest, he made sure to run them back to his chambers where he packed for the two of them while Ambrose changed into her leathers and the gilded corset plate that Magnus had gifted her. Her new daggers strapped to her thighs, she gave him a sharp nod when she came out of her bedchamber.
One hour.
He’d said one hour and they were already way too close to that time being up. The flames beneath his chest licked his rib cage as he shuffled down the hallway, eyes sharp for anyone lurking in the shadows. Casimir may have lost for now, but Akadian knew the royalty well enough to know a First King wouldneveraccept defeat. Let alone one as bloodthirsty as Casimir. He didn’t put it past him to have bounty hunters and assassins crawling all over the palace in case this exact moment came to be.
