“I’m here, Rae,” she says calmly as she ties a tunic around my waist. It’s painful but seems to help. “Now that the enchantment is gone, you should be able to heal yourself after you feed.” She slices her wrist and holds it up to my mouth.
I couldn’t resist if I wanted to. Instinct kicks in, and I gulp down the tangy, earthy blood. Strength returns to my body, and the bleeding slows, but fear for Kian takes over, and I pull back before healing completely.
“We need to get to Kian. Kyros said we’re bound, and he’s hurt.”
Sera frowns. “They said they were hiking up to the highest peak, but I don’t know where the path is.”
I wrack my brain for all the studying I’ve done on the gods and their powers. The problem is, I’m not exactly sure what I am? Some lesser sun god? Something new? With sudden clarity, I recall reading about gods having the ability to transport themselves through will . . . Is there any chance I have that gift?
Shakily, I rise to my feet, wrapping my left hand around the glimmering marriage bond, and direct my thoughts to Kian. I remember the sensation of willing my light to do as I bid, but this time, I will the buzzing power within me to take me to my husband.
Light brightens around me, and I step into it.
Chapter Fifty-Five
RAELYN
Iblink, and I’m standing on a dark, rocky plateau. It takes a moment for my mind to catch up with everything before me—a burning fire, an altar, a golden net holding a bleeding . . . wait, is that gold blood? Is that a goddess? Where’s Kian?
I stifle a gasp when I spot Kyros standing above Kian’s limp form, ready to plunge a golden sword into his already bleeding body. I can scent him from here, and a howl leaves my lips.
Kyros spins to look at me, confusion marring his features. “That’s not possible.”
With a hand pressed to my middle, I rush at him, screaming, needing to do anything to get him away from my husband. My eyes catch on an abandoned sword behind him, and at the last second, I slide to my knees, ducking underneath the blade Kyros holds aloft. To my relief, my fingers close around the hilt. Doing my best to block out my pain, I spring to my feet behind the god and swing the sword with all my might.
The clang of metal on metal reverberates up my arm, and I gasp at the speed with which Kyros has outmaneuvered me.
“Daughter, put down the sword,” Kyros says placatingly, withdrawing a step. “We can finally be a family after all this time. I’ll take you to her . . . to your mother. I’m sure she would be overjoyed to see you.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Cary grunts from where he lies on the ground, trying to push himself up.
My eyes dart between both of my fathers and then to Kian, who lies far too still on the ground . . . but I’m alive, aren’t I? He has to be okay.
“Come, daughter. Put down the sword,” Kyros repeats. “Let me have my revenge, and then we can be a family.”
I hate that there’s a part of me that wants to listen to him. The little girl who felt unloved by her mother, the girl who always felt different, the girl who sought a father’s approval above all else. But my eyes flash to Kian on the ground. Kyros was ready to make a killing blow,knowingit would also kill me.
“Such pretty lies,Father,” I retort, readying my stance. “I will never trust you again.”
Kyros’ golden eyes burn as I swing at him, trying to get him away from Kian. “You’ll regret your choice, daughter. I won’t make such an offer twice.”
I fly at him with a vengeance, and we parry back and forth, but I can’t quite get the upper hand. I’m faster, more agile than ever despite the aching hole in my gut, but he’s stronger. The clang of our swords rings out through the night, and a faint cackle comes from the direction of the mysterious goddess. I can’t afford to lose focus now. I need to stop him.
“You think I want to go with you?” I grit out, punctuating each word with another slash or thrust of my sword. “You tricked me! You brought me here, and instead of being honest and asking me to take your place, you deceived me. Did you ever love me more than you loved yourself?” I cry as tears roll down my cheeks.
Kyros looks unmoved as he swings at my legs, and I barely jump out of the way in time. “You can’t possibly understand my love. I’m a god. Wait until you’ve lived millennia. Then we’ll speak again.”
I scream, and it’s my undoing. Kyros knocks the blade from my hand and holds his to my throat.
“Perhaps I should decide for you. I’m sure your mother would love to see you,” he muses, then frowns. “How did you escape the pit?”
“A fae broke the enchantment,” I reply.
A low growl emanates from him. “Damn. Now I have to figure out what to do with Luna.”
My eyes dart to the goddess under the net. There is no way in hells . . . Luna? The goddess of the moon?
Kyros runs a hand through his hair in an oddly mortal way before his face hardens again. “You have caused me much grief, Raelyn. Perhaps I should just end you now.”
