I stumbled into his arms, getting blood all over his wet dress clothes. “Didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier,” I blabbered. “But I am stupid in love with you.”
“Verona,” he breathed as he drew me close, his body warm, though his skin was chilled from the water. “Shut the fuck up and let me help you.”
“She has lost much blood,” one of the dragon heads said.
“Press her sword to her back, where she would carry a sheath in the days of old,” another added.
Was thisnota hallucination? Or had the blood loss addled my brain into the kind of creative storytelling that typically only happened in dreams? “Ares?” I whispered, as he held me to him, pressing cold metal to my back. “Are you really here?”
“Yes,” he murmured, awe in his voice as warm red light engulfed me. “And I am so fucking in love with you, too.”
My eyes locked on Ares’ as warmth went through me. I had been so cold moments ago. Colder than I realized, now that I was warm. The pain of my wounds faded, and the feeling that I was drained dry receded as something greater flowed into me. This was not just my sword returning, but more. Ares’ face was open, innocent in its awe as I rose into the air and floated above him.
“Tanith,” he breathed in a voice I didn’t recognize, so full of love that tears flowed from my eyes.
I was myself and not. He was himself and not. We were both who we had always been, and more. So, so much more. Memories that were not mine flooded me, of a home I’d never known, an archipelago that included my island, but that did not exist, of a race of divine beings I’d never known.
And the face below me was the one I’d been missing for all eternity. I reached towards Amarante, smiling. “My darling. You came.”
“I will always come,” Ares-and-Amarante responded. “But you must destroy our enemy. Chiore’s weapon must be disabled.”
“Yes,” I replied. I was both myself and Tanith. Death and immortal life, entwined in one as I floated up over the riverbank.
Soldiers rushed out from behind the ruins of the National Gallery. Ares-as Amarante rode the sea-dragon, now a hydrae, into battle. I smiled as Cromvale approached me, brandishing the thrysos.
The weapon struck fear into me, but I was more than my fear now. More than a lonely immortal. I had the love of a good man, the surety of a good weapon, and the power of two gods rushing through my veins. As my body finished healing, I felt it as Tanith left, watching as she and Amarante rose together into the night, forever entwined, forever in love.
And as I fell to the ground, I drew my sword.
CHAPTER 41
ARES
The National Galleryhad caved in. Fires burned everywhere throughout the building, and in the distance, sirens finally blared. It was difficult to believe that little more than an hour ago we had been inside the building, thinking we were about to steal the swords.
My heartbeat regulated. I had done what I came to. I’d saved Ember, set her back on the path towards her destiny, and now all that was left was for me to help her meet it. Soldiers in the tactical uniform that I now recognized as associated with the Chioric sect headed my way. The hydrae spit infernal fire at the approaching soldiers. It didn’t need my help.
“Remember what I said,” I cautioned as I slid off its back.
“We remember, Ares Necroline. See to your Queen,” the creature replied.
As we parted ways, I honed in on the auric energy of the soldiers streaming onto the lawn, headed for Ember, just waiting for her to fall. I twisted a dozen or so auras in my grip and ripped hard. They died almost immediately, but the effort drained me. This wasn’t how my power was meant to be used, but I didn’t care.
My eternal soul might be damned, but I would protect heras well as I could. She still levitated in the air. My queen, as the spirits had called her. As Tanith left her body, she watched the spirit of the divine entities that humans insisted upon calling Saints rise into the air.
I only had eyes and attention for her, as I moved through our enemies, picking up discarded weapons as I went. I would drain myself too quickly if I manipulated aura, and besides, I was not above some good old fashioned slaying.
Cromvale was headed straight towards Ember with the thrysos. The thing glowed a terrifying green, so obviously hungry for destruction. I had to keep him from Ember before she fell from her encounter with our gods. I paused, a grin spreading over my face. Perhaps she didn’t need my help after all.
As Tanith rose into the air with Amarante, Ember drew the sword that had disappeared into her spine when I pressed it to her back. Though I knew the Maere’s swords were a literal part of their bodies, it had been a long time since I saw that truth played out in person.
My heart beat faster as I fended off a few more soldiers, keeping one eye on Ember. A very real sword was in her hands as she fell, angling with a precision that came from thousands of years of battle, training, and innate talent.
Whatever Cromvale’s deal was, he’d gravely misjudged her. He didn’t even bother to move out of the way as she fell, moving at what felt like light speed. It all happened so fast.
She landed just before him, her blade dripping with blood.
For half a moment, I didn’t comprehend what had happened.
