I glared up at him. “I know what I’m doing.”
Zephyr’s laugh was so far removed from humor. “Sure looks like it.”
“What happened to Aquilo? He was absent from the show.”
He stared at me, and I could hardly suppress my wicked smile. Zephyrseemed to be deciding whether to be understanding or disapprove of what I’d done to his brother.
“Auster and Notus decided it was only fair to judge him as they would anyone else. He was exiled.”
I had to admit I was shocked by that ruling, figuring they would keep him hidden and lie about the exile to keep up the pretense of fairness.
“Good. I hope you exiled him from our sanctuary too if he came crawling.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “He didn’t. I’ve been away from there too long. Away from Katerina.”
“Go back. Please, don’t stay for my sake.”
“I’m not. Things are tense and uncertain around here, and, after the destruction of the Nova province and the veil gone, Althenia is shaken too. I still have my own people and land that are terrified the same is coming for them.”
I sighed sadly. “Everyone is afraid.”
Zephyr had a purer heart than I did. I often thought it should be him the world considered theirsavior.
“Aquilo was nothing but a cruel bully,” I said coldly.
His hard stare was weighed with judgment, but I wouldn’t allow it to inspire guilt for what I’d done—for Aquilo now being without home and title. I was the goddess of justice, and if there was one person I was certain deserved their unfortunate fate, it was Aquilo Sera.
“I know,” Zephyr said in a clipped tone.
I groaned, shifting on my knees. Shit, this position was torture in itself and I didn’t want to ask how long I’d beendeadthis time. Nightsdeath had snapped my neck so carelessly, and I didn’t think it would be the last time he killed me.
“So—” I paused to gather breath when every movement drained incredible energy. “Are you taking first watch of me while your brothers host a tea party with Nightsdeath?”
“Your wits are high, at least.”
I hissed at the stinging of my wrists, realizing my shackles had been laced with nebulora. “I’m flattered by all these measures to contain me.”
“Nightsdeath wanted to let you roam freely. Said he would enjoy the thrill of you trying to escape or cause chaos. It was Auster and Notus who ordered you here. They’ve been bleeding you and pushing nebulora into the wounds to weaken your magick in case you managed to free yourself from the bonds.” He said the last part with a wince, and only then did I drag my sight up to see the long cuts down my forearms.
This wasn’t unexpected, but it was still miserable as hell. There was a spark of delight in me, however, that they believed in my ability to escape.
“My wings,” I said. They were glamoured for now, but Auster had promised to remove them when he saw the stark black color of them during the ambush.
“I’d like to believe Auster still cares for you enough to not be so merciless, but if he hands the task of removing them to Notus…”
They wouldn’t be able to take my wings while I had them glamoured, but a slither of cold fear over what Notus might do to get me to break licked down my spine.
“I don’t know what to do,” Zephyr said, nearly inaudible. “I can’t help you here.”
“I don’t expect you to,” I said softly. “Just… don’t let them break my spirit, please.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Remind me who I am. Who I love. That’s all I need to keep fighting.”
Zephyr nodded grimly.
“How long have I been here?” I asked.
