Her words sank into me like stones into a still pond, unsettling the quiet resolve I clung to. I thought of the countless battles fought without the aid of miracles—wars where strength and steel decided fate. This light, this sign of his god’s favor, felt intangible. It was hard to grasp how belief alone could triumph against tooth, claw, and mammoth-sized savagery.
“He has magic?”
“He has faith.”
“Does this glow protect him?” I demanded.
“It doesn’t offer physical protection.” Her eyes softened as she stared at the hills, peaceful on the surface. “But it gives him something greater. It lets him believe in himself.”
My hopes crumbled again. How could light defend a warrior? How could it slay a monster?
“Princess, come. Pray with me.” Gayle extended her hand. I hesitated, eyes flicking to her palm before turning back to the window. “You will do him no good by watching for his return. But if you seek the gods’ favor, they might show mercy.”
I clenched my jaw, tears threatening to spill. If Kallias fell, I would be shattered. The alliance rested on his shoulders, and if he faltered, everything would crumble. Tallon’s loyalty hung in the balance—would he uphold the union? Would he even marry me and feed my people? Would Radaan survive the reign of a selfish prince?
My heart wouldn’t survive Kallias’ death.
Her hand, warm and steady, closed around mine. “I’ll pray with you.”
Her touch anchored me, and she pulled me close. She guided me down the hall, moving with purpose. The walls, sparsely adorned with paintings, seemed cold. This was no palace or mountain manor, but it still tried to appear cultured. I barely noticed the art as we passed.
We stepped into an open space, unguarded by doors. At the far end, an altar stood waiting, the worn path of a thick carpet leading to it. Small replicas of statues from Reem’s temples rested beside candles that flickered.
The room was dim, the air heavy with the scent of burning wax. Clay and Dageel kneeled, their heads bowed in reverence. I swallowed my nerves as Gayleled me away from them. Her hand was warm in mine as she lowered herself, settling onto the rug.
I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands folding in my lap. What now? Should I speak? I craned my neck, trying to catch a glimpse of Claydon. His lips twitched, but he remained silent.
“Who do I pray to?” I whispered, my gaze scanning the small figures on the altar.
Gayle’s fingers squeezed mine, her touch grounding. “Elohios is the Great Protector. But Veridis, his mate, is the Goddess of Life.” Her eyes sparkled. “If you seek his favor, you may want to call upon her. She might soften his heart.”
“But what should I say? I haven’t memorized the prayers.” Frustration soured my stomach. I longed to be with him, not stuck here, hoping unseen powers would heed my plea.
“Speak from within.” She released my hand and bowed her head. “No prayer written by others will be as powerful as your own.”
I fixed my gaze on the statue, letting the image fill the silence. The sculptor had captured Veridis as a pregnant woman, her rounded belly full with promise. One palm cradled the earth, a sprout breaking free into bloom, while the other seemed poised to bless the unseen. Her face held a serene smile, her eyes warm with an enduring kindness that felt almost foreign.
My breath trembled as I lowered my head.
Veridis, Goddess of Life.It was some sick jest. Talking to myself while Kallias risked his life.You owe me no allegiance. I am Draconis—But my heart belongs to Radaan.
I glanced at the statue again, searching its serene expression for meaning, for answers it could not provide. The candlelight flickered against the sculpted features, making them seem alive, though they remained as silent as ever.
A knot of emotion tightened, clogging my throat. Impossible to ignore.
It belongs to Kallias.
Warmth curled around me like an embrace, loosening my shoulders as tears pricked my eyes. I lost everything: my homeland, my people, even Scythe, cut down by hands meant to end me. Draconia starved while Tallon seethed with hatred, his promises a noose ensnaring my neck. Kallias had been my last refuge, and he had pushed me away.
The ache swelled, raw and consuming.
I wiped at the tears carving paths down my cheeks, frustration blooming with each pass of my hand.
Protect him.I cannot stand without him. He shields me, grounds me, keeps the shadows at bay. He… loves me.
Thetruth struck hard, unraveling in scattered memories: his piercing gaze, his warmth, the unspoken confessions lingering in every touch. Though he had never spoken the words, they clung to the spaces between us.
Veridis, hear my prayer. Protect his life. Don’t let him die. Bring him back to me.
