Page 53 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

“I wouldn’t be a good Captain of the Guard if I hadn’t.”

I decided that I didn’t want to know what he could tell about me. “And Cora’s?”

“No. I don’t read younglings. Their auras are still being molded until adulthood. I can see them, but they change too frequently and dramatically to get an accurate read.”

I raised my eyebrows. “None of these seems like they would be common enchants.”

“They’re not. I am the only known umbrakinesis in a century.”

“Impressive.”

Darragh shrugged. “Is it? I am not the only one in the castle with more than two powers. The king likes to surround himself with powerful seraphs for his own gain.”

“He must be pretty trusting to have that many powerful seraphs in his employ.”

Darragh’s mood shifted. “When you have power given by a god, it is easy to control anyone around you.”

I scoffed. “Don’t all seraphs have gifts of the Divine?”

“Not like his,” he said, seriously. “The king gets a direct line of power from Themis.”

“Is that why he is king?”

“It is why he stays king. Torrish’s connection with Themis is symbiotic. They get power from each other. Did you read the book I recommended from the library?”

I nodded. “Yes. I have read a lot of it. It’s fascinating.”

“Then you know that deities derive more power from worship and devotion. How many other statues, altars, or temples of deities other than Themis have you seen in Tironaill?” he asked gruffly.

“There aren’t any. Anya said it was forbidden.”

Darragh grunted in agreement. “It is designed that way.”

The forest on either side of our path had been calm and full of animals readying themselves for the colder months. I imagined nests and burrows were being lined and food stored. As we passed a large maple tree, a squirrel and her two babies went skittering up into the high branches.

I blinked and pulled in a breath. Babies. “The angheal’s.” I paused. “Is it possible they can’t have younglings because they aren’t honoring the goddess of life?”

“That is a theory.”

I shook my head. “They have to know that, so why don’t they go back to worshipping more than Themis?

Darragh stayed still and quiet. He sighed. “I wish I had the answer to give you.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand why other seraphs and humans can have children but not angheals.”

“Why indeed.”

“So, King Torrish requires devotion and worship of Themis, giving the god heightened divine power, and in return, Themis gives the king more power than any other seraph?” The pieces started connecting.

“Sacrifice is also required for Torrish to keep his crown,” Darragh stated.

My eyebrows creased. “In what way?”

Silence.

My thoughts drifted back to the woman dropping her blood into the pool surrounding the pillar of Themis.

“Blood,” I whispered. “Themis requires blood and atonement. Seraphs are sent to the atoner to be punished for wrongdoing, which would be considered justice served. It feeds the power of the God of Justice.” The realization of it all made me shudder.