Page 111 of A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows

And sitting cross-legged under its light, Temi raised her face, her golden eyes glowing against the dark. Others huddled nearby, but I could only focus on her before shifting back to Cyn.

The silvery essence swirled up and up and up.

Away from Hyacinth.

And then gone.

I bowed into myself as if the weight of my broken heart would pull me crashing into the earth, and Hades gripped my shoulder. “I’ll keep my bargain, Apollo. Will you keep yours?”

“Do you want me to vow it?”

“No. I believe you.”

I swallowed and inclined my head.

And he disappeared.

Temi rose and walked towards me, her movement slow and uncertain. When she reached me, I stood and draped against her, and she clutched my shoulders as though she could hold me up.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t,” she said. “I understand.”

I shuddered and then swayed, pressing my fingers to my temples. My head ached and my stomach lurched. For the first time in my life, I felt truly unwell. Like I couldn’t walk. I tried pulling the sensation away with my magic, but it didn’t help.

Temi frowned at me. “Earth sickness must be setting in.”

“Oh.”

Earth sickness.

Because I had ascended.

I shivered and patted her hand. Her breath whispered against my skin as she spoke. “I’m going to go tell his family that it’s safe to come over. It is, isn’t it?”

I hesitated for a moment. If I could do anything to bring him back—tearing the entire world apart included—I would. But he was gone. “Yes.”

She kissed my cheek and turned towards the shadowy outline of people in the distance.

And I dropped beside Hyacinth once more. A hundred things pierced through my mind. I wanted to apologize for all the stupidity, for falling in love with him, for staying, for embarrassing him, for causing his death.

I sniffled as lights moved on the field, glowing balls of orange that bobbed.

Lanterns.

With people.

I could not bear to encounter.

I swept into that magic of the sun, of fire and light and energy.

And gold dappled the grass.

As I disappeared into the heavens.

47

Epiphany