Page 21 of A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows

And all I wanted was to hold him next to me and pretend I could do that for eternity.

Even if it was another lie that I allowed myself to believe.

9

Epiphany

Temi looked out the side of her eyes at me as I brought a blanket and tucked it over her. She clenched her fingers into the fabric, pushing it down as she leaned against the fallen log she rested against. “Thanks.”

“Try not to sound so grateful,” I said as I sat beside her.

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired of everyone fussing over me.”

Valerian strode over, handing her a mug and her scowl deepened. “I’m not thirsty anymore.”

He dropped into the grass beside me. “You lost a great deal of blood. You need more liquid than you probably realize.”

Guards exited the woods, mist swirling with their motion from the fog that had settled around us. They raised several dead squirrels in our direction. “Fresh meat for tonight.”

Valerian bobbed his head at them. “Good. I think another few nights of rest, and we can get back on the road again.”

“We probably don’t need a few more nights.” Temi slid the bandage down her arm, revealing the thin line of a scar.

I gasped. “That’s amazing. You’ve healed so quickly.”

“Yes, well, if my run-in with Hera accomplished anything, it confirmed that I’m a deity.”

Valerian kicked his legs out in front of him, crossing his ankles, his boots getting lost in long grasses. “If you need to test that again, let one of us stab you instead, okay?”

Temi frowned at him. “Would you?”

“Well, if the alternative is you facing a vindictive goddess and stumbling around in the woods alone, slowly bleeding out… yes. As a friend, I’d be happy to.”

Temi bowed her head. “Thank you for everything you did.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I grabbed his arm, and his eyes met mine. For a second, we both froze, the world fading around us. But then I cleared my throat. “You were amazing, Val. You saved her life.”

“Except I couldn’t die,” Temi deadpanned.

I side-eyed her. “Well, we didn’t know that at the moment, and you certainly seemed to be dying.”

“I’m sorry,” Temi said. “And I really appreciate it, Valerian. Whether or not I could die, it was terrifying. Having you there made it less so.”

He reached across me and patted her hand. “Anytime another deity needs me present to bleed out on my favorite tunic and unnecessarily help, just call for me.”

She huffed a laugh and picked up her mug, taking a drink.

Valerian jumped up and dusted his hands off. “Well, I need to go tend to the horses before the sun sets.”

He ambled off, and I sighed, leaning back against my arms. Temi huddled into herself. “He’s a good one.”

“Yeah”—I bowed my head—“he is.”

She took another swallow and rested her cup against her knee.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said.