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Now that the gauntlet had been thrown down, we needed to focus on what came next. On preparing as many people as possible to face the threats of the godly realm.
There was a lot of work to be done, and a very short amount of time to do it in.
Gods, I hope my hands stay clean
.
As if he could sense the turmoil roiling inside me, Trace shot me a lopsided smile. “Come on, Snow. Let’s get inside before we get soaked.”
The five of us headed quickly toward the school. Everyone else had already disappeared inside the massive stone building, and when we stepped through the large front doors, the place felt strangely quiet. Eerily so. As if the entire school was collectively holding its breath.
“I did the right thing,” I blurted quietly as we made our way up the stairs toward the dorms. I couldn’t take the gloomy silence anymore.
“Are you sure?” Eden didn’t sound like she was trying to cut me down, but more like she genuinely wanted to know.
If only I knew.
“We didn’t have any other options,” I insisted. “Or rather, our only other option was to go along with the challenge and let them wipe us out like they intended. At least this way, we get a chance to take some of them down with us. And at least now people know what they’re walking into.”
“Yeah.” Trace snorted. “The biggest fucking problem around here is that everyone’s been brainwashed to believe that the gods are magnanimous and caring beings. That they want us to succeed. When actually, it’s the complete opposite.”
“Agreed,” Lach muttered. “If people are goin’ to die, at least they can do it with their eyes wide open.”
Eden winced at his words, and I squeezed her hand gently, trying to comfort her a little.
Okay, so that wasn’t the most optimistic way of putting it. But he’s not wrong.
“Every day since I got back from the palace, I’ve replayed that conversation between Omari and Ryker in my head,” I said, speaking mainly for Eden’s benefit. I knew that as nervous as they were about the fight, the guys were already on board with my plan. “Every word that was said, I’ve analyzed and dissected a million different ways. I thought about the motives behind Omari’s actions, the reason for the fear, how it could be changed. After listening to their fight though, I’m pretty sure Omari’s mind is made up. He doesn’t believe our kind should exist.”
And whether I was more than just a wild magic user, whether I had powers beyond that, he still wasn’t going to listen to someone like me.
In fact, if he knew I had powers that allowed me access to the godly realm, he probably would’ve killed me already.
“Yeah. I…” Eden swallowed. “I think you might be right about that.”
“Putting myself out there at the ceremony for the challenge was bold. And, like Dean Frost said, a little foolhardy.” I huffed a sardonic laugh. “I knew that from the beginning. But it’s the only way out that I could see. I had to take the power away from them, and though this didn’t fully take it away, it gave us some power back.”
“How much power?” she asked quietly.
We reached the landing for the floor where our dorm rooms were located, and I stopped, turning to face my friend. “I don’t know. It all depends on how many people will agree to stand with us.” I snorted. “And it’ll also depend on how many people stand against us.”
Merrick ran a hand through his short blond hair. “It all comes down to fear in the end.”
“Ye got that right.” Lachlan snorted. “Fear of the gods; fear of death; fear of the unknown. People do crazy things when they’re scared.”
I grinned at him. “Let’s just hope it’s good-crazy, like joining us in a fight where the odds are stacked so high against us that not even an obsessive gambler would take this bet.”
He cocked an eyebrow at me. “Hey, ye know I’m that kinda crazy.”
“And that’s why I love you.”
He chuckled. Then his expression grew serious again. “Ye did say that Ryker’s against Omari. Maybe there are other gods who are too. It doesn’t seem like he rules by true loyalty as much as by fear.”
“So isn’t that a reason not to go up against him?” Eden pressed. “He’s strong. Stronger than any of us—any of them—and no one can unseat him.”
I shook my head. “I’m not trying to unseat him. I don’t want to get involved in the politics of the godly realm, and I’m not looking to stage a coup. But I want to face my enemy head-on instead of fighting mirages for the rest of my life. We might as well stand with our heads high and show them we won’t go down without a fight.”
Eden took a deep breath. I could tell it was taking every ounce of willpower she had, but she straightened her spine, lifting her head high before she nodded at me. “Then if you’re building an army to take on the gods, consider me your first recruit.”
