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“I said, do you know why you’re still alive?”
“My charming personality?”
She laughed, then ran her index finger around the rim of the goblet. “You’re still here because I want you alive.”
“Why doyouwant me alive? Other than this façade of wanting me as king.”
As she glanced at the goblet, the reflection of the flickering fireplace shone in her eyes. “I want you to remember.”
My brows knitted together. “Remember what?”
“That you and I are the same. Do you know what can truly destroy a person, Niall?”
I shook my head.
“Love,” she announced, leaning forward. “It ruined us both.”
I thought about Elizabeth. “I don’t love anyone.”
She tilted her head. “We both know that’s not true.”
“I don’t,” I snapped, agitation rising in me. I caressed the goblet, then poured Alana’s sweet blood down my throat to ease the anger.
“We will agree to disagree,” she said with a wink. “Regardless, people like us will never be lucky in love.”
“You’re referring to Vener?”
She winced at hearing his name. “Yes.”
“So, just move on?” I said, saying what everyone else wanted to. “That was centuries ago. Find someone new.”
She slowly shook her head, pursing her lips. “It’s not that simple.”
“Why? Do you think you’re the first person to be rejected? It happens.”
Her features shifted in a split second, fury spilling from her gaze. “I gave everything to him,” she said, her tone clipped. “My sister hated me after I made him immortal. I gave him powers that mere mortals would have done anything for.” She licked her lips, not touching her dinner. “He made me trust him, then he tore my heart out, metaphorically. Do you know how often gods allow mortals to come close to them, let alone fall in love with one?”
“Butyoudid.”
She looked at the ceiling, as if she might glimpse her siblings from down here. “I’m not the same as the other gods. I liked this world, and he ruined it all for me.”
“So, you did all of this?” I looked at her incredulously, knowing I shouldn’t be arguing back with her like this. But even she had to see how fucking ridiculous it was. “You destroyed the world you once loved? That you helped create?”
Her hands slammed down the table, shaking the food and goblets. “My siblings thought the mortals wanted peace, but I knew better. It was a lie. Mortals never wanted peace. They thrive on pain and suffering. Whenever we gave them what they wanted, they always rebelled. I understood mortal nature more than they ever did. I found a home here.”
I frowned as I examined her trembling lips. “Ah,” I realized. “So, you liked mortals once.”
She swallowed thickly, the sound in my ears as she glared at me. “Vener ruined it all.”
“He cheated on you, and that somehow gets rid of everything you created and enjoyed? You had to damn hundreds of thousands of people because you were hurt?”
“It’s not as simple as that,” she said, slightly rising from her seat, leaning forward. “You always had a way with words, but they won’t save you this time.”
“What?” I asked, rising to lean closer. “Don’t enjoy hearing the truth?”
“You willneverunderstand.”
“I think I understand more than you do.”
