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Kaleb’s footsteps sounded as he stepped beside me. “The Spirit Realm?” he asked.
I nodded. “Mhm.”
“It’s made up of nine different tiers, depending on how you conducted yourself in your past life, which determines which tier you belong in. People have the ability to move up or down levels, depending on their behavior. They can also request to be placed in another tier, but the process is a bit complicated. The top tier is reserved solely for the Old Gods and Reapers. The Spirit Realm was completely redesigned by Von after the Immortal War.”
“Why did he redesign it?” I asked, curiously.
Kaleb shrugged. “Why does anyone redesign anything? To make things better, I imagine.”
“I suppose that makes sense,” I answered, thinking on the topic of the Immortal War.
It took place centuries ago, when the Old Gods, led by Von, and the New Gods, led by Aurelius—andapparentlymyself—fought for control over the Living and Immortal Realms. The last time it came up in conversation was with Von when we were back in Belamour.
Von . . . A pain formed in my chest.
“Have there been any changes with him?” I asked, watching the falling snowflakes move at their own leisurely pace, misting the canvas of night with sparkling white.
“Nothing,” Kaleb sighed, his voice conjuring me from my hypnotized state. “How are things going with uncovering your past?”
My past?Thatwas a complicated topic thanks to a particular gold ring.
“They aren’t. I inquired with my housemaid about Soren, but that was a dead end. Arkynstillhasn’t returned.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “Because he isn’t here, I can’t ask him about Soren or discuss striking a new deal. Apart from spending my days trying to gather whatever information about the king I can, I’m feeling stuck.”
“We’re going to figure it out,” Kaleb offered reassuringly, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
“There’s something else.”
“What is it?” he asked with a degree of concern.
“Part of my past is living in this castle.” I took a breath and exhaled softly before I turned to him. “I know we weren’t raised with much knowledge pertaining to the gods, but do you recall that the Lady of Light was once married?”
“Now that you mention it, I do—to the Lord of Light. Wait. Are you telling me that heis here?” Kaleb’s blond brows drew together.
“He is.”
Gray-blue eyes met mine. “So then . . . what does that mean for you and Von?”
“Well, as it stands, I don’t really know. I . . . I don’t think it means anything for us. I know that it is not uncommon for gods and goddesses to have a variety of spouses due to their longevity of life. Von told me that after the Immortal War, the two warring sides would be linked together through marriage—a marriage between him and I. But it never took place because I . . . died.” That last word tasted strange on my tongue. Talking about my death, past tense, was . . . odd. But even worse was the nauseating feeling it left in my stomach.
Now it was Kaleb’s turn to take a breath. “I’m not going to lie. It sounds like one Spirit Realm of a twisted tale.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Have you tried talking to the Lord of Light? About your past?”
“I have, but his memories are as lacking as my own.”
“Hmm,” Kaleb said, thinking about it. “Well, I reiterate, we’ll figure it out.” He gave me a playful nudge. “Also, before I forget, Ezra has a message for you.”
My brows shot up into my hairline. “Whoa, wait, you can talk to Ezra?”
He threw me a look. “You really have to ask that?”
He was right—the woman had full-on conversations with rocks. What was a little chat session with a bird?
“Where did you see her?” I grinned, eager to hear more.
“She is in the Cursed Lands in a town called Valenthia. Two girls were with her. One was a tall, smoking-hot brunette. And the other was smaller, a bit mousy. Come to think of it, she didn’t say a single word.”
