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“Darkbringer,” Layala said and pressed her lips together, finding it strange it came to her so quickly. “I named it that because when I brought it out that meant they’d never see light again.”

He broke his scowl and the corner of his mouth threatened to lift. “And the irony of your other sword’s name isn’t lost on me.” He jerked down a thick green vine that snapped halfway from the top and toppled. “But you’d have to remember where it is to do that. I can’t pull it for you.”

“Pull it from where?”

“The aether. It’s a plane where no flesh nor person exists or can see butthingscan go.”

Layala fidgeted with the dagger’s handle on her hip. She had a feeling it was here, confiscated along with the rest of her belongings. Not stored in the aether.

She watched him continue working, tossing weeds and vines into the giant pile and the mention of god blades struck a chord. “I stole Soulender from you. I killed—” she paused when a flash of her plunging the golden dagger into the chest of a male came across her mind. “I killed a primordial. And Soulender is what you want from me, isn’t it? And that’s what the council fears. I have the only weapon that can kill one of them.”

He didn’t even pause. “Yes, you killed Synick, one of the seven originals. Because he murdered your sister with the Sword of Truth, the location of which no one seems to know. I think the knowledge of its resting place died with Synick. And no, you told me where Soulender was. Moments before they executed us, you whispered its location in my mind. But again, I can’t pull it; only you can. And you can bet it is the reason the council fears us.”

“I’m the reason we were banished. Thisismy fault. Killing a god is banishment if not execution, and I dragged you both down with me.”

He stopped and wiped the top of his forearm across his sweaty brow. His chest heaved up and down from the hours of exertion. “It wasn’t the sole reason for our banishment, just one among the list but it all began with me. I stole Soulender from my family, from the council.”

Layala remembered her dream where they talked about this exact thing. “So you could see me.” She couldn’t help but slowly smile.

He laughed at himself, bringing out the dimple and his cheeks even colored a light pink. “Yes. I was young and a fool. And you were the most stunning goddess I’d ever seen.”

“You were what—five hundred? It’s not that young. And even now, though it’s been two thousand years, most of that time doesn’t count. We weren’t even alive through much of it.”

“If we’re being technical with time spent breathing and in the Void, I’m nine hundred and three. You’re an old lady. Even with the two-thousand-year gap, you’re at least ten thousand years. There was a time when you primordials didn’t even keep time. It’s hard to say how old you really are.”

“That’s—bewildering.” She couldn’t truly comprehend it.

He chuckled. “A little bit.”

Layala jerked up a huge weed that grew nearly as tall as she. She wanted to ask about the wars but that would be a touchy subject considering they’d been on opposing sides. For weeks, both of them avoided talking about anything to do with the time she left him and after.

He waved for her to follow and started for the clearing they’d battered down. “Come on, let’s train before we lose motivation.”

The tall golden grass lay flat in nearly a perfect circle, making it easy to move around in. He rolled his neck and cracked his knuckles. The sunlight glistened off his bare chest, illuminating his tattoos and rune marks. Layala stayed a few paces further away than normal. He usually wore more clothes.

“Shadow.”

Layala focused on her power and felt her body shifting. Shadows enveloped her entire being and then returned.

“Good. Shield.” A blast of red crackling energy careened toward her.

She threw up her hands and the attack crashed into her barrier, fizzling out.

“Excellent.” He began to pace slowly back and forth. “You should be able to levitate by now.”

“It’s hard for me to imagine lifting off the ground with no wings or reason. And after I jumped off the cliff and it didn’t work…”

“And it’s easy for you to imagine changing entirely into shadow?” He waved a dismissive hand. “You should also be able to persuade. Your speed and strength are as much as they’ll be until we get our immortality back.”

“Like command someone to do something and they have no choice but to do it?” She thought back to him demanding she take her clothes off and though her cheeks were already warm from the sunshine and work, the heat intensified.

“You should also be able to resist persuasion. We’ve been at this for over nine weeks now.”

“Test me,” Layala said, holding her arms out to her sides.

He closed the distance between them, leaving inches. He gently grasped her chin between his fingers, garnet eyes locking onto hers. “Tell me you hate me.”

She felt a sensation, like light invisible fingers gliding through her scalp and said, “But I don’t hate you.”