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The glyphs sprang to life, the Chaos swirling violently within. Saylah’s gaze snapped to it, and for the first time, she was not still. She seemed to tremble with restraint.

“No,” the goddess gritted out. “I may carry more Chaos than you, but it will seek you.”

“It’s why Alaric wants me so badly, isn’t it?” Scarlett asked, rotating the lock in her hand.

“Yes.”

“Does he know what this is? What it can do?” Scarlett pressed.

“Yes,” Saylah said again. “Achaz would have told him. He sent Moranna here to find a way to release the Chaos to be used for his own gain.”

“Does Alaric know whatIcan do with it?”

“The same thing I can do. Unlock the realm,” Saylah said, eyes sliding to her daughter.

Scarlett shrugged. “That might be allyoucan do with it.”

That unearthly stillness returned to the goddess. “Explain yourself.”

“I would but…” Scarlett got to her feet, tossing the lock into the air and catching it with a grin that would rival Nuri’s insanity. Then she godsdamnwinkedat her mother. “Secrets are the currency of the gods.”

Chapter34

Scarlett

“Scarlett, we need to use the lock to take down the Wards,” Cethin said. She could tell by his tone he was trying to be careful, to balance his support between her and their mother. Not for the first time, Scarlett wondered what he had experienced to make him so submissive to her.

“About that,” Scarlett said, beginning to trace a few of the glyphs with her starfire. “Tell me about the mirror gates.”

“The mirror gates?” Cethin repeated. “What of them?”

“We were discussing them before we were interrupted. Who created them?” she asked, moving to another glyph.

“Serafina and Taika created the mirror gates along with the lock. Just as new worlds and new beings cannot be created by one god alone, nor could something like this,” Saylah answered. “What are you doing?”

Scarlett had begun tracing another glyph, this one with ice. She flicked her eyes to her mother before focusing on the orb again. “Exchanging currency. Why did she create the mirror gates?”

“I do not know all the history, Scarlett,” Saylah said. “It all happened before my time. I was told some, but my existence was kept a secret until it could not be hidden any longer. Because of that, my knowledge is limited.”

She could hear the irritation in her tone at not having the upper hand here, despite being the most powerful in the room.

“Tell me what youdoknow of the mirror gates,” Scarlett said.

Saylah exhaled a harsh breath, and Scarlett was certain it was the most mortal thing she had ever witnessed from her, aside from sitting in the sand that night on the beach.

“The beings that emerged from the Chaos all have different gifts, just as the various beings and bloodlines created do. The gods can Travel within one realm, but they cannot move among the worlds. That was a gift of the World Walkers. The gods did not wish to lose such magic when the World Walkers were conquered. Some of their Chaos was harnessed and used to create the mirror gates to allow the gods to travel among the realms,” Saylah explained.

“And the lock is connected to them?” Scarlett asked, tracing another glyph with her shadows.

“Not all of them. Some are used for communication. Some are used for crossing the stars,” Saylah replied. “Now, Daughter, if we are exchanging secrets, it is time you share one with me.”

Scarlett paused, slowly dragging her eyes back to her mother. “I did not say I was exchanging currency withyou.” She lifted the orb a little higher. “I find— What was her name? Korra? I find her secrets far more interesting than yours.”

“What does that mean?” Cethin cut in.

“If Chaos has to be sacrificed to transfer power and create new beings, tell me how the gifts were taken from the Sorceress,” Scarlett replied, ignoring Cethin and returning her attention to the orb. She began tracing a glyph in orange flames.

“If I am going to share things with you, it only serves you do the same,” Saylah retorted, and Scarlett knew she was pushing the goddess.