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“It’s not wrong to admire her.”

“Asking if she’s in the market for a husband when you just met her isn’tadmiration.”

Hel smiled despite the interruptions. “It’s good to meet you, Katana. I am a bit mad, but I do love your sister so no worries there. Valeen has told me all about you.” Normally he’d have something to say about people butting into his introduction, he’d find it disrespectful, but something kept his darker side at bay. It had the hairs on the back of her neck rising. A sudden pit in her gut made her queasy.

Something was wrong.

She searched the shadows around them. She found Synick bound with Hel’s magic near the black boulders several yards away. There were no signs of another intruder. Presco landed in his half-shifted form, wings protruding from his back. She hadn’t even realized he’d left again. The solemn expression onhis face caught her attention, turning the conversation between Hel and Katana into background noise.

“All good things I hope,” Katana said.

“Is there anything bad to say? I hear from your sister that you’re pretty perfect.”

“You are much too kind. I am far from perfect.”

“Humility is a rare trait in a goddess,” Hel mused. He slipped his arm around Valeen again. “This one has a superiority complex.”

Valeen’s attention was drawn back. Her fingers curled around the soft black fabric of Hel’s cloak. “Where is my castle?”

She pulled out from under his arm and started toward the ridge. If the stars were correct, and her memory sharp, the castle waited below this ridge of boulders. Palenor’s Castle Dredwich was beautiful, but nothing compared to her Castle Starcrest. To the silver moonstone and the elegance and detail in every room she’d spent years perfecting to her own tastes. If they had to steal it back from someone, she was prepared to do it.

Hel caught her wrist, spun her around, and held her waist in a playful manner. “You just proved my point.” But there was something about his face that sent another shot of worry through her. He might be smiling but it didn’t reach his eyes, didn’t bring out the dimple on his cheek.

“Hel?” she whispered.

He brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand and combed the stray hairs off her cheek. “Look at the moons.”

Her stomach plummeted, and she twisted out of his arms. Thane was looking at her with… pity. If Hel wasn’t here, she was sure he would go to her. She didn’t want to believe anything was wrong, but it was suddenly difficult to draw breath. Her legs weakened and her heart crashed in her chest like fire waiting to explode. Clouds covered two of the three moons. She didn’tunderstand what he was saying. With a wave of her hand, she pushed the clouds away… No.

Fennor was cracked, a dark line cut across the upper left corner, and chunks of silver detached from it, leaving a giant crevice, and Nuna’s rings were almost gone.

How is this possible?

“What are you saying?” Her voice was raw, but in her heart, she knew this meant her protective wall failed. It was the only thing that kept her land and people safe from the other gods’ conquests, it would have been the only barrier between the council’s vast armies and House of Night… “No.” She shook her head, panic clawing its way up her chest. “Who has my castle and this land, Hel? One of the council?”

She started for the cliffside, and Hel appeared in front of her, eyes soft. “It’s gone, love.”

“Gone?” He may as well have punched her in the chest. “What do you mean? It can’t be. It was made with magic… it’s like the manor in Ryvengaard, right? We can fix it. It will just take time.”

“It’s—in complete ruin. I’m sorry.” His throat bobbed and he reached for her hand.

“I want to see it.”

Reluctantly, he stepped aside, and she ran to the edge of the cliff. Her breath was ripped from her lungs. Her hand flew to her chest trying to hold in the wound spreading like ice. The walls and rooms that once stood were now piles of broken stone covered in years and years of nature reclaiming her home. The flower gardens were scattered with wildness, not a careful hand.

When she stepped through the portal, the glittering night sky greeted her, the vast green hills and the colorful lights above—she thought it was here, her heart wanted to be home… She slowly sunk to her knees and sat back on her heels. Just when she believed the Council of the Gods hadn’t taken everythingfrom her, just when she had a small bit of hope that maybe they hadn’t tainted and ruined all that she’d ever loved…

Synick’s laugh cut through the sorrowful silence like sharp fingernails raking down her back. “Oh, how the mighty have fallen. You have nothing left!” His laughter grew louder. “Serves you right for what you did to me.”

A hot tear slid down the cool skin of her cheek. Valeen slowly turned her head. Blood pumped loudly in her ears—the drums of war. Like someone else took hold, her fingers curled around her goddess blade Zythara, and she jerked it from the scabbard. The gold glinted in the moonlights.

“Valeen. I know you’re hurt. I know it’s terrible.” Thane stepped into her peripheral. “But now is not the time?—”

“Hurt? I’m more than hurt!” Her head snapped in his direction.

“No castle for a queen!” Synick howled, laughing hysterically now. “You’re not even a goddess anymore. Just a pathetic mortal with nothing left. Apeasant.”

Suddenly he started choking and gasping for air. Hel must have cut his breathing off.