Page 160

“I didn’t even know an immortal weapon existed, no one did until she died.”

“So you did stand by and watch.”

“Synick is my friend. He swore he didn’t do it.”

A tingle of alarm slithered down Hel’s spine. He’d checked on Synick before he left, the prick was still in the cell, still as pathetic as ever, dirty, rotting. “Is?”

“Was,” Atlanta corrected, but his temperament cooled too quickly. “With Katana alive again it has put my mind back to that time.”

He knows Synick is alive…he couldn’t speak to Valeen’s mind while they were in different realms; the connection was too far.

“Time is different as a god. It’s meaningless,” Alehelm added, lifting his chin proudly.

“Nobody invited you to join this conversation Alehelm.”

“I am a second-generation god, I will not be told what to do by you, a disgraced elf who keeps monsters as company.” He looked at Mathekis with disgust.

“Why don’t you go crush some grapes with your feet and shove a few up your asshole while you’re at it. You’re no warrior, you shouldn’t even be here.” He gestured toward Mathekis. “He would best you in combat easily.”

His face reddened with each passing moment. “I wouldn’t be beaten by thatthing,” he retorted, pulling an axe from his back.

“Don’t.” Atlanta’s hand shot toward his companion as he glared.

“This weasel deserves to die. He’s a disgrace to the gods. We should not be making deals with him.”

“You will hold your axe and do nothing, Alehelm. Pricilla has made an agreement.”

“Go ahead and take a swing.” Hel smiled, enraging Alehelm further. “Give me a reason to kill you.”

“No!” Atlanta’s voice deepened. “You will hold your ground, Alehelm, no matter what he says. Pricilla was right, we can’t let his games get into our heads.” He turned back to Hel. “When I come for Katana, you need to keep your wife and cousin in line too.”

Hel chuckled. “I said if you wanted her to go get her. Not that I would help you. The god of war does what he pleases, and I never agreed to keep my wife out of anything, I can’t speak for her.”

“That’s your problem. You have no control of her. It’s the reason there was ever war in the first place, it’s the reason she was fucking your cousin. If you’d kept your bitch in line, you wouldn’t be here.”

Heat boiled up from his core and he had to force his magic down. “Call her that again.” He glared at him. “Go ahead. Do it.” He gripped his weapon tighter and moved enough that Atlanta would see it as a threat. The prick’s mouth stayed shut. “Like I said, you’re a coward. Only a coward would be threatened enough by his wife to beat her and diminish her tokeep her in line.” He turned Starborn and tipped his chin to Atlanta. “As pleasant as your company is, I’ll wait with my army for Pricilla’s return.”

He kicked him into a trot and searched the woods for a sign of Thane. He could send someone back to warn Valeen and Katana about Atlanta and his possible alliance with Synick. He couldn’t figure out how Atlanta knew, but he did… but why hadn’t he set him free?

“Lord.” Mathekis rode loyally beside him. “Is the plan the same? I’m surprised you didn’t say ‘no’ about the other goddess since she is your wife’s sister.”

“I didn’t expect Atlanta to be here. And I couldn’t say ‘no’. Had I said ‘no’ Atlanta would have stopped the negotiation. Once the exchange is made, we retreat to the woods and hold there. But right now, you need to go to Thane and tell him to have someone get a message to Valeen and Katana.”

Hel stopped Starborn at the front of the line of pale ones and turned to find Atlanta was gone.

Chapter 50

VALEEN

Waiting on the shelf near the foundry was Lightbringer. In the dull light it didn’t look remarkable, but it would be the thing that saved the elves of Palenor. She took the two pieces of Lightbringer off the shelf and held one in each hand.

To make it just as strong as before she’d have to melt down both pieces and reforge the entire blade, which would take weeks to smooth and perfect. And with Hel and Thane attacking Pricilla, they didn’t have that kind of time.

She set the pieces on the anvil and turned to Katana. Her sister picked up the flower vase to toss out the old ones and replace them with the new bunch of daisies and poppies she’d plucked on their way here.

“I need you to heat the two broken ends so I can overlay them and meld them back together. It will save time.”

Katana’s brows puckered. “But it will be swollen on the spot.”