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‘I cannot avenge the gods,’ she murmured. ‘For they are gods. I was taught to protect them, not slay them.’

He ran a hand over his head, exhaling. ‘What if you tried?’ He tilted his head, growl biting. ‘Would they smite you?’

A shadow of a smile crossed her lips. ‘They’d eviscerate me in milliseconds unless, as Zenas intimated, we can devise a plan tobeat them at their own game,’ she admitted. ‘However, that’s not the point.’

Ki’Remi folded his arms, his massive frame still thrumming with restrained power. ‘Then what is?’

She sighed, stepping into him. ‘Despite everything, the manipulations, the war, the curses, the divine are not beings of pure malice. They are pure potency. They are creation and destruction, light and dark.’

His mouth pressed into a hard line. ‘That’s a real poetic way of saying they’re arrogant bastards who play with people’s lives.’

She shook her head. ‘They are worshiped, Remi, because they bring balance. The average Sacran mortal does not live in fear of them, nor do they believe every action is to appease them. The gods, for all their faults, give.’

He said nothing, just stared at her, waiting.

She lifted her chin. ‘They are the architects of civilization. They brought mortals the plow and the bridle. They instructed us to cultivate fields, tame beasts, and forge metal. They gave us blacksmithing, prophecy, art, and medicine. They taught us how to heal, to dream, to build.’

Her voice softened. ‘They are not only divinities of punishment, Ki’Remi. They are the originators of invention, inspiration, and guidance. They bring gifts to us, blessings,kharis.’

She took a breath. ‘The wrath of gods makes for a good story, but it is not the whole truth. Their cruelty is often the explanation for the randomness of life itself—but so is their kindness. Still, when they turn to evil, they must pay. Therein lies my dilemma.’

She paused, letting the weight of her words settle between them.

The Sableman was still staring at her, his expression unreadable.

Then he gave a long, heavy, reluctant sigh because this was her world.

This was what she had known, what she had grown up believing, what she had built her faith upon.

He didn’t have to understand it, but he did have to accept her and allow her to reach her own conclusions.

His broad shoulders lowered. His hands relaxed, reaching for her.

She folded into his arms, and he murmured into her hair.

‘From now on,’ he said, stroking down her spine, ‘you can expect I will embrace all that you are, and while I may not always grasp your reasons, I will respect them. However, if and when it comes to it, I will end them if I can, on your behalf. Will that be acceptable?’

She lifted her chin. ‘Naam. Although I think I’m already warming up to the idea of flaming out Somayeh and Zavei for what they did to my family and me.’

His gaze locked onto hers, unwavering.

‘Shall we plan anyway, in case we have half a chance of getting out of here?’

She glanced up at him as their lips met in a melding kiss.

‘Naam,lover, let’s plot how we can kick some serious deific ass.’

‘Hell yeah,’ Ki’Remi murmured against her mouth. ‘Whatever it takes, I’ll always have you six.’

28

Cosmic Flames

ISSA

Ki’Remi’s words settled over Issa like a balm, sinking into the marrow of her bones.

I’ll always have your six.