Page 109 of As Above, So Below

“Vestaris, she is doing what she said she would,” Artemise says, her tone softer, taking me by surprise. “She is planning to help you. She just—she needs time to prepare. This opportunity won’t come again in your lifetime.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like you, Celesta is Fated,” Artemise explains, the crease between her brows deepening. “But her Fate is contingent upon you. By setting you back on the path Nektos has woven for you, she can fulfill her own Fate.”

“For centuries, I’ve kept you safe. Hidden from Nektos.”Netharis’ words loop themselves in my mind.

“And what is her Fate exactly?” I demand.

“She’s never shared it with any of her High Priestesses,” she deigns quietly. “But she is convinced helping you will free her from her contract.”

My eyes shoot wide as my blood runs cold, dousing my rage in an instant.

“I can’t free anyone from a contract, let alone a goddess.” My voice doesn’t hide my state of shock and disbelief.

“With Celesta’s help, you can,” Artemise encourages gently. “Which is why we need you to stayawayfrom the Sovereign King. He will take you away from her in his own pursuit of power.”

“Because choosing to help a god seeking power is better than a mortal doing the same.” My lip curls in disgust with the thought. “Celesta is going to need to show me she’s better than Netharis. As far as I’m concerned,allof the gods care only for themselves.”

“Celesta is not like the other gods,” Artemise says her tone curt. “She has accepted you into her fold, kept you safe behind her wards, given you her blessing.”

Reaching across her desk, she picks up a folded newspaper and slings it toward the edge of the desk. It falls with a heavyflap.

“If you’d paid attention to what your presence has done to this city, perhaps you’d recognize the things shehasdone for you,” she says in cutting tones.

Approaching the desk, I turn my sight downward, my eyes drawn to the headline.

PANIC STRIKES CITY RESIDENTS: VAMPIRES AND UNDEAD LURK IN OLLORA AT NIGHT.

A mixture of guilt, fear, and dread causes my fingers and toes to grow cold and numb as I read. City residents are advised against leaving their homes after dark and to not answer their doors. Those in the South Ward and Brightstair districts especially, where the latest sightings have taken place. The tiniest slip of relief washes over me as I read no lives have been lost, thus far, with the sightings.

The next sentence leaves me reeling.

The Sovereign King Alaryc Witherhorn—it starts and I can’t bring myself to read the rest. My eyes linger on his name. There in plain print, the name of the fae I’ve dreamt of for reasons only the gods know.

Bastard knew giving me his full name would be damning. A demon would have done the same thing. I almost laugh with the thought.

If Artemise is trying to convince me of all the dangers I’ve been kept safe from on account of sheltering in Celesta’s temple, she’s failed miserably. The article goes on to detail the Sovereign King’s approach in protecting Ollora and ensuring his people remain safe.

Increased royal guard in the city.

Nightly curfews.

Hiding in Celesta’s temple, within her ward, hasn’t done anything to help with the situation.

While Ryc’s actions as Sovereign King have.

The sudden feeling Artemise isn’t being completely honest creeps into the back of my mind. There are too many things that don’t make sense, things that don’t quite add up. Even if such a thing were possible, why would agoddessneedmeto free her from her contract?

Surely the moon goddess is more powerful than I am. Especially considering the restraints on this mortal body.

No one is being honest in any of this.

And I can’t blame them for it.

I haven’t been honest either.

But I need more information from all parties involved before I make any kind of decisions.