Page 66 of Evermore

“He’s feeding her power,” I repeated, realizing I’d never considered that.

Tuck set his glass down with deliberate care. “Speaking of lost things that need finding… Archer.”

“I’ll handle it.” I drained my glass. “He’s stubborn, not stupid. He’ll see his father.”

“You sound awfully confident for someone who’s been staring into a crystal ball all day.”

I shot him a dark look. “Don’t remind me.”

We left the Parlor to find Minerva waiting by the carriage, leaning on her cane with an expression that suggested we’d kept her waiting for approximately three eternities.

“I trust you boys finished solving all the realm’s problems over your morning drinks?” she asked dryly, clearly smelling the alcohol.

“Actually, we were just discussing your joyful disposition, sunshine,” Tuck answered.

She whacked his shoulder with her cane. “Call me that again and I’ll show you just how sunny I can be.”

Minnie and I sat in the back of the carriage while Tuck took the seat at the front, effortlessly driving the horses through Stirling. Except when we didn’t turn south to head to Paesha’s home in Silbath, I shot a glance to Minnie. “Where are we going?”

“If you would have pulled your head out of that office of yours at all these past few days, you would know.”

“Where’s Quill?” I asked, suddenly more concerned for the child than the man.

“Oh, look. The Keeperdoeshave a heart. She’s gone home to Silbath with her caretakers. Tuck’s been on rotation, checking on them as well as keeping an eye on Archer and the king, while you sit around pouting.”

“I’m not pouting, I’m working.”

“I don’t argue with pouters.” She shifted away so she could fully face me. “What’s the end goal here? Because I need you to promise me you’re not going to the Forgotten. Tell me there’s nothing Alastor can do to make that happen.”

“I’ll do a lot of things, Minnie. But not that.”

She gripped the cane across her lap. “You have that look on your face, Reverius. If you go there, you know what Ezra says is going to happen. Alastor will send the Huntress. She’ll betray you and you will ruin us all.”

I looked away to hide the scowl at her use of my first name. “I don’t trust a single thing my brother says. And neither should you.”

“Then tell me why we went to him.”

“I don’t know, Minerva. Maybe because at the end of it, he’s still my brother and I had hoped he’d be honest. But you know what his silence tells me? He’s not interested in restoring the balance no matter what he claims. He wants me to step back so he can control everything. Ezra can no longer see beyond himself. He only wants her to die. And I just want her to live. I want to fucking love that woman in peace but he won’t let it happen. There are so many prophecies and visions he claims to be true, I don’t trust a single one anymore. Think about it, we were always told the Huntress would break the balance of power. That’s done, isn’t it? It’s already happening. So why’s he still out for blood? He said I would find myself locked in the Forgotten and all the gods’ power would die. It’s fear mongering. Like his claim that the Huntress will betray me.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Think about who’s giving us these ‘visions’. What arehis fucking motives? Maybe all of these things were only said to control me and never because they were truth.”

I lifted my hand and tried to draw my power forward only for it to crackle out. “One minute, I have the depth of power to turn this fucking realm to dust and the next, I couldn’t tell you the memory of a five-year-old mortal if you godsdamn paid me. I cannot save her if I’m weakened. I can’t save anyone. I can’t protect anyone. Eventually, every lesser god will cease to fear me. And if they have no fear at all, they have every reason to start a war amongst us. Right now, Ezra and I stand on equal footing as rulers of gods. What happens when Alastor attacks when my power is weakened? I’m no longer the Supreme Sovereign. I’m just a fucking failure. To you, to her, to everyone. For all of existence. I hate being here in a place where I have no control.”

“And you think, after all these years, all these lives, you’re going to find a loophole to take her back to Etherium.” She narrowed her eyes. “Do you believe she’ll willingly go?”

“You asked me what my end goal was and I answered. It’s her. In whatever capacity I can have her. As long as she doesn’t die by a god’s hands again, her fragile soul will reincarnate. Eventually, I will get her back into Etherium. That’s my end goal. That’s all I want.”

“Sometimes what we want isn’t what’s best for us, my boy. And moreso, it could be impossible. Perhaps you can’t have both things. You can have the girl, but the gods will fall. Or we can keep our power, but your Ever will be lost to you.”

“I know that’s what Ezra claims. He’s lying.” I looked out the window, remembering that first time we’d spoken of the Huntress. “He told me there was a path. One path where she could live and the balance wouldn’t break. Of all the possibilities and choices to be made, thereisa path to peace. He said those fucking words to my face and thought, of all people,Iwould forget when we learned she was my Ever. He’s the enemy here,Min. And if you can’t believe that then you’re sitting on the wrong side of this battle.”

“So, you agree the war has already begun?”

“This war began thousands of years ago. The first time he stood behind Alastor’s daughter and shoved that blade into her heart. He started it. I will end it, and then I’ll pick up the pieces. That’s how this was always going to go.”

Minerva took my hand. “I am sitting on the right side of this battle as long as you don’t go into the Forgotten. You know as well as I do, the Fates have warned against you going into the Forgotten just as much as Ezra. You must not. You’ve always been a fool for her, but the moment you turn reckless, I will no longer stand beside you.”

The threat in those words wasn’t lost on me and she knew it. I didn’t respond, choosing to dip my chin and look away instead. There were no wars won without Reason on your side and that was the truth of it. A war without Reason wasn’t a war at all. It was ruin, blind and unforgiving, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. And though I didn’t want to admit it, she was right: the moment I turned reckless, I would already have lost.

“You never told me where we were going,” I said, sometime later, if for no other reason than to break that uncomfortable silence brewing between us.