Page 26

SILIA

I wake in a cold sweat. Images of a blood-soaked Rein haunted my nightmares.

My nightgown sticks to the layer of sweat now drenching my skin as I move to sit up, stretching my arms high above my head. Memories of my last conversation with Lars mixed with the visions of Rein’s throat being slit whenever I tried to find sleep again. The dreams became so vivid, it was as though I was reliving them in real time. The pain and heartbreak had tortured me hundreds of times over. No matter how much I begged my mind to let me wake up, the horrible visions only intensified.

Liar .

I spent half the morning and most of the midday ignoring various knocks on my door. There was not a single face in this entire palace that I wanted to see, not even Diana.

I took my time studying the journal Lars had stolen from me. Now that the lock has been torn from it, it seems a little less magical and daunting. The tattered journal now feels like any old book I could pull from a dusty shelf in a library long since forgotten.

I learned more about the Fates and the Gods and Goddesses that live in the Temple of The Gods. As I took in the information, I couldn’t help but feel like I’ve been blindsided at every step of my life. Everyone was in on a secret I had never heard even a whisper about. Why did the palace educators not teach me these things?

The text revealed that The Fates had chosen a Fae every two hundred years that showed great strength and dedication through their lifetime to ascend into Godhood. The first twelve that were chosen became a part of what is called The Council.

After 2,000 years, The Council was complete, but the Fates had continued its pick of Fae to ascend into Godhood alone. The Council was allowed to choose a Fae to bless in the physical world during their coming-of-age ceremony. Most of these blessings were made randomly, like Lars had told me, but some Gods and Goddesses chose their Fae wisely, wanting to improve the world by giving Fae power that could bring peace, wealth, and happiness to the realm they had once dwelled in.

When tragedy struck in the kidnapping of the Goddess Hecate, the Fates banned the Gods and Goddesses from having more children and made all of them infertile. This affliction did not reach Hecate and Zothos, however. Neither Hecate nor Zothos were picked for the Council, but were born from the marriages of other Gods and Goddesses .

There was also detailed information about a second kind of bond Fae could have. Under The Fates section, it read : “The Fates are also allowed to bond Fae pairs. This is usually a casual affair left to the Gods and Goddesses, but when the Fates feel so compelled, they choose their own.

These bonds are much stronger than the ones formed by the Gods and Goddesses. With these bonds, the timeline is unknown of when the two Fae will come into existence or when they will meet. These pairs are written into stone lifetimes before they come to fruition.

It is not unusual for Gods and Goddesses to be bonded by the Fates. It is typically done when the Fates want to recruit members. When a pair bonded by the Fates passes on, they too ascend—not to Godhood, but to the final ascension to join the Fates.”

My worst fears were confirmed when new text began to appear under The Fates section as I continued to read.

“ After the Fates’ first attempt at bonding Hecate and Zothos failed, they were saddened and wished to try again. The Fates are romantics that wish to live as the Fae do, to walk the earth and fall in love. As soon as Hecate was kidnapped and Zothos betrayed her, the Fates wrote into existence a prophecy that one member from Hecate’s bloodline and one from Zothos’ would be bonded and their story would be rewritten, in the hopes of a happier ending .”

We are a Fate bond. That must mean I am a distant relative to Hecate, and Lars of Zothos.

My palms become slick as the confirmation sinks its way into my bones. I know Lars told me before we were Fated, but I wonder if he really knew the truth behind those words. We have no ordinary bond. How the Hel did Vex get this journal? I know this is not something that could simply be found in our library.

Impending doom bites down hard as I realize my existence just became a whole lot more complicated. I am just a pawn in a stupid game the Fates wanted to play. They have nothing better to do with their boring existence than use us for their entertainment. But how did this tie in with Erebus? Was it even connected?

I need to get back to Eza and ask Vex about this—as well as curse my father for not teaching me anything about the Fates growing up.

I need to get Diana and leave tonight.

I wake in and out of sleep as the rest of the afternoon drags on. Knock after knock continued to sound at my door, presumably from Lars. I never want to see or speak to him again, the Fates be damned.

“Listen to him; he will guide you.”

A voice echoes so loudly in my head that I cover my ears and let out a yelp. It’s a feminine voice, not Lars this time. The tone is soft and gentle, like it intends on guiding me instead of demanding.

“Who are you?” I speak back through the eather.

No response.

My mind drifts to the events of last night once again. I wonder if Odious knows anything about this journal. He seems the type to know information that other unimaginative minds deem useless. Unfortunately, he and Diana are the only people in my life that I can trust.

I roll out of my new bed and shove my boots on. I’m too tired to think about the fact that a brand-new bed and mattress had mysteriously appeared soon after Lars left last night. It’s the least he could do.

The wave of dread grows larger and larger, causing an answering ripple of nausea. I need to pay them a visit.