Page 62 of Queen of Legends and Lies (Dragons of Tirene #4)

Chapter Forty-Nine

Zeru steps into the cavern’s open expanse. The air hangs heavy with the remnants of a forgotten battlefield. Scorched terrain and blackened foliage cause him to crinkle his nose in disdain.

Still, a faint smirk teases the edges of his lips.

This round belongs to her , he surmises.

The altar, once cradling the decaying shambles of the God of Nightmare’s bones, now stands as a misshapen slab of vacant stone.

Fucking nuisance.

Zeru surveys the profound destruction. A testament to the magnitude of the altercation. That putrid entity corrupted everything, disrupting the delicate equilibrium the gods had tirelessly preserved. No more would his existence pollute this realm.

With purpose, he leaves the side room, examining the main chamber that once echoed with the voices of all the gods. Before that day…

With a mere flicker of his mind’s eye, the transformation begins.

Crystals jut from the ground like proud sentinels dancing with light, casting prisms across the walls. The dirt on the floor rushes away, revealing the sparkling, blue geode centerpiece he’d grown before.

The newly repaired table rights itself. Chairs slide into place, as if eager for the company they’d been crafted to accommodate.

The dome becomes a fully formed shield once more, though the frescoes remain demolished.

That’s more Aletheia’s realm. The Goddess of Light and Truth constructed the murals last time, many, many years ago.

Perhaps I can persuade Althy to recreate them. And maybe she’ll let me watch.

He’d observed her the last time too. Every measured stroke of her brush. Each scrunch of her delicate nose as she lost herself to the masterpiece, absorbed in her work.

Her rendition of the gods was unlike any other painting he’d ever seen, mortal or divine.

But the constellations? They were his favorite.

Zeru takes a slow, deliberate count of the furniture, making sure there are enough chairs for the meeting.

The air is lighter already, the burden lifted.

He traces a thumb over one of the tall crystals, the very pulse of the cavern resonating through it.

Each beat affirms his control, his power within these walls.

“Looks like we’re ready,” he announces, voice rumbling through the space.

A soft sound, almost like a sigh, sweeps across the cavern.

He turns.

“Finally got it done?” The Goddess of Night moves toward him. “Mortals always take so long.”

He grunts, eyes sweeping over the room again. Each crystal hums with healing energy. “With enough assistance, she figured it out.”

Nyc is behind him in two fluid steps. “You helped her?”

Her proximity causes him to shiver. “Orin. Not me. And he didn’t do anything outside the covenant.” He waves her off. “Only guided her.”

She regards him slyly. “Leave it to you to keep tabs on us, Zeru.”

Someone must ensure that balance is maintained. “What’s done is done. Now, we can move forward.”

“Indeed.” Nyc rests a hand on his arm, gaze lingering on his before she retreats.

Darkness eats away at one section of the room like ink dropped in clear water. From the shadows, figures emerge.

“Take your seats. Get comfortable.” Zeru draws a deep breath as he addresses his peers. “We have much to discuss. Everything is about to change.”

To Be Continued…