Page 65 of Queen to the Sunless Court (Brides of Myth #2)

Hush

Calliste

The warmth of Theron’s body, his scent blending with the leather of his armor, and the rocking of Rebel—Calliste immersed herself in it all as she rode with her eyes closed.

They barely spoke.

Although they didn’t rush, they arrived at Pyrriseum sooner than she’d have preferred. Their rooms at the elegant inn in the upmarket district were separate.

Unsurprisingly.

“I miss you,” she whispered to the wall they shared.

In his closeness, she began to heal, still hurting, but the sting of losing everything seemed to ease with the changing surroundings.

It gave her space to reflect on all that had happened—not by wallowing in the pain of abdicating her future as a priestess for the sake of others, but by allowing herself to feel pride and reforging that aching void of her goddess’s absence into acceptance of who she had become.

That she could no longer lead her order was still hard to swallow, but deep down, she knew that Mount Hellecon was no longer the answer.

But Theron’s silence offered no answers, either, and her heart ached at the thought that her rejection might have already ruined everything between them. He was either giving her space or pulling away.

There was only one way to find out which it was. In her silence, she waited for her words to ripen like apples, to offer them to him when the time was right.

***

When they finally reached Hellenixia, they stayed in the same guesthouse as before. The elderly innkeepers, Petros and Despina, welcomed them back with wide grins.

She didn’t miss Theron’s long, meaningful look as they dismounted in the small courtyard. After a light meal, they took separate baths and headed to the same rooms they had occupied during their last stay.

It had been a long ride. Even though she was tired, she still tossed and turned in bed for the first two or three hours of the night. Memories of this place glittered in her mind until she felt as though something had slid into the right place and it was time to act.

She rose, left her room. There was no one outside—Drakon stood guard at the entrance to their corridor.

The strip of light under Theron’s door encouraged her, and she knocked—gently, not expecting much of a response. But then she heard his footsteps approaching and he appeared in the doorway.

He only wore a towel around his waist, much like the last time they were here, when he’d caught her in his room.

It was enough to make her swallow. For a moment, she felt foolish. But she steeled herself. “May I...?”

His eyes glinted. “Come in,” he said, stepping aside.

Three candles burned in a glazed-clay holder on his desk, their light dancing on a few parchments, a jug and a cup, a couple of apples and grapes in a bowl, and a made-up bed. He can’t sleep, either.

She leaned against the wall as he closed and locked the door, recalling how he’d once towered over her with a wrath she couldn’t comprehend swirling about him.

Now, his eyes were clear and dark like the night sky outside; silvery nicks and scars shone across his torso like distant constellations. His loose, dark curls brushed against his jaw.

He watched her in silence.

Before she spoke a single word, he took her hand and kissed it, then led her to his bed, lying down, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her.

Suddenly, she didn’t need to explain anything. She belonged right there, inside his warmth laced with cinnamon and cardamom and a cool sea breeze, lulled by his steady heartbeat and mint-scented breath that threaded through her hair as he whispered, “Gods, how I’ve missed you.”

She pressed closer, savoring the feel of his body against hers as her lashes brushed against his neck, her breath pooling in the hollow between his collarbones.

“In case you’re wondering, nothing has changed in my heart, Calliste. But I don’t know about yours because… Well, you know why.”

“Theron, I wasn’t in a good place and didn’t want to drag you down with me.”

He pulled back, disbelief in his eyes. “Drag me down? I don’t want you to walk dark paths alone—I want to light them for you. Haven’t I made that clear?”

A warm shiver surged through her at the thrumming of his voice and the raw meaning behind his words, but she still couldn’t speak. It was like crossing that bridge vaulting over the abyss in the Underworld again, fearing each step.

His arms tightened around her. “Let me in. Please. Tell me what troubles you.”

She took a deep breath. “I feel… empty, colorless—I’ve never thought of myself as vain, but I can’t even look at myself in the mirror. Do you even find me…” She couldn’t even finish, fearing his answer.

His surprised exhale cut through the night as he threaded his hand through her hair. “Is this what you’ve been worrying about?”

“What if you preferred that… that other Calliste and this one is just—”

He gently pressed his finger against her lips.

“You’re still the same woman I fell for, beautiful inside and out.

For the record, your hair now makes you stand out exactly as you should.

” His smile was faraway, indulgent. “It’s different, yes.

It took me a while to get used to it, true. But I like it.”

Once again, she was breathless, soaking him up and recalling all the moments etched in her mind.

Theron, storming into her Temple.

Plucking her from the bottom of the forest lake.

Staring up at her as he handed her back the dagger in Petrakelis Passage, his face splattered with blood.

The swirling rage in his eyes, here, in this room, when they’d opened up to each other for the first time.

Towering over her in the field of dry grass outside of Anthemos as she swore loyalty to him.

Carrying her to her chamber each morning.

Pushing her behind him as he faced Hypnos.

Undressing her at sunset and kissing her scars.

Reviving her in the Underworld with kisses until his lips were frostbitten.

“Is there anything else, Calliste?”

“You’ve become everything to me,” she said. “But you are also the king. When I tried to imagine how I would fit into your court...”

He sighed. “Why are you worried about it?”

“Because as a High Priestess, I earned my position, Theron. I worked hard for it, and now… I don’t know where to begin.”

“You’re still bright and capable, and there are no limits to who you can become.

You can still be a healer and use the knowledge you already have.

I can ask Xanthos to educate you on state matters, and you could sit in the Assembly as my observer—because your discerning eye can see past hidden intentions.

There are numerous roles you could take on, but I already have a specific position in mind for you. ”

She looked up at him, curious.

“And it involves everything I’ve mentioned,” Theron said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I want you to stay by my side, bringing light to my court and shining like the sun you are.”

“Theron,” she exhaled, incredulous. “How? It was already difficult when I was there for Kalias, with all the rumors about who I was to you.”

“This time, there won’t be any rumors,” he replied in a measured tone, the candlelight from his desk gilding his serious face. “Not when you marry me and become the queen.”

“When I marry... you, and...” Dazed, she stared at him, with everything bright and clear and laid out just as he would lay it out: straightforward. “But—the High Houses—they won’t accept me.”

At that, he gave a dry, dark chuckle. “I can’t wait to see those who dare oppose it.

” His eyes glinted dangerously. “Because ripping them to pieces will bring me enormous pleasure… What did you think—that I’d pretend you don’t exist?

I wouldn’t; they already know what you mean to me.

In fact, they already fear what you mean to me, because they know there’s no stopping me once I set my mind on something. ”

She still didn’t know what to say.

“And besides…” His amusement was genuine this time. “Calliste, you’ve defeated an evil goddess and faced Erebus. The Underworld is indebted to you. You’re friends with Death himself . A few entitled nobles shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t call it a friendship. We respect each other.”

“You know what I mean.” His eyes clouded.

“But I must let you know that being by my side comes with responsibilities: hard and exhausting ones. It comes with constant demands and decisions that might keep you awake at night. I was raised for my position, and I will be there to help lessen their weight—but I can’t pretend it doesn’t exist.”

She exhaled, her mind still spinning. “I’m not afraid of responsibility, and Kalias…” Her heart warmed. “He’s the only person I want to accept me.”

“He already has. He’ll grow to love you like a mother, I’m sure.”

“Like a mother,” she echoed, hope coiling tight in her chest.

“Yes,” he said softly. “You don’t need to answer right now. Sleep on it.” He kissed her on the top of the head. “Tell me tomorrow morning.”