Page 68 of Queen to the Sunless Court (Brides of Myth #2)

The True Dream

Calliste

The sun was about to touch the horizon when they arrived at Mount Hellecon.

Peeking from behind Theron’s arm, Calliste watched the fragmented view of the mountain through the branches until it pieced itself whole. She hadn’t expected it to look different, yet something about it seemed out of place.

And when she finally pinned it down, a dull ache settled in her stomach. It no longer feels like home.

It felt even stranger when the company dismounted outside the temple’s main gates and Theron helped her down. As her feet touched the ground, familiarity surged back, crashing over her like a wave, leaving her numb as she reeled from it.

“Calliste?”

She looked up at him, unable to find words.

“I’ll be beside you.” He stroked her cheek and held her hand as they walked under the arch and through the cold shade of the stone corridor.

His eyes glinted at her in the darkness until he leaned in and pressed a brief kiss on her lips.

Still holding hands, they strolled out of the semi-darkness of the arch, the clopping of horses echoing behind them as Theron’s company led the animals through.

They stepped into the inner courtyard, and the sight stole her breath.

Everything was as she remembered: the sprawling infirmary and the lesser temple at the bottom, the dormitory with Leontia’s chamber at the corner of the building, and above it all, the Grand Temple, towering high with the marble statue of divine Epione gazing down, her arms open in welcome.

She had missed it with all her heart, yet everything felt strange. She glanced at Kassandros. “Over there.” She pointed across the courtyard. “This is a place for travelers, and there are stables for the horses.”

He nodded, accepting her word without as much as looking to Theron for confirmation, and the sentinels followed him to the guest house. Surprised, she met Theron’s gaze.

“Are you surprised he takes orders from you?” he asked.

“I am.”

“I’m not.”

A sister—Arete—emerged from the lodge and froze, casting her a long, incredulous look.

“Calliste… Is that you?” She rushed over, grasping her by the shoulders, her eyes widening at her white hair, but beaming all the same.

“Calliste! You’re back, thank all the gods.

Leontia will be so relieved. She prayed for your return every day. ”

The knot in Calliste’s stomach tightened.

“She’s barely slept lately. Thank divine Epione and all the gods that you’re back…” Arete paused as she registered Theron beside her.

“Where is Leontia?” Calliste asked.

“In the Grand Temple,” Arete replied, her brows knitting together. A shadow of recognition crossed her face.

Theron nodded. “Blessings, sister.”

Arete’s eyes widened, and she bowed. “Blessings, Majesty.”

Calliste exhaled as the tension finally eased. “Arete? I’ll see Leontia now. The king will come with me.”

Arete’s brows rose at their joined hands. “It’s your decision whether this man can re-enter our Grand Temple. You’re Leontia’s successor.”

There was that soft pinch in her chest, but it no longer felt like a sting. Not anymore. “He’s god-favored,” she said aloud. “It’s good to see you again.”

Theron held her hand as they climbed the steps.

She watched him discard his weapons in front of the double doors, then squint up at them.

“I remember it like it was yesterday. Storming in. Even though I was exhausted and furious, and I didn’t notice you at first, the moment you rose and confronted me. ..”

She couldn’t take her eyes off him, waiting for his next words.

“I might as well have been struck by lightning. I was yours the moment you said: you’ll do no such thing . I just didn’t realize it then.”

Her stomach fluttered.

“But I found out soon enough,” he said, sliding his hand up against the door.

She placed hers over his. “It’ll screech if you push too fast.”

This time, in a smooth move, they opened it together.

Dazed, she breathed in the soaring space divided and enclosed by sparkling marble, bathed in the light of the first hint of sunset.

At the end of the aisle stood the statue of Epione, enveloped in silence and incense. At her feet, luminous in green and silver, knelt Leontia.

Calliste didn’t know when she let go of Theron’s hand. Her chest exploded with sobs as she ran, blinking away tears. “Leontia!”

The Head Priestess lifted her head and rose, turning around with wide eyes.

Calliste was already by the steps, throwing herself into Leontia’s embrace, her heart aching at the familiar scent of lemon and mint.

“Calliste,” Leontia said with wonder and relief. “Gods, child. You’re here.”

“I’m—” She wanted to say everything at once but couldn’t, crushed by the magnitude of what she had to explain, and it came out jumbled and halting.

“I’m here because my heart belongs here—and it’s his, too, and who I used to be is gone and I cannot—I just—” Her throat tightened, and she began to cry, pressing her face into Leontia’s chest, clinging to her like a lost child.

Leontia rocked her until she stopped shaking. “Calliste,” she repeated, “my sweet child.” Finally, she took a deep breath. “Let me look at you.”

Calliste straightened, taking in the familiar, beautiful planes of Leontia's face, marked with lines: some shallow, some deep, but all soft and kind. And waited, because Leontia's gift was not only seeing the body and its ailments but also what lay hidden in the heart.

Leontia took her time, her weathered hand cupping Calliste’s cheek, not in the slightest bit surprised by her white hair.

She merely tucked a strand behind her ear.

“Suits you. Matches who you are.” Then her eyes turned to Theron.

“Majesty? Blessings. Welcome back to Mount Hellecon and Epione’s sanctuary. ”

Theron bowed. “I’m here to be humble. I want to apologize for my behavior on the previous occasion—and for my threats. I hope you can forgive my transgression.”

“I never took offense or held a grudge, Majesty, and neither did our goddess. Your actions were understandable…” Leontia’s eyes fell on the pendant on his chest. “And it seems you’ve found your patron deity in the meantime.”

Theron smiled. “Themis.”

Leontia’s face brightened. “Fitting. It also appears we can afford much more now, thanks to your generous donations. Thank you, my lord.” She turned to Calliste. “And you, my child? Why are you here?”

Calliste drew in a choppy breath. “What do you mean?”

“I had a visit from divine Morpheus a few days ago. He told me what you have accomplished—which is far more than any priestess before you. You healed a kingdom, Calliste. Hence my question.”

“Morpheus told you? About the Underworld? Kalias’ illness?”

“That, and about you saving us from Erebus fully waking up and shredding our world. Yes, everything. It was such a pleasant chat, and I felt like a proud mother receiving praise for her child. I’ve had several days to consider what it means to me, to you, and to our order.

From what I can see…” Her eyes briefly rested on Theron.

“The man you brought here is different from the one who left. He, too, is healed.” She looked Calliste in the eyes again, a radiant smile on her face, her gaze briefly straying to her hair.

“And so are you. This is why I’m asking why you’re here. As you know, we only cure the sick.”

Calliste stared at her for a moment. “You named me to lead the Sisterhood, Leontia. I came here to ask...” She paused, raising her pendant. “To ask for advice. My pendant...”

“You can return it to me,” Leontia said quietly. “You won’t need it anymore.”

There was a long silence before Calliste asked quietly. “Has... Epione forsaken me?”

Leontia’s eyes glowed. “Never.”

“But my gift is gone.” She tried not to sound heartbroken, but couldn’t hide it, pushing away the image of the charred space where her heart should beat.

Her pulse was erratic—just like her breath.

“Leontia,” she stammered. “This is why I’m here.

I don’t regret losing it, but this… this still feels like a wound. I’m not… whole.”

Leontia placed a hand on her shoulder. “Come. Sit,” she said, guiding her to the bench in the front row.

Theron watched them, unmoving, his face in shadow.

“Child,” Leontia said, gently stroking her cheek.

“Dearest child. I see your grief now, and I understand it. I watched you come into your power and hone your gift to perfection. But what if I told you...” She straightened, glancing at Epione’s sculpture, wrapped in the sweet, thick light of deepening sunset.

“That perhaps you weren’t earning it to keep it? ”

Calliste fixed her eyes on her face. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe the time you spent here was meant for you to prepare your gift, so that in the moment it was needed, you were ready. You had something no one else had to offer Erebus, and he accepted because of the effort you’d put into it.”

Theron moved a step closer.

“And this is why you could save us, Calliste,” Leontia said.

“This is why I can release you from the order, so you can follow the path you’ve already chosen.

” She dropped her voice to soft tones. “You will always be a part of this place. There’s no removal, no erasure.

But your life no longer belongs to this temple. ”

Only Leontia could have said it this way, with no judgment, just kind truth, but Calliste’s heart took it badly, cracking. “Leontia,” she said thinly.

The Head Priestess pulled her close and held her tight. “In time, you will understand. You will see it as you should: not as a sacrifice. Do you understand, Calliste? You didn’t sacrifice anything . You offered your best, and you’re no poorer for it. That makes all the difference.”

“But—”