Page 132 of The Chains You Defy

Dion’s lip quivered. “Fifteen-winters-old Naya secretly hadn’t given up on being heroic, had she?”

“Shut up, princeling. You’ve been where I grew up, all naive and sheltered. I wanted to avoid the eyes of fate, as I just told you. And today, I see right as rain that true heroes don’t exist, and if they were real, they wouldn’t come in the form of a powerless village girl and a sentient god complex hosted in the body of a morally bankrupt fae prince.”

“We are quite the power couple, hm?”

“Only in your dreams.”

“How do you know that you feature in every single one of my dreams?”

Was this how my situation would be from now on? Would Dion turn everything into blatant attempts at flirting? This was a side of the prince I needed to get used to—the overwhelming suitor, giving his all to make me cave to his efforts. My cheeks were full of blush once more as I shook my head at the fae who held me captive in his gaze like a panther ready to pounce.

“Do you want to embarrass yourself further, or can I continue with the rest of the story?”

“One day, Nayana. One day—“

If he didn’t stop constantly chipping away at my sanity, I feared he would be right about that. “Are we done then?”

“No. What was your last question?”

“She didn’t let me ask one.”

“You didn’t visit the oracle?”

“Oh no, I’ve been to her and left a thief, I’m afraid. Honestly, maybe this last consultation wasthe most terrifying of them all. So yes, we had a conversation. But she didn’t let me ask the very sensible question I’d prepared in advance. Instead, she rambled about crossroads, about summoning courage, about how this time was the calm before the storm, and about all players moving onto the board. When I left her tent, I carried a scarf. If the oracle gave the cloth to me or if I took it by accident, I can’t remember. The thing was just there. Of course, I wanted to hand the item back, but as I turned around, the tent was—gone. Soon after, I must have forgotten everything.”

“How ominous.”

“You don’t have more to contribute?” My eyebrow shot up high, then a groan made itself known. “She also ranted about how I should remain in blissful ignorance for a while longer. Dion—do you assume she saw what was coming for me?”

“Yes, sounds possible.” He tapped his finger on his chin repeatedly. “There has never been a recorded oracle in existence. At least not to my knowledge. But from what you experienced—this woman might have been genuine.”

“How can you sound so cool about this?”

“Why not? Just because an alleged oracle mentioned you’re in this situation because fate found a liking in you—something I can wholeheartedly understand—and decided you deserve the chance to have your wish of being a hero fulfilled? In the end, walking this path has been your own choice, right?”

“But—”

“No but. You can still back out, Naya. Return home and never think about any of it. In theory at least, from a destiny standpoint. In reality, I’d never let you leave myside ever again, so there’s that. Still, nothing fate nudges will set the future in stone. Sure, ignoring a greater calling would be ill-advised, but not impossible.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“Fuck, Nayana, have you been horrified and believed everything was predestined? That fate was oppressing you?”

“Oh, shut up, princeling. Let’s leave before the priestess decapitates you. I’m rather invested in your pretty head staying attached to your neck.”

“Aww, you called me pretty. Are you fond of my head, Nayana?” Dion’s eyes twinkled mischievously, but at least he didn’t idle any longer, and together, we abandoned the crypt.

“No. But I’m marveling at how your little neck can carry something so bloated.”

Instead of dignifying me with a retort, Dion growled in mock warning, a playful sparkle in his eyes.

“Do we have to return to the palace?” My desire to face the assembly of asshole fae under the lead of High King Fuckface was nonexistent. Not today, preferably never again.

“Yes, Naya. If I don’t report that the gods judged me and my courtship to you as worthy and that they witnessed my promise to you, Galrach will find a way to twist our absence to his advantage.”

“You’ll tell him the truth?”

“Except that the nameless god of fate spoke to us, yes. It’ll lead to enough questions about why they witnessed the act in the first place.”