Page 65 of The Curse of Gods (The Curse of Saints #3)

“That may be more difficult than we once imagined,” she confessed on an exhale. She glanced around the room, lingering on where Will stood, his arms crossed at his chest, back leaning against the wall. He stared back steadily.

Their wordless exchange lasted only a beat, but it seemed to strengthen Aya’s resolve as she turned back to Aidon and said, “There’s something you all should know.”

***

It wasn’t any easier hearing it a second time.

Aidon scrubbed a hand roughly down his face. A demigod. How the hells were they supposed to defeat Kakos now?

Dauphine sat next to him on the moth-bitten couch, her side pressed against his, a steady, warm pressure that kept him from shutting down entirely.

“We need allies,” Liam muttered from his spot by the fireplace. His face was grave, but his voice was firm and focused as he glanced around the room.

“It’s almost like that’s what we’ve been trying to gather for months,” Will deadpanned. Aidon couldn’t help but grimace. It was true—they’d had allies. Aidon had pledged his troops to the cause, and Milsaio and the Midlands support had never been in question. But now…

Milsaio had been pummeled by Kakos, the Midlands abandoned by Tala, and Trahir rendered useless at the hands of rebels who cared not for anyone but themselves.

Betrayal after betrayal had erased not just months of work, but years of bonds between the kingdoms. And though they’d tried to assuage some of that tension by helping the Midlands in Sitya, there was no telling if it was enough.

Seven hells, it was such a mess.

“Will and I came across several garrisons, but there was no rhyme or reason to them,” Aidon finally spoke, his voice rough from his long silence as Aya had explained how she’d come to learn of Evie’s lineage.

He’d been right: the horrors she’d witnessed and experienced were worse than any he could have imagined. And that was only what she had shared. He was certain there was more.

There was always more.

Aidon braced his elbows on his knees, his body heavy with exhaustion, as if the weight of what they were facing was forcing his spine to bend.

He wasn’t sure how long he could manage until it finally broke.

“We don’t even know where they’re all stationed,” he added, irritation clipping his words.

“I do.” Aya’s confession was quiet, but it drew every set of eyes in the room.

“What?” Cole finally asked, his wide eyes squinting in confusion from his place in the armchair. “How?”

“The night before the attack in Sitya, they brought me to the commander’s tent. The maps were still spread on the table. He rolled them up a few moments later, but it was enough for me to see where they’d placed their largest garrisons.”

Aidon blinked as Aya ticked them off on her fingers steadily. Nine locations—not including Milsaio, which they already knew. Nine locations she’d seen and committed to memory in the blink of an eye.

Silence fell as they all simply stared at her. Will broke it with a huff of laughter.

“I love you,” he said.

Aya’s mouth twitched, and Aidon imagined it was the closest thing to a smile she could manage.

“How large do we think these garrisons are?” Liam asked.

“The ones we came across weren’t more than ten? Fifteen?” Will answered, looking to Aidon for confirmation. Aidon nodded.

“But those could have easily been retreating soldiers,” he reasoned. “None of those were in locations Aya saw on the map.”

“And they’re, what? Just sitting there waiting?” Dauphine asked, her brow furrowing as she met Aidon’s gaze. Even now, it was an effort not to get distracted by the green of her irises, or the proximity of her lips to his.

It was nice to know war hadn’t completely obliterated his ability to appreciate beauty.

“Gregor said they weren’t intent on staying in Kakos,” Aya murmured.

She had a faraway look in her eyes, and it was distant enough to have Tyr nudging her after a moment.

She blinked as she came back to herself and laid a hand on her bonded’s head in gratitude.

“They could have them stationed throughout the continent to ensure other armies cannot join them when their main force proceeds north.”

“You think they’re headed to Tala again?” Liam questioned.

Aya lifted a shoulder. “I don’t suspect Evie will allow me to go unpunished, nor will she stop her crusade against the gods.”

She folded her arms across her chest, her back pressing against the wall behind her. On the surface, one might mistake her posture for nonchalance. But Aidon could see it for what it was:

Exhaustion.

Will moved infinitesimally, his shoulder tucking just beneath hers—steadying her, holding her up.

Aidon cleared his throat as he straightened from where his elbows had been braced on his knees. “I need to go home.” His voice was steadier this time he said it. “If Kakos is marching on Tala again, you won’t just need my armies—you’ll need anyone willing to hold a sword or wield their affinity.”

Cole shifted in the armchair, a proud grin taking over his features. But Will shook his head.

“Are you sure that’s the right move? The Bellare would see you hanged,” he warned.

Cole scoffed. “You have little faith in Josie’s ability to take back the throne.”

“On the contrary,” Will objected, “I have every faith in Josie. It’s your people I don’t trust. Even if she succeeds, they may still not accept Aidon on the throne. What then?”

Will’s words should have stirred some sort of dread in Aidon, but he couldn’t help but smirk at his friend.

“Aw, you do care,” Aidon goaded. He knew it, but it was nice to be reminded of it from time to time. Especially so publicly .

“Of course I do—as you said, we need your armies,” he shot back without missing a beat. But even he couldn’t hide his grin. “Selfish bastard, remember?”

“How could I forget?”

“As adorable as this is,” Liam interjected, “Will has a point. It’s too risky.”

Aidon shook his head. “I don’t need them to accept me as their king,” he reasoned, all levity gone from his voice. “I need them to join the fight for Eteryium. I believe I can accomplish that.”

He let that truth settle in his bones, let it take up a place of certainty in his heart. Dauphine’s hand slid into his and squeezed.

“I’ll go to Queen Nyra,” she said. “She needs to know what’s coming, what we’re truly facing.”

Liam pursed his lips as he considered them for a long moment before a heavy, resigned sigh left him. “I’ll join you,” he murmured. “Perhaps hearing from a former member of the Dyminara who wasn’t under Gianna’s influence will help sway her.”

Aidon glanced to Cole. He had a favor to ask of him, but it could wait. Once he said his goodbyes here, they’d have to make their way to the closest port. He’d ask him then.

So instead he turned to Aya. “And you? Where will you go?”

She glanced up at Will, another wordless conversation passing between them.

“Home,” Aya finally answered.

“Hyacinth may not welcome you with open arms,” Liam warned. “Evie was successful in painting you as the Dark Saint.”

“She’s in for a rude awakening, then, when the demigod appears in her kingdom,” Aya replied, something hardening in her voice. Her spine straightened as she shook her head. “I will not allow her to scare me away from my home.”

The words stirred something in Aidon, something bright and fierce and awed. Perhaps even a little envious, as much as he hated to admit it.

Aya caught his gaze, and there was such a depth of understanding there that he wondered if, perhaps, she knew exactly what effect those words had had on him.

Gods, she was so incredibly brave. It made him want to be brave, too.

If Aya could face Hyacinth and her people in the wake of what they’d done to her father, then Aidon could face whatever fate awaited him in Trahir.

“It’s settled, then,” he said, his thumb stroking the back of Dauphine’s hand. “We go home.”