Page 23 of The Gods We Defy (All Gods Must Die #2)
CHAPTER 23
W andering back to the room I woke up in, I keep my eyes peeled for any movement. A shadow appears from the corner of my eyes, and I turn to it, ready to face it head on.
The shadow grows as a servant girl with a small flame moves toward me.
My stiff body eases as she dips her head in greeting.
“All chosen are to meet in the courtyard. Please head there immediately.” She dips her head once more before disappearing down the hall.
Releasing a harsh sigh, I head toward the courtyard, ready to be done with this. The second trial is not for another few days, so unless it’s another competition, it has to be a purge.
Walking down the steps and out onto the courtyard, I feel the eyes of the chosen on me, watching my every move. Or maybe that’s my paranoia after being taken and chained to a tree by one of them.
“Another purge is needed before the second trial,” Vidarr announces as he walks into the courtyard with his men, his eyes scanning the chosen as if searching for someone.
He nods to the fae beside him before moving through the courtyard to the forest, the chosen expected to follow.
I glance around looking for a familiar pair of silver masks, but Yasmin and Indira don’t seem to be among this group of chosen. Neither does Hael.
Maybe they did another purge with a separate group?
I push it to the back of my mind as we reach the same spot we gathered at last time.
A male fae steps up, his gold mask somewhat familiar. He raises his hand and a rumble and crack sounds out around us as every fallen tree and branch slithers along the ground toward us.
It’s him. The fae who threw Indira into the ice lake.
“Same rules apply as last time. But instead of daggers…” Vidarr shares a look with the gold masked fae and I immediately know what’s about to happen.
“Run…” Vidarr laughs, and I don’t wait around to see what they’ll do.
I keep running, but the branches catch up and attack me, creating small cuts along my arms and legs.
I take out my sword and start slashing through them, freeing myself before they get the chance to wrap around me.
A deep howl rings out, making me push my legs faster, past the ice lake and deeper into the forest to a clearing.
Seeing no more branches or chosen, I take a moment to catch my breath but a mass of branches stretches out toward me, rushing forward to surround me in a cage.
I raise my sword and slash, spinning and twisting to cut through them as they batter my body. But more continue to snap off in the distance, whizzing toward me. The never-ending barrage of attacking tree limbs battering me relentlessly has me huffing as I continue to swing my sword and slash them down.
Bleeding and exhausted, I hear another howl ring out, this one far more terrifying than the last, but I refuse to give up now. The branches seem to realize it as they shudder and pull away. Using the distraction, I rush through them and deeper into the forest.
I keep running, not daring to look back. I push my legs hard and fast until my lungs are burning with every gasping breath and my legs are trembling violently.
I find a hiding spot while I catch my breath and wait, watching the trees for any sign of motion, but the only movement is their swaying in the chilled night breeze.
Taking long, deep breaths, I try to slow the burn and tightness in my chest. After several minutes, the adrenaline slowly leaves my body, and I think I can finally relax.
I peek out of my hiding spot, only to find a sidhe hound staring right at me.
I back up but pause when I remember the chosen fae with the ability to manipulate branches is blocking my retreat.
I’m blocked in on both sides. But instead of letting fear or panic take over, a slow burning rage builds in the pit of my stomach.
Frustration that I’m so close to finding the green stone only to be pulled back into another purge. Irritation at how wrong this whole trial system is with bloodthirsty chosen taking each other out instead of just competing. And pure unbridled rage for those who have lost their lives because Vidarr is manipulating the trials in his favor.
The back of the huge hound bristles as it readies itself to pounce.
Instead of turning or running, I slam my sword into the ground in front of me and every ounce of my rage rushes out with a blast of power.
My Sidus light glows brightly around me, consuming the clearing and blinding me.
I let my fury hold it in place, hoping it acts as a warning to the beast, showing it I will not back down.
After a few minutes with no attack, I release my Sidus light and glance up. Only to find the huge Sidhe beast directly in front of me.
I freeze as it steps forward and nudges my hand before moving a step back and sitting on its hind legs, waiting.
It… wants my Sidus light?
Glancing from my hand to the beast, I allow some of my light to weave around my hand once more, this time much smaller.
The beast instantly moves toward it and a throaty rumble, almost like a purr, vibrates from its chest as it rubs its snout and head along my hand where the Sidus light is.
It likes the light… I draw my powers back to test my theory when it whines, nudging my hand once more.
A smile curves my lips, and I relax. “Are you going to behave?” I ask it and it whines again, patiently waiting.
I move in closer and the beast dips its head toward my hand for me to stroke. It closes its eyes, and I release my Sidus light once more, letting it surround the beast’s entire body and holding it for a few minutes. It lays down and basks in the light and I hold it for a little longer before pulling it back to me.
“I have to go,” I say, watching how relaxed it seems. It nuzzles my hand again before getting to its feet.
Hoping that our new-found friendship involves not killing me or dragging me to the Otherworld, I turn to leave when a swoosh flies past my head and an arrow slams into the ground in front of the beast.
I whip around in the direction it came from and find a familiar black masked chosen, the small line of gold glinting against the moonlight, while his hood covers the rest of his face.
Hunter.
“Run,” he shouts from his position up in the tree as he notches another arrow and aims it at the beast. The beast that is now circling me, growling at Hunter as if protecting me.
I guess we did form some type of friendship, after all.
Before Hunter becomes its new prey, I rush in front of the beast and raise my hands in front of me. “Stop,” I shout up to him.
Hunter freezes and glances down at me. I take his momentarily stunned wide eyes as the confirmation that he isn’t going to shoot another arrow and turn back to my beast.
“It’s okay,” I say. “He’s a friend. I’m safe now. You can go.” I rub my hand along its head once more and it nuzzles me before turning and disappearing into the forest.
I pick up my sword and turn back to head over to a still stunned Hunter as he moves down the tree and meets me halfway, glancing over my shoulder as if the beast is about to return any minute.
“How is that possible?” he asks. “Those sidhe hounds are born to hunt and kill. They drag souls to the Otherworld at the slightest hint of blood.”
I shrug, not understanding it myself. “He likes my Sidus light.”
“He likes your…” Hunter stops and shakes his head, his eyes still wide. I get walking and move past him, patting his shoulder as I do.
“Don’t try to make sense of it,” I tell him. “Nothing here ever does.”
He catches up with me and we start our trek back to the main building. We’re halfway there when Hunter finally snaps out of whatever shock he was under.
“What happened?” he asks.
I wave him off. “Vidarr organized another purge. Said he needed it to happen before the next trial.” Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Hunter grow stiffer with each step.
Wondering if I’ve inadvertently stumbled across some type of trigger for him, I quickly change the subject. “I’m sorry,” I tell him, and he stops and turns to me, his brows furrowed in confusion.
“I should’ve come to check on you after the trial. I didn’t know the spikes were…” I glance over his body, but I can’t see anything other than his brown eyes. “The poison. Are you?—”
“I’m healed,” he tells me and watches me for a minute as I relax.
I nod to him, and we turn and start moving again. We reach the edge of the forest when a hand comes out and stops me. I glance over at Hunter, and he dips his head toward the courtyard.
Following his line of sight, I spot the group of chosen all guarding it. Some are trying to hide like last time, while most are out in the open, trying to be imposing and intimidating.
“Let’s pass some time while we wait for them to leave. They’ll get tired soon enough and think we’ve been killed. Spar with me in the meantime?”
I turn and raise a brow at him and watch as he pulls a sword from his back, his hand tightening on the hilt.
“I might also have some… frustrations that I need to work through,” he admits.
We move back into the forest, far enough that the other chosen can’t see us. Hunter makes sure no others are around before stepping up to me.
I spin the sword in my hand as an excited thrum rushes through my veins. “Fine, but don’t complain when I beat you and you have to head back to the healing bay.” I narrow my eyes on the light that flickers across his eyes. “Or as that your plan all along?”
“Maybe it is.” That light only grows, and I wonder what his face looks like behind the mask.
“Go easy on me,” he pleads, but I shoot forward, ignoring his request. If he wanted someone to go easy on him, he should have picked a different chosen to spar with.
Our swords clash, and I shove him back before beginning my onslaught, attacking without mercy.
He keeps up with me and I can tell that I’m going to have to play a little dirty to knock him down a notch.
When he strikes forward once more, I feign to the left before sliding my sword along his side, nicking him.
He steps back, his eyes glancing down at the small wound on his side before looking back at me. “Vicious little thing, aren’t you?”
“Regretting your choice to spar with me now?” I spin my sword and wait for his next move, enjoying every moment of this.
His brown eyes practically glow when he answers. “Not even a little.”