Page 33 of The Gods We Defy (All Gods Must Die #2)

CHAPTER 33

D ead, dry heat hits me as we step through the portal, moving from an old castle of snow to a land of sand and ruins.

“Great, if the trial doesn’t kill us, the heat will,” Indira groans. “I can’t wait until this is over. Yasmin, remind me never to enter a trial, competition, or a tournament ever again. Heck, I’m staying away from damn puzzles after this.”

Hael inches closer to her. “You’re going home after this?”

Indira nods. “Home.”

I blanch and freeze in my spot. They stop too, and glance around at the barren land of sand. In the distance there’s a large building with a huge colosseum beside it. I’ve only ever seen them in books before.

But I can’t focus on any of it as Indira’s words spear through me. She doesn’t know about the attacks on the kingdoms. None of them do by the sounds of it.

Oh god, the one that was wiped out could have been theirs. I never asked. I never asked.

I shouldn’t keep something this big from them but… what if it affects them in the trial? What if it gets them killed?

They’re stuck here until it’s over. But I still feel guilt gnawing away at me.

“To a boyfriend?” Hael asks, his tone casual but his entire body is stiff.

Yasmin narrows her eyes on him while Indira remains oblivious.

“Nope. Just home and Yasmin. Neither of us have a family so we stick together.” She bumps Yasmin’s shoulder with her own and I see the light glimmer in Yasmin’s eyes.

“Mind if I join you? Both?” he asks tentatively and not with any of the confidence he normally has.

Indira turns to look at him now, really look at him. A sparkle reaches her eyes. “If you can make it past the other fae, and the fact that we’re probably going to lose our memories, then you’re more than welcome to come.” She turns and starts ahead. “Let’s go find our accommodations for the night.”

Yasmin follows her with an elated Hael close behind.

I move to take a step toward them when someone grips my hand. I glance up to find Hunter by my side, his brown eyes staring down at me and full of love.

I glance back at Yasmin, Indira, and Hael’s retreating backs. “They don’t know,” I whisper. He follows my gaze and frowns.

“If they did, it wouldn’t do them any good,” he reminds me, telling me exactly what I’ve been thinking. But it doesn’t ease any of my guilt or worry.

“Was it their kingdom? Was it Goirias?” I ask, afraid to look at him and hear his reply. But he answers immediately.

“No.”

I nod and a sliver of relief fills me.

“Come on,” he says in Hunter’s deep, gritty voice. “I want to show you something.”

We head over toward the colosseum and the closer I get, the more I see how colossal it is.

Standing at least four stories tall, the complete structure is made from a white fading stone. It’s shaped into an elongated circle with dozens of arches on each floor.

Instead of moving towards the other building where all the other chosen have gone, he veers me toward the colosseum.

“No one is allowed in here until tomorrow,” he says as we move toward the huge gate.

“Then why are we?”

He turns around, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Advantages to having a fae prince as a mate.”

I roll my eyes at him but smile as he makes a flourish of opening the gate.

Once we enter, I spot a huge arena, the entire floor made from brick and sand. The left side is completely covered with gated cellars. Steel doors, with no way of seeing what’s behind them. But I can bet my life on it that it’s where the god beast mimics are.

The arena’s stands look to be able to hold thousands of spectators. The tiers of the seats are inclined to allow everyone to get the perfect view no matter where they sit. But the best view will be from the front row platform where I can only assume the Queen and her entourage will be.

“What’s that?” I ask and point to the enormous piece of cloth wrapping around the outer wall at the top of the colosseum with a system of ropes and wooden poles.

“The Velarium. It protects everyone in the stands from the hot beating sun.”

“Just not the fighters?” I ask, noticing it only covers the stands.

He nods with a wince. “Just not the fighters.”

This entire setup is all an elaborate show. A cruel and violent display for the fae to distract themselves from their problems while leaving us with a plethora of them.

My mind drifts to the green stone again and what will happen if Veles doesn’t find it.

“I see the worry flash across your eyes,” Kestral says as he moves in front of me. “The Iron Wall holds strong once more. Asra and Cyra are in Findias. You need to focus on yourself and this trial. We’ll figure everything else out after.”

I nod and he pulls me into a hug, holding me tight as if he too feels something grim on the horizon.

I pull back and look at him. “Promise me you’ll protect them. My family… If anything happens to?—”

“Nothing is going to happen. You are going to make it through this trial and anything else that comes after it. Veles has gone to get what you need. He will find it.”

I nod, trying to instill the confidence he feels inside me.

“I can’t join you in this last trial. Hunter can’t be there as Kestral has to be in the stands watching. But I’ll be here,” he promises. I already knew he wouldn’t be able to mask himself as Hunter anymore. His mother will be there. And even if she isn’t as powerful as him, I doubt she wouldn’t sense her own son in front of her.

“Come on, I want to show you one more thing.” He brings me through a hidden door at the side, through a tunnel, and to a line of cages. But most of them are occupied.

“The god beast mimics are so similar to the real thing that they can scent fear.”

I glance into one of the cages to get a look. Two massive, twisted horns curve from the sides of the beast's horrible blocky face. Beady red eyes glow from the shadows of its ridged brows, two small ears twitch under its horns while the creature snorts his displeasure and his nostrils flare. He stands tall, at least twice my height supported by two legs on wide cloven hooves, his thick corded muscles ripple along his brown fur-like skin as he stares us down. His arms reach toward the bars of its cage and I can see that they end in two long, thick fingers and an articulated thumb, each tipped with a jagged dirty claw.

Another god-beast in the cage beside it slashes a large claw against the iron bars, denting them outward. But upon impact, it gets a shock of electricity and shrinks back into its prison.

“They true beasts are far more vicious,” Kestral says beside me. “We’re lucky that they are only mimics of the real thing.”

Lucky… I doubt luck will aid me tomorrow when I not only have to fight multiple beasts and survive but also avoid the other chosen that want to kill me. Including Oryn.

The reality of what is happening hits me. I could die tomorrow and never see my family again. I could die and never get to see the world Kestral promised to explore with me.

The cages rattle, the beasts all moving in an attempt to claw at their cages.

Kestral quickly pulls me to the side, a little down from the god-beasts where a line of empty cages are.

“They scent fear, Seren. I’m going to train with you tomorrow before the trial, but everything is going to be okay,” he assures.

“How do you know?” I ask. “How can you be so sure? I’m trying to be positive, but then I remember what I’m working against, what we’re working against, and I’m… scared. I’m scared it’s all going to crumble around us.” He takes my mask off, and I glance down at the row of god-beasts. “You said they sense my fear. But I don’t know how to shut it off. It’s all I feel right now. So much that it consumes me. And that weakness will be my ruin.”

“Look at me, Seren,” he says, and my eyes immediately find his, his face now maskless too. I watch his eyes as they slowly turn from brown to steely-gray and fill with warmth and love.

“Those who fight with their heart never fight without fear.” He grabs my shaking hands and holds them. I didn’t realize they were shaking, but my fears have truly taken over and I’m panicking. Everything that has happened floods my mind and my body is now just a bystander, a conduit.

“Then how? How do I stop the god-beasts?” But more importantly, how do I fight against the time I’m running out of?

He looks at me with hope and faith and trust. All the things I can’t promise him. “You re-direct it to something else.”

“How am I?—”

He leans down and kisses me. It’s dark and beautiful and full of want and need, but also everything he isn’t saying. Every worry and doubt and fear. I open up to him and let him in. Giving him just as much of my fears and doubts and hopes.

“Kestral…” I whisper, not understanding what I’m even asking for.

“You are not weak,” he breathes. “No matter how much you feel it right now.” His hands slide down my body before he kneels before me. Reaching up, he unties my pants and drags them down and off me.

“These beasts are nothing compared to you. To your strength.” He leans forward and presses a kiss on my stomach. Lower and lower.

He widens my legs, and my pulse quickens, heat pooling in my stomach at his touch. As he grips my thighs.

My hands reach up and over to the bars as he hoists my legs over his shoulders. My head tips back against the bars at the first stroke of his tongue, my hands tightening around them with each lick and long stroke.

A moan slips out of me and delicious pressure gathers low and deep. My mind clears, thinking only of this moment. Of him.

Fear becomes a fog that dissolves, replaced with a deep ache, craving his touch, craving him .

He teases me, dragging out each stroke, caressing me until I’m trembling, begging, and pleading. His fingers dig into my thighs, drawing me closer to his face. I arch into him, my body bowing against the bars as every muscle in my body grows taut.

With my chest heaving, I peer down at him. His silver-gray eyes are staring up at me. Filled with so much lust and need and delight and pleasure. Watching me as he continues to slide his tongue along me. A slight graze of his teeth and the pleasure consumes me, shattering me into a million pieces with a scream.

“So gods damned beautiful,” he breathes, sliding my legs to the ground and stepping back to unbutton his pants. He leaves them on and dips down to brush his lips across mine before grabbing my waist and hoisting me up. I wrap my legs around him and he slowly slides into me. So agonizingly slowly until we’re joined.

I urge him to move, but he holds me tight, pinning me against the bars with his body, with a heated look that almost has me shattering again.

He drags every delicious thick inch of him out and waits until I look at him. “When you look at those you think you fear, I want you to remember…” He starts sliding back into me slowly, so slowly I feel every inch of him.

“Remember how strong you are.” His voice is guttural as he slides back out again, so damn slowly. “How brave you are.” He groans as he slides back in, his grip tightening on my thighs as they tremble. “How you never give up…”

My hands tighten on the bars as he works my body like he owns it. Slowly dragging out every inch of pleasure, from my blood, from my mind, and from every nerve in my body.

He looks down at where we’re joined and groans, low and deep. It vibrates up through me, traveling up and down my spine, waiting for him.

“How damn powerful you are…” he rasps and starts moving faster. Thrusting in and out. In and out, each pounding stroke faster, deeper .

My body clenches around him and shatters once more.

Limp and trembling, I glance down at him as his eyes find mine.

“And how the world will burn at your feet if you want it to.” He pants before he spills into me with a roar and that thread, that ever-winding thread, glows bright between us once more.

“Remember,” he breathes as he leans forward, his forehead against mine. “Remember when I’m watching, I’ll be thinking of this. Of us. Of you . And waiting. Waiting for you. Always .”

I slept. Even knowing the stone is still missing. Even with my time running out and everything else happening, I feel hopeful.

The Iron Wall holds. Kestral confirmed it. Nothing else can get through it and Asra, Cyra, and an army of fae are within the kingdoms.

They’re as safe as they can be right now.

Veles will find the stone. Something inside me tells me he will. So I just need to make it through this trial. Just make it through, and the dreams and hopes Kestral shared with me will come through.

My mind drifts back to the thought of the kingdoms and the shield when I realize it’s down and has been down for at least a few days. And unless they erase the memories of every Caligo and Sidus there, they’ll know now. Know that there is a much larger world around them. One far more terrifying than the one they grew up in.

Kestral arrives in the small room he organized for us to spar in before the trials. His clothing is extravagant and truly fit for a royal. No one can enter but him, I, and those he trusts, so we’re both without masks.

“Will you erase all their memories? The Caligo and Sidus in the Kingdoms. I just realized the shield is down and they will see everything.”

He keeps moving until he’s in front of me. “No.” He takes my hands in his and rubs his thumb along them. “You were right. It’s time for a change. We can’t hide you all away anymore. We can still protect you and let you see.”

“Thank you,” I tell him, and he gives me a warm smile.

“This is for you.” He reaches over his back and reveals a long golden sword with a black crystal at the center of the hilt that spreads up and coils around it.

“My weapon for the trial?” I ask, and my eyes find his.

“I had it made for you.”

“I completely forgot.” A foolish move, considering I need it for the trial. But he didn’t.

I take it and inspect it, testing its weight. It’s light enough to run with but heavy enough to cause damage. The black crystal is stunning against the golden handle. I look closer and realize there’s far more crystal than there should be.

My eyes find his and he seems to know what I’m asking before I open my mouth.

“Thank you for loaning it to me, but it’s time I give it back.”

“Thank you,” I tell him. For this and more.

“Now,” he steps back and unsheathes his sword, “I’m here to warm you up.”

I give him a look. “I thought you already did that last night.”

A smug grin slides across his face. “I did, didn’t I? And you seem to now be glowing because of it.”

My lips widen. “I didn’t realize you were so self-assured.”

“I have a beautiful mate that is strong, caring, and kind. What’s not to be smug about?”

I shake my head at him. “The trial is in an hour. Aren’t you here to spar with me?”

He nods. “I can do that too.” He shoots forward and I block his advance, but before I pull back, he dips forward and kisses me quick and fast before moving back with a smirk. The spark in his eyes has a challenge. One I’m more than willing to follow through with.

“I think I prefer Hunter. He was far more interesting,” I tell him, trying to distract him, but it doesn’t seem to deter him in the slightest. Instead, he smiles.

“That so?” Kestral closes his eyes and opens them, revealing Hunter’s brown eyes. “Ask and you shall receive,” he says in Hunter’s deep, gritty voice.

We start moving once more, attacking, blocking, and striking one another, but every chance he gets, he leans in and kisses me. Until I start waiting for them. Making mistakes on purpose to feel his lips.

He knows it too, his smile growing, his eyes heating.

I pause and stare at him, finally deciding to give up, and he mirrors me, stepping forward. Just as he leans down to kiss me again, someone rushes into the room.

I turn to find Asra, but the look of complete devastation on his face has my smile dropping.

“Asra?” Kestral says, his voice and eyes quickly returning to normal as he looks at his friend with a frown.

He glances at Kestral, “I didn’t know she…” He stops himself, giving Kestral a look before his eyes find mine. But whatever look he gave him has Kestral coming around me to hold me close.

It does nothing to ease the horrific thoughts now running through my mind.

Asra swallows hard. “The two kingdoms are still standing but there were casualties within both…”

Casualties … My heart thunders in my ears, my stomach churning with nausea. I can tell from the look in his eyes it’s someone I know.

“Who? Who is it?” I rasp.

“Amaro led them to it,” he continues, ignoring my question. “Cyra killed Levon, but it was too late.”

My body trembles as I wait… But he doesn’t speak, growing silent with nothing but heartbreak on his face. And I need to know. I need to know.

“Who?” I shout as my chest tightens. Please, please don’t be…

“Your mother, Seren.”

I shake my head, not believing it. “No. No. No. NO.”

“I was too late,” he says in a rush. “I’m so sorry, Seren,” Asra says, his face stricken.

I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. The tightness spreads out from my chest, constricting my entire body, consuming me.

She can’t… This can’t be… No. No!

But… my blurry gaze finds Asra’s face and the truth that’s written all over it.

My mother is dead.

I drop my sword, no longer hearing Asra or Kestral or anything else around me. The ringing in my ears grows louder, the tightness in my chest growing and growing until something cracks open from deep within me. And then nothing but pain spills out.