Page 7 of The Gods We Defy (All Gods Must Die #2)

CHAPTER 7

S hock and disbelief slashes through me as Kestral ignores everyone around him, his steely-gray eyes now ablaze with fury as he heads straight for me. And even though I’m annoyed that it has to be his face I see, I’m equally happy to see a familiar one.

Kestral moves forward with purpose in his stride and before I know it, he’s in front of me, his eyes checking over every inch of me before he opens his mouth to speak. But he stops himself and continues to stare at me silence, slowly masking his emotions once more.

Or at least that is what he’s attempting to do. But the closer I look at him the more I start to see the small cracks.

His hands are clenched at his sides, the rise and fall of his chest is rapid, though hard to notice. And there’s a look in his eyes, a look that seems to slip past his tightly concealed mask more than the rest of him, revealing every emotion he tries to hide.

Fear. Frustration. Sadness. Guilt.

“Where have you been?” Kestral asks, swallowing hard. “How are you here? Why…”

I open my mouth to tell him about the underground prison when a slash of pain shoots through my brain, quickly reminding me of the geas in the deal I made with Lord Cain.

Kestral reaches out to take my hand as I reach for my head with a wince. “What’s wrong?”

I stop thinking about the underground and the pain slowly eases. “Nothing. It’s been a long couple of weeks. I’m tired.”

Kestral reaches out to take my hand, but I take a step back.

“I’m taking you home,” he grits out.

“I can’t,” I tell him even though I wish I could.

“Seren—”

“I can’t leave. I’m… I’m one of the chosen now.”

A rumble of thunder bellows out around us as Kestral’s entire body becomes as still as stone.

He looks at me silently for a moment as if trying to read my mind. “If this is… I can get you out of the trials before they start,” he vows. “You don’t have to stay here.”

I swallow hard wishing that were true. “I… I can’t.”

Another rumble of thunder sounds out around us followed by a spear of lightning. “Once you partake in the first trial there will be no turning back. I will not be able to get you out of them by then,” he warns.

I swallow hard but nod. I knew going into this would mean I was trapped one way or another. “I can’t leave… please trust me…”

“Seren—”

“Drop it, please .” I look at him, hoping he can see that I mean it. Even if I can’t tell him or anyone anything about how I’ve ended up here. I need him to trust me for once.

Releasing a harsh breath, he clenches his jaw but nods.

“Are you okay?” He searches my face, looking for something, an answer maybe. But the longer he looks, the deeper his frown becomes.

He opens his mouth to say something more, but one of his men steps forward, glancing hesitantly between us both.

“Your highness, the demons have reached the wall. We must leave now,” he says, his tone growing more urgent.

“Highness? Demons?” I ask, and Kestral winces.

“I thought your royal status was part of your role.” I had been sure after Lord Cain described the fae prince, but I wanted to hear it from his mouth.

“Hello, Seren,” Asra says as he walks up beside Kestral with a warm smile. “We’ve missed you. Try not to get kidnapped again. This one has been hell to deal with.” A spark of a light enters Asra’s eyes and the ghost of a smile slides across his lips.

I roll my eyes but smile at him, feeling at ease with another familiar face here.

“You’re a fae prince?” I ask Kestral as my eyes find his pointed ears and silver eyes that stand out more.

“Technically, we didn’t lie about that part. Kestral is my cousin, we’re both royalty, though he is the only heir. Cyra also has some royal blood.” Asra leans his shoulder against Kestral’s with a mischievous smile.

Kestral stiffens as he turns to Asra, his eyes narrowing to slits before he glances back at me.

“What about the demons? Are they similar to the dark creatures?” I ask, this time looking to Asra for an answer, as he seems to be the only one answering any of my questions. But to my surprise, it’s Kestral who replies.

“The goddess Morrigan is the queen of demons and likes to ensure we know she’s still as powerful as ever. She also likes to remind us that our days are numbered. There is a wall built around Temair with an army of fae warriors to protect it. But its power has been weakening.”

“The Iron Wall?” I ask, remembering Lord Cain telling me about it.

Kestral freezes for a moment but nods. “Stay with Asra. I’ll be back soon,” he says before spearing Asra with a sharp look. He leaves without a backward glance.

A seed of worry grows inside me as I watch him disappear. The Iron Wall is supposed to be a huge barrier that is fortified by power and sealed with old magic. But if these demons can reach it, does it mean they can also easily breech it?

Asra moves up beside me and bumps his shoulder with mine. “He’ll be fine. It’s not the first time the demons have gotten this close and will not be the last. No need to worry about him.”

My eyes flash to his and narrow. “I’m not worried.”

He tries and fails to hide his knowing smirk. “If you say so. Come on. Let’s get you some food and find you a place to rest. You look like you’ve been through hell and back.”

“And here I thought we were friends. True friends don’t point out useless facts.” I narrow my eyes on him, playful this time.

His roaring laughter fills me with warmth as I grab my bag and follow him down the dark halls. He turns and bows to me with a smile that reaches his eyes.

“Forgive me. You’ll always be one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.”

I raise a brow. “And you’ll always be a shameless flirt, I see.”

His smile only widens as we continue down hall after hall, turning and twisting, moving up stairwells and more halls until we stop outside a black door that looks to be carved directly into the wall. A theme that seems to be consistent throughout Túr Rí.

The black door has a pattern of three swirls on it. Asra begins to mumble something in that lyrical language many fae seem to know, and the swirls shimmer before the door opens with a click.

He raises his hand with a flourish, gesturing inside. “After you.”

I shake my head at his antics and step inside.

The room is nothing like the outside; there are soft, thick rugs, lavish decorations, a small table and chairs, and a huge four-poster bed at its center. There’s another door leading off to somewhere else and a large painting of the snowy mountain on a sunny day. It covers the entire wall in front of the bed, its light colors making the room seem brighter even though there are no windows here.

It’s a room fit for royalty. I freeze when the thought comes to mind and I turn to Asra with a questioning glare.

“ Whose room is this?” I ask.

Asra gives me an innocent look and points at me. “It’s yours.”

I move closer to the bed and reach out a hand to brush against the velvet throw. “I doubt the other chosen are afforded such luxury.”

“You’re not just any chosen. How that came to be is something we’ll all need to discuss,” he says with a frown.

“I don’t need to be treated any differently,” I tell him, ignoring the second part of his reply. I turn away from the luxurious furnishings and back to Asra.

“But you do,” he says. “You’re his mate, Seren.”

I shake my head. “It means nothing.”

“It means everything .” He steps forward. “You don’t know what he was like while you were gone. He never stopped searching, sending out hunting parties daily. His storms have not let up since. He’s barely slept and when he does, he?—”

“He doesn’t want a mate, Asra. And I… I don’t know what I want.”

His eyes soften. “He did not have an easy life growing up. There are things he will tell you in his own time. Things that explain why he is the way he is. Give it time.”

Time … Something I seem to always be running out of.

I push Kestral and everything that comes along with him to the back of my mind and glance around the room once more. Though I barely see anything but my growing worries.

“My family must be worried,” I say, more to myself than to Asra. I wonder how my mother is. How Ryuu and Jarek are. Did Wylan make it back to him? Are they safe and well?

“Your family is in Findias,” Asra says. “A much safer place than you are right now. Let’s focus on getting you through the trials in one piece.”

“It’s funny, I thought Findias was a cage, and now all I want to do is go back.”

“It is because your family and friends are there. They are your home.”

I turn back to him and nod. It’s true. A house may be made from bricks and stone, but it’s the family around you that makes a home.

It’s unfortunate that it took me leaving them to figure it out.

“No one will bother you here,” Asra says before showing me where I can freshen up. He leads me into another room, almost half the size of the bedroom, containing a large mirror on the side and a huge bath at its center. Something I look at longingly.

But I don’t have any spare clothes and can’t wash the ones I have with Asra here. I clean my face and notice the black bags underneath my eyes. The spark that was once there is dimmer now. My face is dull, and my hair is still a disaster.

I attempt to tidy it as much as I can, but the tangles are too bad to get out without using some water and a proper comb.

Asra was being kind with his words. I look haggard.

Sighing to myself, I give up for now, realizing there’s nothing I can do but gaze over at the bath in longing before passing it.

Later … I promise myself before turning and heading back out to the bedroom. Asra is there with a tray of food and water.

I glance around the room, wondering where he got it from. He seems to read my mind and answers without me having to ask.

“The kitchen is nearby. Come, eat.”

I move to the small table and start eating. With the meals Lord Cain fed me, I’m not as starved as I was when he got me out. I’m able to slow down and prevent myself from looking like some unkempt beast.

“Where were you, Seren?” he asks, and without thought, I open my mouth to tell him. Pain lances through me once again, reminding me of the geas.

The food in my hand freezes before it reaches my mouth.

“I can’t…” I breathe through the pain and swallow what’s in my mouth. The food now tastes like ash on my tongue.

“I can’t….” I start, attempting to tell him I can’t tell him, but the words don’t form on my tongue. Instead, another flash of pain spears through my brain.

I drop my food and cradle my head. “Please don’t ask me…” I beg. “ Please …”

When I’m finally able to look up at Asra, I spot the worry in his wide eyes. But he says no more on it, nodding his head.

I give him a thankful look and change the subject, picking up my food to continue to eat it even though I taste none of it. “Tell me what it’s like out there?”

Asra grows quiet for a moment, still looking at me with worry in his eyes. “We are a lot better off in the fae lands. Many places outside the wall are barely livable. The humans have taken the brunt of the gods’ taint and anger.”

“The land beyond Temair?” I ask, wondering how big this world is.

Asra nods. “To the east, there are vast lands that the gods have divided into seven kingdoms, and each of them rule over one. Some are more… subtle than others. But they all wield power like it’s child’s play.”

“They cannot be defeated?” I ask.

Asra shakes his head. “Many have tried time and again. All have failed and lost their lives doing so.”

There has to be a way… “Veles told me about a prophecy, and that the Caligo and Sidus were the only loophole.” I look down at my food and frown. “Kestral thinks we are the only hope for this world.”

“You are.”

I glance up at Asra, hearing his grim tone, only to find a matching expression on his face. “Only a Caligo or Sidus can be a true chosen and only one will awaken.” He sighs, his frown deepening. “What has happened to the trials over the years is not what they were meant for. But the core of them still exists.”

“What happens if one does awaken?” I ask, my heart beating like a drum in my chest as I wait for his answer.

“They become what we’ve all been waiting for. The Godkiller.”