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Kiara

A woman came to us today. There was something about her that sent fire into my veins, and her eyes…bright amber eyes that reminded me of the sun we had just lost. She offered me her hand and told me her name was Rae, though I couldn’t help but think it had been a lie.

Found in the diary of Juniper Marchant, Sun Priestess, year 1 of the curse

J ude Maddox, Commander of the Knights of the Eternal Star, thought he could play the sacrificing hero and abandon me in the Mist. Thought he could run from me.

As if I didn’t enjoy the chase.

Jake and I followed Jude’s trail until it vanished entirely, his tracks swept away by the wind.

It was quiet here. Eerily so. No masked men jumped out and attacked, none of Lorian’s monstrous wolves lunged for our throats, and not a single living soul—winged or earthbound—dared approach.

We pressed on, the haze lessening the closer we drew to the border of Asidia. That didn’t mean the danger had passed.

Our confidence was dwindling, but I was never one to quit in the face of poor odds. Not when my broken heart ached and fury drove me. I’d been shunned before. Looked at like discarded rubbish. A cursed deviant to stay away from.

But that had been before him.

Jude’s absence made the hollow pit in my chest expand, even if I knew he left because he believed I’d use the Godslayer blade on myself and give him the final piece of a goddess. It didn’t matter; he should’ve known me better. Trusted me.

Now, all I ached to do was yell at him face to face.

Too bad he’d gotten a head start. I wasn’t a patient person.

Something had changed since we left the clearing where I killed Patrick. The Mist was not as…docile. Perhaps Jake perceived the unnatural shift as well. We often traveled in uneasy silence through the thicker haze, barely able to breathe properly.

Days ago, we stumbled upon hoofprints leading northeast, and a flimsy hope bubbled to the surface; they could belong to Jude. He could’ve happened upon one of our lost mares and found his way out of this wretched place.

Knowing time wasn’t on our side, we only stopped to rest or eat. I’d stumbled across a rare patch of edible shade berries. While not poisonous, they certainly tasted that way.

Any day now, maybe in mere hours, we’d reach the border and return to the realm Cirian ruled over with a heavy hand. I wasn’t sure which was worse—being back under Cirian’s thumb, or being stranded in the cursed lands where nightmares lived.

“He better not have lost the Godslayer,” Jake grumbled at my side, his shoulders drooping from exhaustion. I’d done my best not to look too closely at him—every time I did, guilt churned in my stomach and I would hastily turn away. I was the reason he was in this mess. “With our luck, the king already captured him.”

“So optimistic,” I said, feigning a playfulness I knew would soothe Jake’s nerves. “If Jude got captured that easily, then he’s not the man I thought he was.”

Jude was too damned stubborn to get caught so quickly. Besides, it would deflate his ego terribly. He was, after all, the formidable and dastardly assassin of the king.

I squinted at the skies, making out the barest hint of the northern star resting beside the blue-tinged moon. Out here, miles beyond the border, the moon was twice its size, battling to be seen amidst all the melancholy gray and spindly trees.

I hated how beautiful I found it. Whenever Jake settled down to rest, I’d take first watch, staring up at the moon’s milky surface. In those moments, I wondered if Jude was looking at it , too. If he regretted abandoning us. Me.

My newest scar throbbed. The memory of the day it had been inflicted often caused my chest to warm with the oddest prickling sensation. Inches from where my heart thudded, the wound Jude had healed was raised and raw, a reminder of what we endured.

I ran gloved fingers across the jagged skin, a weak smile tugging at my lips. While I despised what Patrick had done, my scar connected to the commander in a way I couldn’t decipher. I’d left my mark on him as well. Thin, twisting black vines covered his chest where I’d placed my power.

It was my brand, matching the scars on my hands left by the shadow beast.

“If Jude were smart, he would’ve killed you and reunited all three of Raina’s keys when he had the chance,” Jake said after a while. “ But… I suppose you’re much too charming to die. Such a shame.”

Jake chased me out of that ill-fated clearing where I killed Patrick , the immortal who’d cursed Asidia with his greed. He’d once been a friend, but friends didn’t stab one another in the chest.

Jake stood beside me since, dedicated to the cause, never hesitating to follow my lead. He didn’t complain, nor did he stop.

Although, his devotion hardly meant I didn’t occasionally have the urge to smack him.

“As much as I don’t want to die, that would have been the easy choice,” I admitted softly, trudging ahead. All the commander had to do was drive a dagger into my heart with a special god-crafted blade and release Raina’s missing divinity from my chest.

“But simple choices are rarely the right ones,” Jake said quietly, avoiding my gaze.

My brows scrunched. “When did you become so poetic?”

“Near - death experiences will change a man, Ki,” he replied. “And I was always gifted with words.”

“Only when you want to lure someone to your bed.”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt—”

I stopped short, holding out a hand as the hairs on my nape rose. “Shhh , ” I warned.

Wisps of fog curled around me like a lover, traveling up from my boots to my thighs. I ground my teeth as a sudden spark of white light flashed across my vision. I blinked, willing it away—willing away my new power . It was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time, that rush—and I feared its unknown strength more than anything else.

It was happening again.

The gloomy world sharpened. Became illuminated as if I’d dragged a gleaming fire just above the tops of the trees. One of Raina’s gifts—her sight in the dark.

Her powers made a few appearances over the last couple of days. I didn’t think I’d ever grow accustomed to it. To the peculiar sensation of the accompanying heat in my chest. Or how my shadows seemed to wither inside when her magic appeared. Almost like my darkness battled my light inside the confines of my own body.

It wasn’t pleasant.

Dipping into a crouch, I snuck to the nearest tree, needle-like reeds poking through my trousers. Phantom fingers traced down my spine , and I shivered.

The Mist was hauntingly quiet, making it easy to hear…

Voices.

The hair on the back of my neck raised. Something was close. Or someone . My shadows seeped out of my pores without my notice, curling around me like they wished to shield.

“Now I’m frightened.” Jake noted the shadows with a scowl. “They always appear when we’re about to be attacked or killed.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Looking ahead, I glimpsed a flicker of movement. A shift of a cloak. Long , curly black hair.

“See that?” I tilted my chin. It appeared to be two figures standing close together, but the thicket made everything difficult to see. I led the way forward, hoping for a better vantage point. The farther I went, the more my shadows tightened around my chest.

A woman with brown skin and tight leathers came into view. On instinct, I grabbed Jake, pushing him beside me and behind a tree. The wide trunk shielded us.

“Cirian is nothing!” the woman said. “It’s the Moon God we must worry about. He’s out of control. If he’s not stopped, he’ll destroy the day. If he kills those two , then all will be lost.”

Destroy the day . I stifled my gasp. If the Moon God actually wished to rule over the world, he obliterated the hope of the sun ever returning.

“He will try to find Maddox first,” a deep growl of a man’s voice answered. “He’s in Fortuna now.”

“But he should be trying to break into the Moon God’s temple, not wandering aimlessly around Fortuna like a fool,” the woman added under her breath.

“Before Kiara killed that little weasel, he told me the moonstone does exist. That it cannot only summon the ancient bastard, but trap him. Then Jude can use the blade to turn him mortal.”

If that were true…it changed everything.

I grimaced before peeking around the tree. The man wore a furred hood that covered most of his features, but he had a strong chin, and his build was that of a bear’s.

“Listen, Lorian,” the woman said with a sigh. “I don’t want to be involved any more than you do, but he’s stealing our damned powers, and I can barely manage to travel , let alone control a single godsdamn soldier. We have to warn the chosen ones that Cirian isn’t the only one out for them.”

Lorian. God of Beasts and Prey.

I turned to Jake , and he mouthed, “ Holy fucking shit .”

Lorian grumbled a curse. “Then you do it,” he said. “I got involved already and nearly killed Raina’s grandson. I say let them figure it out.”

“Can you just be agreeable for once, you stubborn man?” the woman snipped, a hand going to her hip. I narrowed my eyes, picking up on her lithe physique. She appeared a warrior, through and through, covered in fighting leathers , and the glinting of metal shined in the dim light .

“I’m usually agreeable. You just make it difficult.”

“I swear, if I could kill you, I would,” she threatened, shaking her head. “I—”

Behind me, a twig snapped. The sound seemed to echo throughout the woods, and the pair arguing glanced up. I glared at Jake, who merely averted his eyes in reply.

“Someone’s here.” The woman unsheathed a sword at her belt. Slowly, she glanced around.

Fuck. Whoever she was, she spoke with a god. And probably was one…

Lorian sniffed the air like a beast before his shoulders drooped, losing some of their tension. “It’s just them, Maliah. Kiara and the loud one.”

“Rude,” Jake whisper-hissed beneath his breath.

Maliah . Goddess of Revenge and Redemption. My idol since I was a child. Instantly , unwelcomed butterflies stormed my stomach.

“Come out!” she called, sheathing her sword. “We know you’re here , and I really don’t feel like chasing you at the moment.”

Jake and I exchanged glances. “We’re already knocking on death’s door. Why not chat with a couple of angry gods for a minute?” he said, sarcasm lacing every syllable.

I rolled my eyes but stepped out from behind the tree, my hands raised.

Maliah and Lorian froze as I approached, my knees trembling from the thought of standing before two powerful immortals.

“Eavesdropping is rude, you know.” Maliah crossed her arms.

This close , her beauty was beyond anything belonging to this plane, her brown skin practically glowing in the moonlight, her hair a lustrous crown of shimmering curls. Covered in head-to-toe leather, a various assortment of gleaming weapons strapped to her toned body, the woman was nothing if not a threat. Beneath her clothing, I could make out every ripple of her toned muscles. She quirked a brow, drawing attention to dazzling green irises that gleamed with mischief. Gods, even the moon seemed to shine solely on her.

Shit, I was focusing entirely on the wrong things.

Jake’s footsteps sounded behind me. I secretly hoped he would stay hidden.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” I protested. “We happened to hear voices, and—”

“Decided to listen in?” Maliah dropped her hand from her hip. “Of course, it’s you .” She shot a pointed look to Lorian, who still refused to lower his hood. All I could make out was that stubbled chin.

Inside, a voice screamed at me to run. Any sensible person would. But my beast clawed at my insides, aching to be freed. Tingles shot through my gloved hands, drawing my focus down to where wisps of black smoke danced shyly at my fingertips, pulsing in time with my enraged heartbeat.

The dark was so much easier to succumb to than the light.

It felt safer.

Destroy her , the night whispered in my head, the voice both my own and that of a stranger.

I tensed. I’d always believed the night to speak, but never so clearly.

The goddess cocked her head, appraising me in a way that left me feeling lacking. When she eased closer, moving like a serpent in the grass, I instinctively raising my dagger in warning. The act earned me a rumbling laugh.

“You realize that pathetic knife won’t hurt me, right? Only Arlo’s Godslayer can.” Darkness stormed in her green eyes at the mention of the God of Earth and Soil—a man I once presumed to be my uncle.

Arlo hadn’t been much help in the Mist, and certainly not after Jude’s abandonment. If I ever saw him again, we’d have words. Or, more accurately, we’d speak with our blades.

“My apologies.” I bit my tongue and hurriedly shoved my knife into its sheath before frowning. “Why are you in these woods?”

It all felt too…coincidental for my liking. After so much betrayal, it would be hard to trust again.

“We’re near Fortuna,” Lorian replied for them both. “Raina’s descendant is there.”

Maliah shoved at his chest, though he didn’t budge an inch. “Don’t tell her that! Then she’ll go there. If they’re in the same place, it’ll be easier for Cirian and his master to catch them. And that blade cannot fall into their hands.”

“We’re going for Jude regardless . ” I spoke before thinking. As usual. A trait I seriously needed to work on. But I refused to abandon Jude like he’d done me. Because that’s what it felt like: abandonment. I wanted to both pull him close and smack him at the same time.

Maliah pointed an accusatory finger at me. “Told you she would do something rash, Lorian. She’s the wild card.” She faced me, her gaze taut with frustration. “You need to go to the Moon God’s temple, not find the boy. That can come after.”

“No. I won’t wait.” What the hells was wrong with my mouth?

“Let her try,” Lorian offered on our behalf. “She might get there in time before Cirian sends his men.”

My pulse thudded at my throat. Guards were going to search Fortuna, and Lorian insinuated it would be soon. I had to get to Jude first. He couldn’t be captured. Tortured. He’d been through enough. I might be furious with him, but I’d do everything in my power to prevent him from enduring more pain.

“Fine.” Maliah waved her hands in the air. “But after you get your commander, go to the temple. Lorian over here learned something that might interest you.”

He sighed in blatant exasperation. “There’s a moonstone there that can trap the god. If you find it, then you must turn the Godslayer on him to turn him mortal. I have it on good authority that the moonstone will not only lure him, but trap his divinity as well. All that needs to happen after is someone to claim the pieces of divinity and take his position.” I couldn’t see his eyes, but I felt them sear into my skin.

I turned to see the shocked look on Jake’s face. We both knew this was bigger than we imagined—to confine his power and keep the kingdom from succumbing to eternal day. “Care to lend a hand?” I quipped, the shadows rolling up my frame at my command, the frail branches of the trees shuddering. The goddess’ attention drifted to the trembling leaves above my head, her brows scrunching. Then her stare took in my magic, her lips twisting in reply.

“I just did,” she said, jaw tense as if I’d insulted her. “Do you truly think us that indifferent?”

Yes, I’d often thought them to be indifferent. It felt unfair that all of this lay upon our shoulders. Hells, I hadn’t even known our true enemy until Jude’s note warned me that others besides Patrick sought us. Sought me .

“Lorian cannot shift, just as I do not retain the same influence over warriors that I once held. I can’t command armies with a single thought or guide the minds of the vengeful and ruthless.” She glanced to the many polished blades at her belt, avoiding my stare. I had the suspicion it was shame she tried to hide, and a wave of pity struck me—she was so unlike the notorious goddess I’d placed on a pedestal. “If you find a way to free our powers from whatever spell the Moon God is casting, then myself and the other deities will be free to help you bring back the sun. Preferably without killing you.”

Oh, I’d like that very much.

Lorian lifted his chin, releasing a piercing whistle. The noise sliced at my eardrums, forcing me to cover my head. When his call ended, I lowered my arms, looking at him curiously. He merely stared back.

A minute later, a spotted jaguar strode into the clearing.

“Seeing as you’re risking everything, I’m assigning protection until you reach the city,” he said in that deep tone of his. “Brax, here, will be an excellent guard on your travels.”

The giant beast prowled closer, and it took everything within me not to bolt. His claws alone could rip the flesh from my bones. Behind me, Jake made a whimpering sound. I was surprised he’d been so quiet this entire time.

“Thank you?” I said it like a question, unsure of what else to say.

“We must go,” Lorian said, nodding to Maliah. “If we stay in one place for too long, he’ll find us.”

I opened my mouth to ask more, but a brilliant haze of cobalt blue and fiery red whirled together, the colors dancing. They encircled the immortals, winding up their bodies and covering the tops of their heads.

Jake grabbed my hand, squeezing tight as we watched two of the strongest gods, even with diminished powers, vanish before our eyes.

Leaving us with…Brax.

“Hells. Now we’re stuck with the damned jaguar,” Jake groused. The creature’s tongue poked out as he eyed Jake. “And he better stop gawking at me like that.”

“He won’t hurt you,” I said at the same time my shadows coiled out, at the ready, should my flimsy promise fail. A rush of energy surged , and I all but floated in place, my skin itching once more, pulled taut.

“We weren’t meant to hear that conversation, but we did.” I looked to my friend. “We’re close to Fortuna. Close to Jude. Once we tell him what we’ve learned , he better get ahold of his damned senses and come with us.”

“That man has never had senses. Especially when it comes to you,” Jake supplied, and I couldn’t help but agree.

My hurt from earlier returned.

Both my light and shadow magic reacted to my emotions—the shadows so easily riled when distraught. It had become so deeply embedded in my core that I feared it would respond with the barest hint of anger before I could wrangle it back. I shut my eyes and exhaled slowly, evenly. I had to be calm, find my center, and learn how to command both forces before they eventually destroyed me. Thinking of Jude didn’t help matters.

“I pray this talisman does what Lorian claims. We alone won’t be able to kill a god, not when it took Jude and me both to end Patrick’s life.” I shook my head, needing to move in order to release some of my pent-up frustration. “And he wasn’t nearly as great of a threat.”

A part of me wished to run and find Jude and never look back, to leave this plague of a mission behind. We could have a good life, maybe, tucked away in some small town, become new people without the burden of saving Asidia on our shoulders.

I wished I could be selfish. I wanted to be so badly.

Jake met my stare, a silent conversation passing between us. Slowly , the uncertainty left his eyes, and the confidence he typically wore like a shield fell back into place.

We were doing this. Together.

“Never in my life did I expect this,” he said, motioning to where the gods once stood. “But I’m glad I’m experiencing it all with you.”

I looked away. “Stop. You’re making me want to hug you,” I said, the urge strong.

Jake laughed. “ Oh, no . Not a hug . Although I have earned one…”

“So dramatic,” I teased, shoving playfully at his chest. He grinned and ruffled my already tangled hair.

“Well, come on , then. Let’s go get your commander,” Jake said. “Once we have Jude, we’ll arm ourselves the best we can. We may not be the ideal band of heroes, but you, me, and Jude are all this sorry kingdom has.”

“Eloquent,” I said with a snort. But the vision of me fighting alongside them flashed across my mind.

Shadows curled at my fingertips, but within my chest, a small spark of warmth flared at the thought of Jude. It tended to do that, Raina’s gift, whenever Jude’s face flitted across my mind. Her power was made of fire and hope and passion. I wondered which magic of mine would show itself when I found him. Jude shouldn’t fear the jaguar at my back or the god set on our destruction.

He should fear me. Because I was coming to Fortuna, and I was coming for him.