Page 62 of Until the End of Ever (To the Cruel Gods #2)

KLEOS

T he destruction continued in the vale, though the gods were all gone. They'd left behind their many mindless drones, blue eyed, enthused with power, and intent on continuing the orders they'd been given.

I'd been mistaken when I assumed Hercules, Vance, Castor, and Thimotee were the extent of it. There were dozens of them shooting arrows from the ramparts they hadn't yet blown up, razing everything they could, only sparing the temples.

They were returning the vale to what it had been before new blood had been brought thirty years ago, I realized.

"Here!" I screamed at Zazel, finally spotting Lucian sparring against Hercules himself.

Still not certain whether we were actually talking about the Hercules , I doubted I could call a time-out to ask him.

Zazel hopped between the two men, showing his fangs to the giant, who stumbled back.

He was too focused on the clawed paw coming at him to notice me jumping down from Zazel's back, aiming a golden javelin right between his eyes.

There, in the middle of the open battlefield that was our town, I brought my arms to Lucian's shoulders and kissed him, ignoring all of the arrows and daggers shooting past us, until the awareness of one blade coming too close to Lucian made me lift my hand, casually erecting a golden shield.

Lucian smirked, lifting his hand to show off the arrow he'd stopped with his bare hand. "More of that later. I believe we have walls to repair before we get a second wave?"

"I think we don't have to worry about Zeus for a minute," I said. "But there are other gods who likely suck just as much. We need those shields back up. That's never gonna happen with those enthused assholes blowing shit up."

A flash raced past us, circling us twice, growing gradually slower, until I could actually recognize my best friend.

"Silver!"

"I'm so sorry that idiot flew me away," she complained. "You're okay? Is everyone okay?"

I wrinkled my nose, thinking about all the people fried by a single lightning bolt, and all the bodies in the street Zazel raced past. "I don't know about everyone, but I've never been better. Listen, I can feel the walls protecting Highvale. They were made by Poseidon. I think now the dicks stop destroying them, I can likely rebuild them.”

“What about the shields?” she asked. Apollo said something about them.

“They're still in place,” I assured her. “They'd need to completely destroy the walls for the shields protecting this place, and Earth, to fail. What we need is to stop the enthused assholes from picking off people."

"Got it. I'll punch the idiots. You rebuild the mess. And Lucian, you sit there and look pretty."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm watching my witch's back, I'll have you know.”

She scanted a brow. “I’m sure you’re watching her back real close.”

He gave her a one finger salute. “Go away, Smol." To me, he said, “Poseidon’s rebuilding the walls as we stack the stones, but he’s not making the doorways, the arches, the watch towers?—”

“I mean, we need a way to get out of the city. Maybe we could try…”

It was easier said than done, of course. I wasn't Silver, who transformed her own house brick by brick. And though I was newly infused with what felt like an unstoppable pool of magic, I wasn't sure what to do with it.

But I had help, when I wasn't too proud to ask for it.

Father, Mentor, King. Neptune, Poseidon, Njord. I need help with the wall. Any tips? For extra cupcakes.

I wouldn't say that the old man appeared with a how-to manual, but my hands moved of their own volition, weaving spells I'd never known, and I watched the waters of our canals rise to slide between the broken rocks, flying into their proper place.

My golden healing magic that I'd always used on flesh shone between the cracks, and in the next breath, a portion of the wall was back up.

Eventually, the screams around the city stopped, gradually at first, until there were no longer any disruptions in the vale. If not for the bodies on the street, we could have thought none of this had happened.

I should be exhausted. I hadn't slept or eaten in a day—well, technically, since Monday, so longer than that. Yet my body had never needed rest or sustenance less than it did now.

There was only one thing I needed, and he was right here. I tugged at his sleeve and pressed myself against him. "Take me home.”

We both knew I was just fine, but I let him carry me in his arms the entire way, Zazel strolling alongside us, still taller than Lucian.

“I plan on doing absolutely nothing for an entire day,” I professed as we walked into the wrecked hall.

I supposed I could help rebuild that too, but I decided there were plenty of witches able to handle it in the vale. It’d keep them busy enough to stop baselessly accusing unders of crimes for a day or two.

“Nothing at all?” Lucian challenged. “Because I can think of a thing or two I wouldn’t mind doing right now.”

“Like taking a bath,” I said longingly.

“And sleeping for a week,” Lucian added.

I would have agreed, but quite frankly, I’d never had more energy. “Well, I can think of a thing or two I might like to do in bed.”

Lucian groaned into my hair. “You will be the death of me.”

The lift heading to the underside was filthy, blood and dirt and messes marring it, but when we reached the town circle, everything was intact.

The only differences were the many valers, wrapped in blankets, looking lost and frightened, seated under the dark dome.

I spotted several people I’d met at the town meeting handing food and drinks.

Oh. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to lend a hand?”

I could feel so many aches, broken ankles, maimed limbs, torn ligaments.

Lucian chuckled. “You were born to be a Regis, weren’t you?”

“I’m not a Regis, Lucian,” she pointed out.

Excellent point. I found another thing more important than sleeping right now.

I had to marry this woman. I’d tied her to me by all immortal laws; but I needed her bound in every possible way.

“Yet.”