Page 190 of Season Warriors & Wolves

She stilled at the last words and so did I, the air chilling again.

“Snow, my heart. Who do you think will pry you off my hands so easily?” I drew her close to me. “Death? I am it.”

Her eyes drew shut and heavy tears slipped down her cheeks. “Hide me, Kil. I want to hide.”

I unbuttoned my jacket and pulled her close to me before buttoning it back again. We stood there a while, a long while. She did not cry. She did not speak. Her silence was heavy and painful.

“Defy it,” I said. “Defy this purpose. If you do not have the strength, then let me defy it for you.”

Her head rose again. A strange look in her eyes. Almost given up. It shifted quickly. A realisation of sorts. Just when I was about to ask, she looked over my shoulder at the presence that had joined us.

I turned to Thora as well. She was standing there, waiting. She must have heard what her sister said because there was no need to read shadows to know devastation.

“Yes, Thora,” I said, and Snow pulled back a little to look at her, too.

“There is someone you still have not asked to join us.”

Chapter thirty-eight

Black Knight to C8

Thora

Malik did not speak one word to me while he helped me put my leathers on. The Adriatian contraptions were still heavier and more complicated to put on than the Olympian ones, but if I went to Olympia, Alaric was going to chain me to the dungeons and not let me do this.

Malik’s hands slid down my thigh to tie the dagger holders tightly and I tried my best to even out my breath. Failing when he went down to his knees to tie my boots on.

“Scared now?” he asked.

I kicked his shin. “Don’t read me.”

He finally raised his eyes up at me, holding my foot down so I wouldn’t kick him again. “Read you? Bird, your heartbeat is going to drive me insane any moment now.”

Not because I’m afraid. “You didn’t have to come. You didn’t even need to do this. If it is so annoying to you, leave.”

He tugged on my bow, pulling till it fell from my hair. “First, I’d rather you not die and take my secrets beyond the grave where I cannot keep you silent. Second, you would have strangled yourself with these contraptions like last time. And last, luckily for you, I enjoy being annoyed.” He pulled me to him. “Hold tight, bird, this will be a bumpy journey.”

He had not lied. Fading between whatever forces or magic surrounded the Sea of the Dark was indeed bumpy despite the access we’d been given by the king himself. We’d waited for nightfall so his magic would be at its strongest, and it was still not enough. The moment we touched the city of Hellas, I heaved out all that I’d eaten all day.

Golgotha let us through his stony, wet city with no issue. His creatures paying no mind at all when we passed through to his…cave? Castle that looked like a cave?

He sat on a dais made of bones, studying me hair to toes. “You looked a bit different last time. Little angrier. Taller? Didn’t you have a scar on your face?”

“I am her sister.”

“Ah,” he said, drumming his fingers on the chair arms. His eyes thinned, the irises elongating, resembling the eyes of a serpent. “You're a fascinating creature as well.” His nose twitched, sniffing the air, and he turned to rake a look over Malik. “Two fascinating creatures.”

My friend looked annoyed. Unimpressed, too. “Your smell does scream fascinating to me, so if you’re expecting a compliment back, move on.”

Some more finger drumming later, Golgotha said, “How might I entertain you tonight?”

I blinked. “Tonight?”

“Well, you’ve chosen a bad time to visit. Near night. My creatures heed no call at the time of Henah. If they wish to attack you, I cannot stop them. This humble home of mine is the only safe space. We are one of a sort, you see, Henah and I,” he explained. “Born out of the same womb. The eudemons get…confused. Tonight, you will be my guests since I’d rather not anger your brother or your sister,” he said, turning to me. He clicked his fingers and a large table loaded with all sorts of foods appeared in the middle of the cave out of thin air. “We will dine while you tell me about your journey.”

Malik grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him. “Absolutely the fuck not.”

“Impolite, but you have a point. The crab is…acquired taste,” Golgotha said, descending his throne and taking a seat at the head of the table. “Sit. We’ll discuss whatever you’ve come here to discuss.”