Page 252 of Season Warriors & Wolves

“Your husband’s ancestors do not come from Numen. There is no Aura such as an Obscur. That is just a name his people gave themselves when they came here.”

The hells was he on about?

Kilian’s jaw was set tight. “My people?”

“The people of Astra. A realm not far from here, belonging to the Goddess of Nothing, my grandmother. You can see and feel death, see and feel emotion, crave silence whilst desiring chaos. Feed from light and darkness, life and death. You are all. Where you are from, what you are is called a godling. A child born from the soil where the blood of the three first gods was spilled. As you might have guessed, that makes you a rarity.” He pointed a finger at the two of us. “That would make you two quite the couple. Extraordinary, actually. The very essence of a god and the purest creation of another two gods.”

“He is lying, right?” I asked, glancing at my husband whose hand tightened around mine.

He didn’t say anything, only narrowed his eyes on the Prince of Hells who took the silence as an invitation to continue, “Your ancestors wrote themselves into history with permission of Henah. People of Astra were and still are travellers of worlds, their realm is an epicentre of species from many other worlds. Though I am still unsure why godling blood settled in this particularly unimpressive realm when they had so much to choose from. So much to rule over—not just human, but over divine creatures, too.” Satisfied by our confusion, he extended a hand forward. “Consider this knowledge a gift. It gives me utmost pleasure to be related to such creatures as you and your husband. The future is finally looking somewhat exciting. Will you hand me the price of our bargain now? Unless there is something else. Quelling human curiosity is indeed turning into a new hobby of mine.”

“Not eighteen,” I said.

Ezekiel’s brows rose. “Not eighteen?”

“She will be at least twenty-one years of age when you marry her.”

His smirk stretched to a grin. “I’m a patient man, but once she turns twenty-one, no bargain will keep me from taking my bride.” He fashioned a bow and then disappeared from sight along with Vas.

“It changes nothing,” Kilian said, still holding tightly to my hand while we ducked under branches to leave the undead forest.

“It changes some little bits,” I said, throwing his arm over my neck and pressing my body to his. “You’re from a whole other realm, Kil. Godling, not Aura. Whatever that means.”

He kissed my brow and then my lips. “It won’t matter to anyone to know.”

“What about Mal? He deserves to know. To not feel cursed by the gods.”

“Has knowing helped you?”

“Mal and I sometimes are one of the same yet completely the opposite. What did not bring me relief might bring him comfort.”

He sighed, kissing me again and again. “You’re right. So very right. I will tell him.”

Urinthia and Macaria were waiting for us on the other side. The two powerful witches had all sorts of regret painted across their faces.

“Lilith will remain here with you till the day of her twenty-first,” I said. “You will raise her as you wish.”

Urinthia’s callous expression broke into surprise. “Twenty first?”

“Call it a bargain with hells.”

The Grand Maiden’s mouth parted, but words did not come out so Macaria spoke for her, “We thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Nothing to thank me for, witch. My half-sister is still destined an undying death besides a Lord of Death himself. She did not get to choose her future. But for twenty-one years of present, she will make her own choices. Groom her to be a fighter not just a Maiden for a day. What awaits her in those realms is something I only wish to those that have slighted me.”

“Will you not stand by her?” Urinthia finally asked. “By your kin. Do you not wish to see her?”

“She is not my kin. And unless she is to tell me anything useful, no, I do not wish to see her. Let’s keep it that way. Do not come to me if she is in trouble or hurting. Do not come to me when she speaks for the first time or takes the first step. She and I are tied for all the worst reasons. Reasons which I can untie, but that will mean her death and then yours. And I did make Visha a promise. For her, you both live.”

Chapter fifty-seven

Checkmate

Kilian

Snow had a cold determined look on her face, and for some reason it worried me. If she made Eren king, her brother would be ultimately sentenced with the punishment he always had wanted to be rid of. Though he would not hold it against her, I was worried what it would do to my friend.

Thora was already there, chatting with Skadi, Elias and a few who seemed to be court members. The little sister’s shoulders seemed heavier, her features more grown. She had killed Silas. And only gods knew how she had managed that.