Page 138 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

Kora finally looked up, her blue eyes blazing as bright as the fire behind her. Raiden cupped her cheek, running a thumb over the lone tear that escaped. She was still in pain, still broken, and he saw it, and understood it.

“Thanos was with me,” she whispered out loud. “I spent over thirty days with the God of Death. He kept me company, he saw my memories, he even pulled me out of the void, into a realm of his creation. He . . . he reminded me why I wanted to live.” Kora chuckled slightly. “The God of Death pushed me towards the light, to life. I’d nearly given up.”

Raiden faltered. He firstly couldn’t grapple what his world would be like without Kora. Secondly, he gently held her face with both hands. Kora may not know it yet, but she truly was gods-blessed.

The gods hadn’t faded yet. Death still lived. Hope’s dangerous edge lingered.

She held onto his wrists, that small touch visibly strengthening her. “He told me of the in-between. That the void rests within it, and he’s the only god who can travel through it. What if there is another god? And they’re related to Thanos, with similar power? Thanos was mentioned in this prophecy, maybe he’s keeping him away from the mortal realm. Protecting us all from the true darkness.”

Haizea fucking save him.

“Thanos is still with us,” Raiden replied and Kora nodded gently. “The other gods?”

“He mentioned Calypso a couple times. If they’re still here, they’re far away, perhaps somewhere in the void that’s not reachable.”

Raiden shut his eyes. There was still hope. Devania had hope.

“What else was in the passage you read? Did it say any more about this god? Or how to reach the void beyond ours?”

“For he will rise, and bring a darkness so deep, no life will walk again. It’s the same prophecy I heard from Agatha. And it kept repeating Dark One. Almost like this scholar had gone mad, scribbling it across every page.” Kora leaned into his touch. “Dark One, Dark One, Dark One.”

Raiden cursed. “Say that again but faster.”

She repeated it, her eyes slowly widening as it dawned on her as well.

“Dark One,” Raiden spoke thickly. “Sounds a lot like Darkon.”

“The first admiral,” Kora winced, her hand flying to her scar. “He died fifty years ago.”

Raiden rubbed his chin. “Maybe, maybe not. We never saw him during the conquest, there are no tapestries of him. His death was strange too—an infection from battle. Yet he never appeared in battle. What if he just . . . disappeared? What if he’s also in this void? What if he’s out there now, summoning this dark god? If he’s like us, he would still appear young. He could be in hiding, waiting for his moment.”

“That’s a lot of what ifs.” Her mouth twisted. “I don’t like guessing. How could he be a mage, when he led the campaign to destroy us all?” Us. She saw herself as part of the mages. Yet, Raiden’s stare hardened as their theories grew murky. None of it was making any sense to him.

“Can you reach out to Thanos at all? Is it possible to ask him what he knows?” Hope was cruel and the bed behind him creaked as he leaned back, needing something to keep him stable. This was fucking insane.

Firelight danced across both their bodies, warming them in the cool, stone room. By the bay window was an oak desk embedded with moonstone, and a chest filled with Raiden’s favoured weapons hidden under cream blankets for the winter. A mirror settled in the far corner, by an armoire that was half empty, the clothing eaten by moths from years of neglect.

Kora shook her head. “He’s got this thing about fate and interference. I’ve barely felt his presence since we left Talmon.”

“The passage is old, older than me.” Raiden winked at Kora and a small smile bloomed on her lips. “Perhaps it referred to Darkon’s conquest of Devania. Those times were dark, it was some of the worst things I’ve ever seen.”

“Perhaps,” she murmured. “Right now, Barron needs to be stopped. Magical prophecies can jump further down our to-do list.”

“Sure. Murder a tyrant, stop a magic-resistant army, save humankind.” Raiden counted off on his fingers.

“Don’t forget saving the Azarian prince, preventing a third war with Azaria, and creating new world peace.” Kora curled into his lap, her eyes growing heavier.

“As long as you’re there, I will do any of those things.” Raiden's voice bordered on a growl as Kora’s cheek rested on the crook of his neck, and his arms swept around her.

“We make a pretty good team, Windward,” Kora said.

“That we do, Cadell.”

She glanced up at the use of her chosen name, and Raiden’s breath shot out of him at the gratitude beaming from her soul. It barrelled down the bond, hitting him like a boulder. Euphoria filled him as her emotions tangled with his own. She was happy, a new kind of wholeness filling out her previously shredded heart, along with a deep appreciation directed straight at him.

And longing. An intense, sparkling longing wrapped in desire.

Raiden’s control snapped.