“Please don’t stop on my account,” the Starsearcher joked, sounding a bit more like her old self.
Cypherion echoed, “They can stop. They do it enough to get by with a break.”
I flipped him off for that one, still looking at Ophelia, but based on the gentle grunt, Vale elbowed him.
Ophelia laughed. “What is it, Vale?”
“When you’re done, I have an idea.”
“Oh?” That mischievous smile was back on Ophelia’s lips.
I finally looked up to see Vale matched it, and Cypherion instantly appeared exasperated. “I’m ready to read the gods.”
Chapter Fifty
Ophelia
Everyonein our party joined for the gods’ reading. Once the moon slipped into the sky, we traversed the dunes to the cave system Sapphire and the khrysaor were hidden in.
As Vale set up a series of six candles in the dim mystlight lanterns of the cavern, each with a different incense and tinctures burning ahead of it, Lancaster stepped to my shoulder.
“One per deity,” he muttered.
I nodded. “Do you think each is specific, or is it the amount that matters?”
Rina answered from my other side. “I’d guess they’re each attuned to the god’s or goddess’ principle domain and the properties they’re abound with.”
“Perceptive, Bounty,” Lancaster grunted in appreciation.
Santorina bristled. “Don’t call me that.”
“Just because you do not like what is within you, does not make it untrue.”
My narrowed stare swiveled from Vale, lighting the final incense, to the fae male. But I didn’t need to reprimand him, because Santorina snapped, “I am perfectly happy with myself, thank your ego for the inflated opinion.”
Lancaster sneered, stalking away to stand beside Celissia. She’d bonded with the fae while assisting in their healing process, the two gravitating toward the Engrossians often now. Barrett and Dax joked with Mila and Lyria at their side.
Stress lined the prince’s expression, and when our eyes met, he nodded grimly in acknowledgment, but he dragged a hand through his curls and plastered on a smile, gaze flicking to Vale.
And I was reminded again that everything we did—every decision we made to try to appease the fae while they were here—was not only in pursuit of the Angelcurse. As Barrett said in Valyn, we were rulers, and the stakes to keeping our people safe were mounting.
I turned back to Rina and asked, “Are you all right?” I spoke low enough that hopefully even the fae’s immortal eavesdropping wouldn’t pick it up. I was extra wary of that lately.
“With him?” she asked with a pointed glare at Lancaster. “Entirely unconcerned.” I wasn’t certain if it was a lie or not, but Rina went on, waving a hand at Vale’s set up, “With this? I’m immensely curious.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea?” I whispered. Vale was settling into her reading, the cloud of melded incense swarming around her, frizzing her hair.
A few feet away, Cypherion perched on a rock, stare intent on his girl. Tolek and Malakai stood on either side of him, attempting to calm his agitation.
Rina said, “I don’t know if anything we’ve done lately is a good idea, Ophelia.” She had a point. “But this is even more precarious. If it’s not the gods’ will to be reached…”
We would suffer the consequences of their wrath.
But I didn’t want to raise that concern with anyone. Not after the levity we’d all expressed today. We would deal with that fate if it befell us. Instead, I forced a smirk to my lips and said,“We already have the Angels breathing down our necks, why not throw in the gods, as well?”
Santorina gave me a scolding look, but based on how she shifted a bit closer, nudging me affectionately with her elbow, she knew we may not have a choice. We were at the will of the higher powers.
I was grateful to have these people by my side through the storm.
