“Thank the Spirits Lancaster killed it,” Tolek said, breaking the silence.
“He did?” Mora blinked wide eyed, flipping through her book again. “How? They are typicallyverydifficult to slay, according to legends. Their weapons are made of a metal they’re infallible against, but that will slay their enemies on impact.” That explains the poisonous arrow shot at Jezebel. “And the gorgonsthemselves only have a few weaknesses—none of which I’m sure we can find in this realm.”
“Your brother found the most natural way,” Cypherion commented absently as he paced.
“Rina said he ripped the woman’s head from her body when it attacked her,” Tolek embellished, nodding at a second letter from Rina we’d received with more detail. He dragged a hand through his hair. “It sounds impressive.”
“He…interesting,” Mora commented with a smug smirk, but she didn’t elaborate.
My mind was still stuck on one thought. One that hardened into a lump of guilt in my stomach more by the second and my light fading into my skin. It made my limbs heavy and chest impossible to breathe through as Meridat’s advisors continued to lobby questions at the fae female, and the chancellor sent a few of them off to set up a patrol around Xenovia. These creatures—gorgons—weremyths. Not supposed to exist in this world, and yet…
“Did I—” I swallowed, the room falling silent at the waver in my voice. “Are they here because I somehow raised them?”
“I do not believe so. Not exactly,” Mora clarified, and the guilt dissipated a touch. “In legendary battles, gorgons were sometimes described as serpentine beasts of prey that countered the Guardians.”
“Seraphs,” I breathed, my wings tensing.
Mora nodded. “My theory is that the Balance allowed Echnid to bring them from another realm because a seraph has returned—a seraph with the power of seven Angels—despite the fact that Ambrisk is meant to be cut off from most bridges.”
The Balance. The loopholes that ensured equilibrium among Ambrisk and all other realms. Spirits, where was it now to save us? My palms tingled with Angellight—seraph magic—and the tattoo beneath my arm beat.
“Xenique’s library in the city center has been helpful. That’s where Malakai, Mila, and I have been all night,” Mora explained, curling up the corners of the pages. “The demigoddess seemed to have an affinity for her kind, and since gorgons are known to procreate with gods, we were able to dig. They are seen as a weapon of female power.” She added that last part with an almost pleased tone.
I shook my head, staring down at the faded drawing. The light streaming through the wicker shades cut it at an odd angle that emphasized the snakes atop her head, making her hauntingly beautiful. “Yes, well we have powerful enough females in this realm. We have no need of them.”
Cypherion, finally stilling, crossed his arms. Agitation unlike anything I’d seen since we got Vale back rippled off him. “So, these things are justtraipsingaround Gallantia? In every territory?”
“It appears so,” I muttered, and I knew precisely who Cyph was worrying about when he huffed and resumed his pacing.
“I saw their demon forms when we were in the ballroom,” Malakai said to me. When Echnid made me burn him. I swallowed, and Tol gripped my knee. “They were almost shifting. I thought I was hallucinating.” A mix of relief that he wasn’t and fear of the truth sank over his frame as he leaned back against his chair, brushing his thumb over the scar on his jaw.
“They lure in their prey with their beauty then shift,” Mora said without looking up. “They were likely prepared to feed off your pain and strike if Echnid allowed it.”
The cruelty of that threat turned the air to lead. They’d been so close, and we’d been so vulnerable.
I intervened, “There are six more out there that we know of, and they may have powers beyond what Mora has found. Wehave to remain vigilant, and we should write to city leaders and assure they know.”
Meridat’s advisor raced to the writing desk at the back wall to do just that.
Tolek exhaled, sinking back in his chair. “Did Valyrie return when I was gone?”
“Valyrie was here?” I asked, exchanging a glance with Malakai.
They recounted the Starsearcher Angel’s initial visit. Her plea for action.
“If Valyrie is trustworthy, then Xenique must be, too,” I muttered.
Meridat asked, “How are you certain?”
“Something Damien said. The Angels all have protection over their capital. One can’t enter without the blessing of the Prime. If Valyrie was able to visit you here…”
“Then at least two Angels are secretly workingagainstEchnid’s wishes,” Meridat finished, beaming at the confirmation of her own Angel’s loyalties.
It made sense if Valyrie and Xenique were partnered against the Warrior God. Their clans both had ties to their own deities. If Echnid succeeded in his plan to dismiss the gods, they would suffer.
“The question is,” I began, “which others can we trust?”
“And what are their true motives?” Tolek added.
