“Trust me on this,” I said, backing away.
Death hesitated, his power still swirling dangerously around his fingertips. The orb of darkness pulsed above his palm, hungry for contact with the loom. I gripped his arm, my fingers digging in with urgency.
“Now,” I hissed, my voice barely audible.
Something in my tone must have convinced him because his darkness receded, the orb dissolving into wisps that faded against the void. He followed my lead, stepping backward even as confusion darkened his features.
The Fates’ laughter followed us, three-toned and mocking, as we retreated.
“Running away, Keeper? How unlike you. We expected more persistence.”
“Consider this a lesson learned,” I growled back.
They became less substantial as we moved away, melting back into the void until only their voices remained, echoing around us like poisoned honey. “Remember, Keeper, some fates cannot be changed. Some threads cannot be snipped. The Huntress will fulfill her destiny, whether you wish it or not.”
I didn’t respond, focusing instead on finding the tear we’d come through, dragging Death alongside me with determined strides. The moment we crossed back into Etherium, I sealed the tear behind us with a violent slash of power, severing our connection to the Fates’ realm with finality.
Death wrenched his arm from my grip, his eyes flashing with frustration. “What the hell was that? We had them cornered. They were afraid. We could have forced their hand!”
I shook my head, already striding through the golden streets of Etherium, my mind racing. “No, we couldn’t have. Not like that.”
“Explain,” he demanded, keeping pace beside me. “You dragged me into this, threatened them with my power, and then ran at the first sign they might be yielding? I thought we were there to help Paesha.”
“We were. We are. But I just realized we’re playing a much more dangerous game than I thought.”
Death’s brow furrowed, patience wearing thin. “That tells me nothing. If you want my help?—”
“They wanted us there,” I cut him off, my voice harsh with the revelation. “The Fates. They orchestrated the entire exchange, probably expected it from the moment I stormed out last time. Think about it. They could have refused us outright, banished us the moment we arrived. Instead, they let us make our threats, let us think we were gaining ground.”
Understanding began to dawn in Death’s dark eyes. “A trap?”
“Or a distraction,” I said, leading him through the twisted architecture of Etherium toward a destination I hadn’tplanned to reveal. “Either way, we weren’t going to win that confrontation. Not today.”
We passed crumbling structures, buildings that defied logic with their impossible angles and spiraling forms that folded in upon themselves. Another crystal anchor shattered somewhere in the distance, the sound reverberating through the dying realm.
“Where are we going?” Death asked, his gaze taking in the decay of Etherium with wild fascination.
I didn’t answer immediately, focused on our path through the fading twilight. Finally, we arrived at a massive archway of black and gold, intricate runes carved into its surface. The runes barely glowed now, where once they had blazed with raw energy.
“The Noctus Gate,” I said, gesturing to the towering structure.
He stared up at it, understanding the significance without explanation. “The source of your power.”
“The source ofallpower,” I corrected, reaching out to touch the cold surface of the gate. “The flow of raw energy that powers the gods—fuels creation and destruction alike.”
Death moved closer, studying the elaborate lock mechanism at the center of the gate. “And the key?”
“Taken by the Fates. Lifetimes ago, there was an incident that bound them to their loom. It was meant to control them, to keep them from abusing their position.” I swallowed, the lie feeling like ash on my tongue. “But we were wrong to do that. We should have shown more respect.”
Death’s eyes narrowed. “It created the imbalance of power?”
“No. I did that. By chasing my Ever through lifetimes.” Another lie.
“Now there’s no way to right it,” Death finished. “That’s why you’re backing down. Why you’ll respect their decision.”
I met his gaze steadily, hoping my eyes didn’t betray the truth beneath the fabrication. “For now.”
He wasn’t entirely convinced, I could see it in the slight tension of his shoulders, but he nodded slowly. “And Paesha? What of her suffering?”
