It seemed unlikely, but I forced myself to continue the climb. Enyo and Phonos had welcomed me here. I couldn’t afford to spurn their hospitality.
Two female Keres greeted us on a wide landing at the very top, their pale skin and dark wings identical to Phonos’s. The taller of the two wore dark leather armor, adorned with the same metallic clasps Phonos favored. The shorter one leaned on her sister’s well-muscled shoulder, eyeing me with keen, intelligent eyes.
“Callista, meet my sisters.” Phonos stopped beside me on the landing, his wing brushing lightly against my back. “Alecto, our protector. And Megaera, who sees everything worth knowing.”
I bowed, a clumsy curtsy that couldn’t compare to a Keres’s grace. “It’s a pleasure. I’m Callista.”
“There’s no need for bowing here, bride of Agrion.” Alecto shook her head, as if amused by my attempt at formality. “We know you’ve had your fair share of trials in the Korinos Wilds. But now, you’re safe. Among friends.”
Safe. I supposed I was. But it didn’t feel like it. The memory of the monster in the Kratos Circle still haunted me. He’d called out to me with such grief. Why?
Megaera elbowed her sister in the stomach. “You’re already overwhelming her, Alecto. Why don’t we take things easy? Tell us about yourself. What craft did you practice in your village?”
Her question snapped me out of my trance. No one had asked me about my previous life since arriving in Asphodelia. It should have hurt, a reminder of what I’d had and what had nearly killed me. Instead, my fingers twitched with muscle memory of shuttle and loom, of creating patterns from raw thread. “I was a weaver. I worked with wool, made clothing and blankets.”
My work was the one thing I’d been truly proud of before shame had consumed everything else. The skill that had kept me alive when I’d had nothing. Something these strange beings would most likely never understand.
Once again, the Keres surprised me. “Creating beauty from raw materials,” Alecto said. “A worthy skill.”
Her validation shouldn’t have mattered, but warmth bloomed in my chest. By the end, my weaving had become tainted by my curse. But here, that no longer mattered. Here, what came from my hands could be beautiful. Could Enyo really be right? Could I have a home in the Spire?
“Thank you. I can’t say my work was particularly beautiful, but I enjoyed it.”
We traveled through the hallway into a vast circular chamber. Carved reliefs depicted Keres in flight, hunting through shadowed landscapes. Nesting alcoves punctuated the walls at various heights, some perched so high only flight could reach them.
This wasn’t a place designed for humans. Every element catered to winged beings who didn’t have to worry about trivial thingslike walking. How would I navigate this space? Where would I sleep? Then again, there was a staircase, which the Keres obviously didn’t need. Had they been prepared for a human’s arrival this whole time? The questions multiplied, anxiety building with each one.
“This is where we gather.” Phonos guided me toward cushioned seating arranged near the center of the chamber. “Our family space.”
The implication couldn’t be clearer. I was meant to join this strange unit, become part of their circle. They truly wanted me here, truly believed I could be part of their world.
“Perhaps you can weave for us, Callista,” Enyo suggested. “A tapestry for our family, now that it is complete.”
I jolted, trying very hard not to gape at her. She was so excited about my presence, and so were her daughters. I wanted nothing more than to promise them I’d be one of them, like they hoped. But I couldn’t force myself to express enthusiasm I didn’t feel.
“Maybe it’s a little too soon to talk about that,” Megaera said, obviously noticing my unease. “For now, just take your time to get accustomed to the Spire.”
Enyo accepted Megaera’s wisdom with remarkable ease. “Excellent idea, daughter. Phonos, you’ll make sure she’s comfortable, won’t you? Your sisters and I will start working on the preparations for the ceremony.”
As the Keres matriarch guided her daughters out of the family chamber, Phonos and I were left alone. Not for the first time, I wondered what I was even doing here. Did I really belong among the Keres, or were we all fooling ourselves?
For the longest time, Phonos and I just stared at each other, him not even blinking, me still confused. The awkward silence stretched between us, thicker than Elena’s best wool.
“You hate it here,” Phonos murmured at last.
It wasn’t a question. Maybe that was why I needed to answer. “I don’t. You’ve all been very patient and kind. I just...”
I trailed off, and Phonos nodded, as if he understood everything I didn’t dare to say. He extended his hand, not seeming put off by my confession. “I might be able to help with that. Have you seen the city from above?”
His invitation offered an escape from the overwhelming sense of enclosure in the Spire. I bit my lower lip, considering the offer. “I haven’t. Only what I saw from the barge.”
“I mean no offense to Charon, but his barges can’t give you what true flight can,” Phonos said with a low chuckle. “The perspective might help you understand us.”
Wind pulled at my clothing and hair as we stepped back onto the platform, into the open air. Phonos spread his wings to their full impressive span. If he felt any lingering discomfort over hispast injury, he didn’t show it. “You won’t regret this, Callista. I promise.”
He pulled me into his arms, drawing me against the solid warmth of his chest. “I won’t let you fall. Trust me.”
Such a simple word, yet it felt impossibly heavy. I nodded anyway and leaned against him. “I’m ready.”
