“Phonos...” I whispered, not even sure what I meant to say.
He seemed to understand anyway. His free hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing across my skin with reverent gentleness. “Callista.”
The space between us seemed to shrink without either of us moving. My gaze dropped to his lips, full and inviting, and for a moment I wanted nothing more than to close that final distance.
But the moment his head began to lower toward mine, panic flared in my chest. The wrongness, the emptiness, the sense that this wasn’t quite right despite how much I wanted it to be. I turned my face away, breathing hard.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, shame burning my cheeks. “I can’t... not yet.”
His hand fell away from my face immediately, but his other arm remained steady around my waist, keeping me secure in his embrace. “It’s all right.” His voice held no anger, nodisappointment, only gentle understanding. “We have all the time in the world.”
I risked a glance at his face, expecting to see frustration or wounded pride. Instead, I found only patience and something that might have been affection.
“I know you’re still adjusting to all of this.” He brushed a strand of hair back from my face with careful fingers. “There’s no need to rush the ceremonies or the claiming. Take whatever time you need to feel at home with my family, with me.”
The tight knot in my chest loosened at his words. “You mean that?”
“I mean it.” His smile was soft, genuine. “You’re worth waiting for, Callista. However long it takes.”
As we hovered there above the dark water, I felt something shift between us. Understanding. Possibility. The beginning of trust.
“Thank you,” I whispered, meaning it more than he could possibly know.
“Always,” he replied, and in that moment, I believed him.
But my heart kept reaching for answers I couldn’t find. That desperate beast who’d fought for me in the circle… His pain had felt more real than anything else in those confused moments. Something essential remained missing, something neither flight nor kindness could restore.
Why did everything beautiful still feel so wrong?
Chapter 8
Sacrifice
Theron
Oneweeklater
The Erebus Cells reeked of despair and broken promises.
For most citizens of Asphodelia, the detention chambers were an alien concept. The Moirae were kind rulers, and rarely did they consider someone dangerous enough to imprison. I’d never thought I’d become an exception.
And yet, here I was, surrounded by black volcanic rock, deep underneath Asphodelia’s foundations. Death crystals cast sickly light across my fur, and the familiar energy source that should have brought me comfort felt wrong and weak.
My chains clinked as I shifted position. Each rune etched into the metal links suppressed the power that lived in my weave-line. The incomplete soul bond throbbed in my chest, raw andunfinished. Callista’s absence burned through me, far worse than the bindings on my limbs.
She belonged to Phonos now. Asphodelia had betrayed me.
Footsteps approached from the corridor, the rhythm of changing guards disturbed by an unusual pattern. “Weaveguard consultation for the prisoner,” an unfamiliar voice called out.
Loxias appeared outside my cell, flanked by three grim-faced prison guards. He took one look at me and froze. “Leave us. This requires privacy.”
The guards hesitated, but only for a few moments. Even down here, the authority of the Weaveguard was absolute. They bowed and turned away, leaving me alone with my littermate. Their footsteps faded until only water drops punctuated the silence.
“The Moirae have yet to declare your sentence, but I’ve argued for leniency,” Loxias said finally. “Your loss of temper is understandable, considering the situation. But you did question their decision, and the usual punishment for that is…”
He trailed off, but I didn’t need him to finish the phrase. “Eternal imprisonment, or exile from Asphodelia. Yes, Loxias, I know. Why are you telling me this? Why are you even here?”
“I just want to understand, Theron. What happened at the Kratos Circle?” He leaned against the bars, silver eyes searching my face. “She chose you at the market. Everyone saw that. But after the duel…”
