Sera's POV
I run.
My bare feet slap against cold marble as I race through the temple hallways. Behind me, I hear Caelan roar in pain the god-mark punishing him for letting me go.
I should feel guilty. Instead, I feel alive.
The barrier is crumbling. The gods want me dead tonight instead of in three days. But I'm not going to make it easy for them.
I burst through a side door into the temple gardens. The night air hits my face, sweet with the smell of roses. I need to find Lyris, get the supplies she prepared, and run for the Veilwilds before
Strong hands grab me from behind.
I scream and fight, but whoever has me is too strong. They spin me around and clamp a hand over my mouth.
It's Lyris.
Quiet! she hisses. Do you want the whole temple to hear you?
I stop struggling. She removes her hand.
How did you know I'd be here? I gasp.
I saw it. The barrier failing early, the gods demanding your death tonight, Caelan fighting the compulsion. Lyris pulls me deeper into the garden shadows. I've been waiting for you.
We need to go. Now. Before
Before I catch you again?
We both freeze.
Caelan steps out from behind a statue. His god-marks are blazing so bright they light up the garden like blue fire. Blood drips from his nose a sign he's been fighting the divine compulsion hard enough to hurt himself.
Please, Lyris whispers. Let her go.
I can't. Caelan's voice is anguished. Every second I resist, the pain gets worse. Eventually, I'll break. And when I do, I'll drag her to the Spire whether she's willing or not.
Then knock yourself out! I say desperately. Hit your head on something! You can't bring me anywhere if you're unconscious!
The god-mark will just heal me and wake me up. Caelan takes a step closer. I can see him shaking with effort. There's only one way to stop this.
He reaches up and tears open his shirt.
The god-mark on his chest is bigger than the ones on his arms a complex pattern of glowing lines right over his heart. It's beautiful and horrible at the same time.
What are you doing? I ask.
Cutting it out. Caelan pulls a knife from his belt. If I remove the mark, the gods can't control me anymore.
That will kill you! Lyris shouts.
Maybe. Maybe not. Caelan positions the blade against his chest. But dying free is better than living as a slave.
He's actually going to do it. I can see it in his eyes he'd rather die than be the weapon that kills me.
Wait! I lunge forward and grab his wrist. Don't. There has to be another way.
The moment my hand touches his skin, something impossible happens.
The god-mark flickers.
All three of us stare at it. The bright blue glow dims, then brightens, then dims again like a candle in the wind.
What's happening? Caelan breathes.
I don't know. But I can feel something strange flowing between us where our skin touches. Like electricity, but softer. Warmer.
Take your hand away, Lyris says urgently. Let me see something.
I pull back. Immediately, Caelan gasps in pain and falls to his knees. The god-mark blazes bright again, burning him.
Put your hand back! Lyris orders.
I grab Caelan's wrist again. The mark dims. The pain leaves his face.
Impossible, Lyris whispers. Sera, you're nullifying divine power.
I'm what?
The god-mark is divine magic. When you touch him, you're somehow cancelling it out. Lyris's eyes are wide with wonder and fear. You really are powerless in a way that makes you immune to the gods themselves.
Caelan looks up at me, and there's something in his expression that makes my heart race. Hope. Wonder. And something else I can't name.
If you stay close to me, he says slowly, I can resist the compulsion. Your touch weakens the mark's control.
Then I'll stay close. The words come out before I can think about what I'm offering.
Sera, we need to run, Lyris interrupts. Even with you weakening the mark, it's only a matter of time before
Bells start ringing throughout the temple. Loud, urgent, terrifying.
They know you're gone, Caelan says, standing up. My hand is still on his wrist, and I don't let go. Mother Callista must have checked your room.
Shouts echo from inside the temple. Footsteps running. Guards mobilizing.
The eastern gate, Lyris says quickly. I have a horse waiting there. If you can get out of the city
We'll never make it on foot with guards searching everywhere, Caelan interrupts. He looks at me. Do you trust me?
It's a crazy question. This man was sent to ensure my death. This man serves the gods who want me dead. This man is my enemy in every way that matters.
But he also let me go. He was willing to cut out his own heart to save me. And right now, with my hand on his wrist and his god-mark flickering weakly, he's looking at me like I'm the most important thing in the world.
Yes, I say. I trust you.
Something fierce and bright flashes in Caelan's eyes. Then hold on tight.
He pulls me against his chest with one arm. With the other hand, he raises his fingers to his mouth and whistles sharp and loud.
A massive shadow drops from the sky.
I scream as a huge creature lands in the garden, wings spread wide. It's a gryphon half eagle, half lion, with golden feathers and deadly claws.
This is Shadow mere, Caelan says calmly, like having a monster land next to us is completely normal. She's been my companion since I was twelve.
The gryphon Shadowmere makes a sound like a purr mixed with a shriek. She nudges Caelan with her massive beak.
She can carry us both, Caelan says. And she's faster than any horse.
Guards burst into the garden, weapons drawn.
There! The Maiden is escaping!
Stop them!
Caelan lifts me onto Shadowmere's back, then jumps up behind me. His arms wrap around me, holding tight.
Lyris, go! he shouts. Get to safety!
I'll find you! Lyris yells back. The Veilwilds! Three days from now!
Shadowmere launches into the air with a powerful leap. My stomach drops as we soar upward, the temple falling away beneath us.
Arrows fly past us. One grazes Shadowmere's wing, and she screeches in anger but keeps flying.
Hold on! Caelan shouts over the wind.
I grip Shadowmere's feathers with both hands, my heart pounding so hard it might explode.
We're flying. I'm escaping. With the Crown Prince who was supposed to kill me.
Below, the entire capital city erupts in chaos. Bells ring everywhere. The crumbling barrier flickers like a dying star above us.
Where are we going? I yell.
Away from here! Caelan yells back. As far as Shadowmere can fly before
He stops mid-sentence. His whole body goes rigid behind me.
No, he gasps. No, not now
The god-mark flares bright enough to light up the sky. I can feel the heat of it against my back, burning through his torn shirt.
Caelan?
They're pulling me back! His arms tighten around me. The gods are forcing me to return to the temple! I can't fight it much longer!
Then let me go! I twist in his arms. Drop me somewhere safe and go back before they kill you!
No! The word is almost a roar. I won't give you up! Not to them! Not to anyone!
His god-mark burns brighter. Caelan screams in pain but doesn't let go of me.
Sera, he gasps against my ear. If I lose this fight if the mark takes control promise me you'll jump. Promise me you won't let me bring you back.
Are you insane? We're a hundred feet in the air!
Promise me!
Below us, something massive and terrible is rising from the temple. A figure made of golden light, so bright it hurts to look at.
A god.
Not just any god Kyros himself, the War God, manifesting in physical form.
His voice booms across the sky like thunder: RETURN MY WEAPON TO ME, PRINCE. RETURN THE MAIDEN TO HER FATE. OR I WILL DESTROY EVERYONE YOU'VE EVER LOVED.
Caelan's arms start to loosen around me.
No, he whispers. Please, no
His hands move without his permission, shoving me backward.
I'm falling.
The night sky spins above me. The ground rushes up below.
And the last thing I see before everything goes dark is Caelan's face, twisted in agony and rage, as the gods force him to watch me die.