By the time her pieces hit the ground, she’s fully stone and already ashing.
Erebus laughs and laughs and laughs. “Her death came too late. She died, and you’re cursed anyway.”
The other Astra focus on the jubilant god, raising their weapons. But as they rush for him, the phantoms come alive, swarming the entire group of warlords. Their weapons fail, swords break and daggers shatter before contact. The men trip over their own feet, barely able to remain upright. Solar is swarmed.
A blood-coated Roc rushes toward his Commander. As soon as Solar notices his approach, he jumps up, swinging a sword.
Roc dodges and unsheathes a sword of his own. Metal clangs against metal as he meets Solar’s next strike. There’s a wild, grief-stricken glaze in the male’s eyes.
“You killed her,” Solar snarls. “You killed my Allanah.”
“I thought to spare you from... I hoped to spare us all. I...”
Solar launches a second attack. Roc blocks and returns a blow. They are predators, and they make no mistakes between them. Unlike the others, they encounter no problems with faulty weapons, every strike true. They fight with sublime skill, exuding a rare mastery of their bodies, each able to predict his opponent’s every move and adjust his stance accordingly.
Two bears locked in a cage, neither willing to retreat.
“I don’t wish to kill you, Solar.”
“If you hope to survive this day, you’ll have to.”
“I did what I thought was right!”
“Because you saw no other way. But I did! Why didn’t you trust me?”
They scream the accusations at each other, Solar’s combat growing more vicious. They move so quickly, wounds seem to appear out of nowhere. A gash here. Swelling or a bruise there. Neither male heals. Because of the curse?
Roc releases his weapons long enough to slash with his claws, then crouches to catch the daggers before they ever hit the ground. He stabs his friend, his Commander, in both of his thighs.
Solar stumbles, and Roc presses his advantage, moving behind him and placing a dagger at the hollow of his throat.
Erebus claps, as if he’s witnessing a sporting event, his team winning. His phantoms rip through the Astra with ease.
The man in the black robe displays no emotion. The women at his sides sob.
Between harsh pants, Roc pleads, “Don’t make me do this, Commander. You won’t recover.”
“I’m no longer your Commander, and I’m no longer your brother.” Solar laughs, crazed, blood staining his teeth. He continues to hold the sword, the tip resting in the ground. “The curse is indeed upon us. Can you feel it? I’ve lost my love, and with my death, so will you. You, the challenge winner, will take my place as leader. You’ll become the one to wed and slay the virgin bride. One day, you’ll find your gravita. If you don’t kill her, Erebus or your men will do it for you, and my pain will become yours. Enjoy it with my compliments, Roc.”
With that, Solar swings his sword, the tip arching up. His head flies off his neck, his body turning to stone as it topples.
As Roc falters with shock, blood pours and spurts from severed arteries. Half his hand is missing.
Taliyah was panting as the real world replaced the memory. A flush seared her cheeks and hot tears slicked down her cheeks.
Roc peered at her, the torment in his eyes tangled with a toxic mix of grief, guilt, sorrow and regret. Because he’d killed his Commander’s wife. Because he’d killed his leader. Because Solar’s prediction had come true.
No wonder he’d refused to sympathize with any of his brides. Deep down, he’d feared this very thing. Of living Solar’s nightmare.
“Now you know my shame,” he said, his tone flat.
“Yes.” He’d gone to great lengths to avoid the curse, and he’d still failed. He would always go to great lengths. That he’d pleaded with Chaos to be with Taliyah, well, it meant tons. But in the end, he would take her life if necessary. “Now I know.”
33
Just love her.
His sister’s parting words played on repeat within Roc’s head, causing an excruciating tightness in his broken chest. Far worse than ever before. He felt as if someone had wrapped barbed wire around his heart and now squeezed the life from him one drop of blood at a time.
He did love Taliyah. He knew that now, the truth as bright as she was, chasing darkness from the deepest corners of his mind. She’d become a part of him. The most important part. To have her in his arms every night...to awaken with her every morning...to witness her battles and protect her when she required it...to spar with her, talk with her, tease her...to anticipate what she would say or do and always end up surprised...
He would do anything.
From the beginning, she’d given him her best. He’d only shown her his worst. That needed to change.
Perched on his lap, she said, “Tell me everything about the blessing, and I mean everything. Leave out no detail, even those you consider dangerous for a bride—”
“Wife,” he corrected.
“—to know.”
Very well. He would do anything she asked. He explained how everything worked. How Halo would begin his task upon the completion of Roc’s, then Silver after him. The order depended on the rank.
“So nine tasks in total. Nine chances for Erebus to initiate the curse.”
He toyed with the ends of her hair. “He strikes at us in varying ways. Sometimes to cause failure. Sometimes simply to torment. If one of us fails, all other tasks are moot, and his fun is over, which is why he mostly toys with us and strikes at Ian the hardest.”
“Why do people stand around watching the sacrifice?”
“They serve as witnesses. On the thirtieth day of our marriage, the trinite wall comes down early in the morning. Soon after, Chaos arrives.” Must save my sisters from the god.
“Chaos,” Taliyah muttered. “Of course.”
“Erebus attends, as well. He brings his army, but no one is allowed to act against us once the ceremony starts. Anyone who attacks the participants dies before a blow ever lands. When the ceremony is complete, a battle always breaks out.”
“But I saw you and your men fighting during the ceremony, when the bride still lived.”
“We are participants. We can fight whenever we want.”
Pensive, she tapped her bottom lip. “What kind of sword killed Solar?”
“Firstone.”
“Like the stones the phantoms brought here?”
He nodded. “Firstone swords kill other gods as well as mere immortals. Most beings are vulnerable to firstone. After Solar’s death, we labored to eliminate any trace of it. We thought we’d succeeded.”