“The king can’t have attacked already…how could he have found us? I thought my aunt said that he couldn’t find us here because of the protections on the city.” I speak my thoughts out loud, even when I’m already planning on how to save the city first and foremost from the king. He cannot destroy this place…it is the only good thing left in this world for Nexus and Vian, and I have to defend it with everything I have. My Nexus sends her agreement into my mind, telling me we will save this city. She wants that too. Nibbles whines as she follows us, and Finn takes her and puts her in one of the bedrooms for safety before we head to the stairs, choosing not to take the lift, just in case.
Finnegan stops me by the bottom step, pushing me into the wall and covering my body with his. All of his muscular, strong body dominates mine as he cups my neck and pulls my lips to his, his tongue slipping into my mouth, and he devours me with that kiss. Push and pull, Finn and I have always been like this, and I never will get bored with my insane mate. Slowly he pulls back, locking his brilliant blue eyes with mine. “If he is here, we end this together. We fight as one, the way it was always meant to be, Sun.”
“As one.” I breathe out my agreement, even if, in my bones, I don’t know it is something I can promise him. This war seems to be pulling us apart more often, but I want to fight with them. I never want to fight alone. I am better with my mates, stronger as a team, just like we were fated to be. I don’t believe for a second the Gods fated us, that they chose to bring us together to be one, because if they did, like everyone says so, they made a mistake. They made us stronger than any God could be when we are together. They are the men I love, men I would die for, and they are my family.
The door to the stairs opens, and Alek bursts through. “Gwen…it’s for you. It seems like the Gods are not quite ready to let you go and have set up a portal. They killed a settlement of humans by the fountain to open it. We can leave the city if you don’t want to go there.”
Rhodes comes through the door next, clearly overhearing some of what Alek said. “I have a plane ready. Have done since you got back here.”
“It’s not the king, it’s the Gods? It must be another test. I knew they weren’t done with me.” I gnaw on my inner cheek. I could run, like I’ve done my entire life and just hope I manage to get away. Would it fix anything? No. Would it make everything a little easier in the short term? Yes. But I can’t do that. My Nexus waits for my decision, but I can feel her frustration with the Gods. I’m not sure what I can do against them…but the end of the trials would mean something. People died today because the Gods couldn’t be bothered to open a portal safely. Who knows what they would do if I run away? Who they might kill?
I kiss Finn once more. Just enough of a kiss to give me some strength. “I have to face them or they will never stop fucking with me. It won’t matter if we kill the king if the Gods still interfere with our lives and mess with us. I want freedom for us all, a future where there might be enough normality that I can sleep again without nightmares. I will fight for that future with you, with all of you, and I know it means I need to do this.”
“I’m proud of you. You never give up, Gwen.” Alek takes my hand. “But you will never be alone.”
“Never,” Rhodes agrees firmly. “And that future? We will fight to the bloody end for that dream. It is a dream, Gwen. It’s a fucking brilliant one.”
“For once, I agree with the traitor.” Finn touches my cheek. “We follow you to the stars where we once came from.”
I kiss him one more time before making myself leave the comfort of his touch and walk out to the reception area with them all. I am not alone. I will not be trapped and used ever again. My Nexus is watching from my one eye as we walk through the busy reception, healers rushing to help the injured. Onyx joins us outside, Hollis following not long after as Alek leads the way to the portal a few streets over. Severi is already there by the time we come up to a portal of glistening gold, and a pool of blood, bodies and tents underneath where it opened.
I try to push down the sickness in my throat at the sight of the dead and look through the portal to the other side, showing the amphitheatre in Starlight City—what’s left of the city. The woven grey city of ash and dust is so still on the other side of that portal. Guards stand in a line in front of the portal, and they drop to their knees when we approach, one by one, their eyes glowing gold. My mates move closer to me, and I’m not surprised when I hear a God’s voice in my head, loud and clear, each word like a drumbeat. “Come to your home, your beginning and end, Goddess. Finish what was started here and reap your reward. You may only come alone…any other soul will be taken by us.”
“Fuck no,” Severi snarls the moment the God is done. Hollis and Rhodes immediately move in front of me, and Alek and Onyx take my sides.
Finn is the only one left standing at my side, and I look up at them all. “You’ve got to let me go, and trust me that I’ll come back to you this time. You won’t need to find me…the biggest threat to me is dead. I cannot be controlled anymore.”
Finn’s hand tightens in mine. He pulls me to him, kissing me deeply, softly, passionately, all in one go. Like he needs this kiss one more time. He needs this moment. Gods, I need it too. When he does break away, his eyes say everything that he doesn’t say out loud before he steps back. “Don’t fucking die in there.”
I turn from him and walk up to the twins. “Tell Franklin I want my dog back. I won’t be long.”
“You’ve got to learn to share,” Hollis murmurs, kissing my forehead. The joke isn’t enough to ease the tension in his body, but he steps aside.
“Be careful.” Rhodes looks like he wants to stop me, but he steps aside too, showing me that he trusts me.
Onyx comes over, tucks my hair behind my ear, and kisses my forehead. Silent. Alek pulls me into a tight hold. “You always come back to us. Through death, through everything. You come back now. I don’t like you going in there alone. We just got you back.”
“I have a plan,” I murmur in his ear. “Might cause a little trouble…but I will be back.”
“When did you make that plan?” He tightens his grip on me.
I wink and step back, walking around them and to Severi, standing in front of the portal with his arms crossed. “Don’t ask me to be the good guys like them”—he nods at my other mates—“and let you go. Fuck no.”
“Severi…I don’t love you because you’re the good guy.” I walk right up to him. I know he won’t let me go through that portal, and I only slightly regret my next choice. I punch him in the neck, and he gasps, falling back a few steps. I run right for the portal, right around the guards, and jump through before Severi can stop me. It disappears behind me, all the shimmering light from it fading until I’m alone in the dead Starlight City. The city I destroyed first…even when all I wanted to do was run away here to protect the city. My connection to my mates feels far away now as I stand in the grey city. It’s empty in the amphitheatre—so silent. Nothing but grey dust littering the seats, golden sand sparkling under my boots, and the sun peeking through thick dark clouds that look seconds away from unleashing a storm on me. It smells like dust, too. “Are you with me and the plan?”
“Always.” My Nexus floats around in my mind, promising me peace. I haven’t tried shifting since Georgina. I haven’t pushed her, but I know something has changed. We are at our full strength and we won’t be stopped. I walk forward until I get to the middle and look up at the empty skies.
“Sister killer.”The voice echoes in the air. The same one that spoke in my head.
“Which God are you, then? Which one of the five?” I demand. “I want to know who I’m speaking to. Are you the twin wolves? The mortal God? The bear or snake? Tell me.”
“Guess.” It hisses, giving me a vital clue as to which one it is.
“What do you want, Snake God?” I demand.
Two chairs appear before me. Not chairs—thrones. One glows faintly white, and on it rests a red dagger, a mimic of my Nex dagger. The other is black, and on it sits a crown ringed with black spiked jewels all the way around, blood dripping off the spikes. “Snakes weave paths, we weave time and energy, and we will show you two paths today. There are two futures for you, and only you can decide which path is yours to take. We will judge your answer and decide your fate. We are Gods.”
The white chair glows once. “Death.”