Page 6 of In The Shadows

“Well, it looks like Thalos has chosen his new divinus line,” I say, looking at her in pure wonder.

My Amari is a divinus. How could this be? Could the god of shadow and light have finally picked someone who’s good, kind, and worthy?

The gods are free to choose a family line to receive their blessing at any time. From the beginning, the divinus have become the royals of each kingdom and ruled over the people with their power. The current divinus line of Umbra consists of only King Oren Griffin. He is a power-hungry, bloodthirsty man out to destroy anyone who crosses his path—no different than all the Umbra kings before him. But it seems that he has lost Thalos’ favor because instead of waiting for him to sire an heir, Thalos bestowed the shadow powers to Lily. A simple servant’s daughter.

Lily’s nails dig into my skin. I look down to see that her eyes have filled with renewed terror.

“No. Thalos and his divinus are pure evil. They’re death and malice. I ... I can’t be one of them.” Her shaky voice pleads.

The air grows tense as the shadows deepen the dark abyss around us.

I hook a finger under Lily’s chin and force her to hold my gaze. Her eyes are wet with unshed tears. The fear of this new power seems to be overwhelming her.

“Listen to me, Lily. You may share the same god-given power as those monsters, but you’re not them. You’re sweet and caring. No matter how much darkness you carry within, you’ll never be like them. I know your soul. It’s pure and brilliant. Thalos’ gift doesn’t change that.” I stroke my thumb along her jawline, and she relaxes into my arms.

The shadows lighten as tension leaves her body. They slowly spiral through the air, dancing along Lily’s skin and fading away. I watch in amazement at the sight of the darkness receding into my beautiful, delicate flower.

With the black wall gone, we can see what happened to the nobu. Its dead body floats in the water, bobbing in the small waves. Its eyes now resemble chunks of coal, black and empty.

Lily gasps and buries her face in my chest. I pull her in close before turning us toward shore. I can’t wait to get us out of the river. She takes one step and collapses in my arms. All the color in her face is gone.

“I’m not sure I can make it back, Theo. I’m so tired.” She can barely get the words out as she clings weakly to me.

Reaching down, I lift and cradle her limp body in my arms. “Being a shadow goddess must take a lot out of you. Let me get you back to your mother. She’ll know what to do.”

Lily’s nod of agreement is almost imperceptible.

I trudge through the water and back onto shore. Before my feet even crunch on the gravel walkway back to Brightwick, Lily is asleep in my arms. I hold her tight as I climb the steep path, up the cliff, back home.

My feet pad softly on the gray stone floor of Brightwick. A chorus of voices from the throne room floats through the halls. I turn the last corner, and the door to Lily’s chambers comes into view. The faint etching along the trim sets her door apart from the others.

I place a gentle kiss on Lily’s forehead. “My flower, we’re back at your chambers. It’s time to wake up.”

She stirs in my arms, and I smile as she yawns loudly and opens her eyes. I lower her feet to the ground, keeping one arm around her waist for support.

We walk inside, and I help her sit in one of the worn chairs around a small table. I pull a blanket off the back of the chair and wrap it around her.

“Nata, is that you?” Eleanor’s soft voice calls for her daughter from their small bathing chamber. She enters the common space with the same beauty and grace as Lily. Her long, auburn hair hangs in light waves along her shoulders.

Eleanor’s smile falls when she sees Lily’s soaked and fragile state. Her face pales as she rushes toward us and bends to cup Lily’s face in her hands.

“Nata, are you ok? Tell me what happened. Now, Theo!” Her voice is harsh and demanding.

I’ve never heard her use that tone before, and it has me fumbling for words.

“There was an incident at the river,” I reply quickly.

Eleanor’s deep-green eyes flash to me. They’re the same shade as the evergreens in the forest near the mountains. They burn into me, and I swallow hard and rub my neck, trying to figure out a way to explain what happened.

“Theo and I went swimming in the river where a nobu tried to attack us. But shadows poured out of me and protected us. We think Thalos has chosen me as his new divinus,” Lily spits out the whole ordeal. She straightens in the chair, looking to her mother for answers.

Eleanor’s face drains of all its color as she rapidly shakes her head. “No,” she whispers as her hands fall from Lily’s face to rest on the chair.

Suddenly, Eleanor’s eyes widen, and her breathing quickens.

“Lily, where’s your necklace? Did you have it on during the attack?” panic laces Eleanor’s voice as she scans Lily’s body.

“No, I left it on the shore so it wouldn’t get ruined. But I don’t need it anymore. My divinus power will protect me now,” Lily replies reassuringly.

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