Page 87 of Beyond Those Gilded Walls

“You and I will be having a conversation privately, Tallon—be sure of that.” Violence flashed in Kalyx’s dark eyes. “You made that foolish bargain and look what has happened because of it.”

I jumped to my feet, wrenching myself from Tallon’s embrace. “Do not blame him for that. You cannot seriously expect me to believe you could not have intervened if you wanted to. Youlefthim there to be a puppet for the crown, so you cannot blame him for what they made him do.”

The rage in Kalyx’s eyes extinguished as he turned his gaze on me. “You are right, of course. Though had Tallon simply told me what he was seeking, making that bargain could have been avoided in the first place.” He eyed us together, gaze landing on my hand wrapped around Tallon’s. “I suppose it all worked out in the end, regardless.”

I chewed on my lip, debating if it would be proper to ask about my brothers and mother, if they were in the Beyond and if they were happy, at peace.

“They are not,” Kalyx replied, looking at me. He waved a hand. “Apologies, it’s one of my powers. If someone asks about the dead, I hear it. Your family is not at peace in death, because they were not at peace in life. Though from what I am hearing from Tallon, that is a fitting punishment.”

“I—” I didn’t know what to say, how to react. Tallon’s earlier words echoed in my ears, but it was hard to dismiss the God of Death telling me my family was not at peace. “Can you help them? Please?”

His eyes turned sad. “No, my dear. They brought upon their own afterlife in the Beyond. I am the overseer, the guardian of the Beyond, not its master.”

“You are too good, my wolf,” Tallon said, pulling me into his side. “Think of those you have saved; think of the lives you have changed even in that castle.”

“They are my family,” I stressed.

“Am I not your family?” Kalyx asked. At my sharp look, he shrugged. “Perhaps I overstep, but it seems to me that I carry about as much significance to you as you carried to them. And that does not a family make.” He climbed the steps slowly until he stood in front of us on the small porch. “Death is inevitable, Odyssa. Focus your efforts on the living, not the dead. Remember them, certainly, but your life is your own now.”

“And I suppose you have ideas on how I should live it.” My voice rose. “My father, yourson, abandoned my mother when she was pregnant. Abandonedme. What right do you have to have any ideas on how I should live my life?”

“My son is dead, Odyssa. That is why he abandoned your mother and you. My son was a fool, and an arrogant one, but he would not have left you behind if he had a choice. He was thrilled when he learned your mother was pregnant. He came home to tell me, and then, well, his past caught up with him before he could reach me.” Kalyx’s eyes—my eyes—were sorrowful.

“Tell me about him,” I demanded. Of all the things I’d considered when thinking of my father, that he’dwantedme had never been one of them.

“In due time,” he said with a bow. “Perhaps once we are in the Beyond.” He smiled then, looking eerily like Tallon when he had an idea that he was pleased to be sharing. “And of course I have ideas on what I’d like you to do. I want you to come home. You are not the only one who has been searching for a family. I have made do with my heralds, with Tallon here especially, but they are not my blood. I’d like to pass on what I can, to help you learn your powers and grow into your magic.” He stretched his hand out to me. “If you’d allow it, of course.”

My head snapped up to look at Tallon, searching for his opinion. He shrugged, an easy smile on his face. “I was going to call in my favor to have you to come with me to the Beyond, regardless. It is your decision, but know that I do want you there with me.” Kalyx cleared his throat. Tallon rolled his eyes and added, “With us.”

“Now what will your favor be?” I asked. It should have been a sign, how easily he could redirect me from my confliction about my brothers and mother, how easy it was to forget them when I was with him.

“Perhaps I shall save it for another time.”

“Please save the flirting for later. She is my granddaughter, Tallon,” Kalyx sniped, his lip curled back in feigned disgust. It fell back into that warm smile. “So, will you join us in the Beyond, Odyssa?”

“I will stay with Tallon?”

“Of course.”

“What will be expected of me?”

“Absolutely nothing you do not desire for yourself. You are not a prisoner, nor under my employ. You are my heir, and you will have free rein over the Beyond and those in it.”

I turned to Tallon once more. “Sylviana will be there?”

“This is where she has been?”Kalyx spluttered. He narrowed his eyes. “Damned creature.”

Tallon smiled widely. “Yes, she will be there. And don’t mind him, he is just upset she favors you now. She is Kalyx’s favorite.”

I only hesitated for a moment. After all, I did want to learn about the magic I now wielded, and I was not ready to leave Tallon’s side. Not now, when we were just discovering ourselves together. And there was nothing left for me in Veressia now. Nothing I could not live without, at least. “I will join you, then.”

Kalyx clapped. “Wonderful. Shall we be off now then?”

“The castle,” I remembered. “Once everyone is out, can you seal it permanently? They have instructions to throw the keys in the river, but I would feel far more comfortable if it was sealed with magic so that no brave fool could break in with brute force later.”

“Of course,” he said easily. “Now that the bastard prince is dead, he has no hold over the magic there. I can do whatever you’d like with it.”

I wanted desperately to ask about the magic in the castle, if it was a bargain Eadric had with Cethin after all, but it didn’t matter anymore. If it was gone, and Kalyx could seal it off from anyone ever entering again, that was enough. “Do it.”

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