Page 78 of Winds of Destiny

“Fuck you.”

It’s so crass and blunt that Cam throws a hand over his mouth, stifling what’s probably a slightly hysterical laugh. I keep my focus on Embros, though, and watch as his good mood turns rotten in the blink of an eye.

“Summon him,” he says, removing the sword—still sheathed, thankfully—from his belt and pointing it at Kai. “If you do, I promise that once I gather my fleet and send out my troops all over the peninsula, Huridell will be the last city I attack. It’ll give you time to run or make a stand. Either way, it’ll be fun for me.”

Kai grins. “Weburnedyour pathetic fleet. Your troops will be going nowhere.”

Embros’s eyes narrow, no doubt assessing the truth behind Kai’s words, yet ultimately deeming them irrelevant. “Summon himnow.”

“The answer is still the same,” Kai says, then enunciates really slowly. “Fuck. You.”

In three steps, Embros is in front of Kai.Crack!The sound of his scabbard striking Kai’s shoulder hard enough to rock him fills the temple. “Do it now!”

Kai straightens and spits at Embros, hitting his leg. “No fucking way.”

Crack!Another strike, this time against his upper back. Embros’s sword is wide, a saber designed to deal death in a single blow. Even with the scabbard on, the impact must be intense.

“Turo,” Cam pleads in a whisper, looking at me with wide eyes. I know how he feels, Iknow—it’s agonizing to listen to Kai being hurt like this. My jaw is clenched so tightly it burns. All I want is to run out there and stop it, but I can’t.

“Not yet.” We need a diversion, one that doesn’t involve Embros being distracted by beating the hell out of Kai.

Not that he’s getting what he wants out of it so far.

“I will”—crack—“never call upon”—crack—“my god for you, you insane, asshole, motherfu—”

A hit across the face silences him for a moment. Embros grabs Kai by the hair and shakes him.

“Your god will come,” Embros assures him, “if it means saving you from certain death at my hands.” He unsheathes his sword and places it against Kai’s neck, pressing just hard enough to draw a thin trickle of blood. “Shall we test it?”

Save him!I shout into the void, my hand going to my sword.If you don’t save him, I will!

Kai just sneers. “Why don’t you start with my tongue instead, you snakefucker, because I will never, ever…” He stops all of a sudden, his eyes going wide, then twists and looks behind himself frantically.

Embros lifts his head to look as well and begins to laugh.

I don’t need to look to recognize the presence of Carnuatu. It’s Cam’s first time seeing him, though, and he gasps as he sees the mighty ram walk slowly toward the altar.

“Your god loves you,” Embros croons. “Better than even I expected. You truly were the right man for this job, Prince Eleas. Shevara, make sure Carnuatu doesn’t cause trouble.”

The cobra slithers toward the ram, then rises up and hisses, hood flaring. His green eyes are bright and fierce, but Carnuatu doesn’t pause or shy away, just keeps going at a steady pace until he’s in front of Kai.

“No,” Kai whispers. “Please, no. Don’t do this. Not for me.”

Carnuatu presses his muzzle against Kai’s hair.

I can’t see Kai’s expression, but I do see Embros’s. He’s holding onto his control by a thread. If he feels that the god is threatening him, he’ll kill Kai.

It doesn’t come to that. A moment later, Carnuatu moves on to the altar. The second he steps up on it, the red light flashes more strongly. Now he and Laigha are both trapped.

“There,” Embros says with satisfaction. He lets Kai go, gone from fierce intimidation to completely ignoring him in less than a second. “And now for you, Shevara.” He holds his arms out to his cobra god, and the snake comes to him, swaying seductively until he’s close enough to shade Embros with his hood.

“The last god to enter the altar will dominate over the others,” Embros says, triumph in his voice. “When you three become the chimera, it isyouwho will rule them. Don’t be afraid, my lovely.” He strokes the snake’s head. “Don’t be afraid. I will be with you.” He keeps speaking, murmuring sweet nothings and assurances to Shevara.

A little head touches my hand. I turn and look at my god, the tiny black cat who’s been with me all my life, even after I lost my memory.

“Turo,” Cam says wonderingly. “Who is this?”

“I don’t remember her name,” I say. “I wish I did.”

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