Page 104 of Flame and Fury

“By your own decree. You stole their education and then chastised them for their ignorance. You are the real fraud here. You play at being a human blessed with the power to rule the clerics, but you've been manipulating the world this whole time.”

A flash of worry flickers in Nathaniel's eyes. It’s quickly followed by that sheen of otherworldliness that first alerted me to something being very different with this man.

"Because you're not a man, are you, Dolos?" I don’t give him time to react. Greer tosses me the knife that Aphrodite stabbed through my heart, and I snatch it from the air. Ignoring the pain of my wounds, I run for Nathaniel. I bring the blade down, severing the pinkie of Nathaniel's right hand. He stumbles back with a hiss. Panic is clear in his eyes as he searches the ground for his ring, still attached to his finger.

It's too late, though. The man in his early sixties, with graying hair, brushed back in a poof, and black beady eyes, has disappeared. In his place is the god of discord. He’s still clad in Nathaniel’s bespoke suit, only now it’s too large. He’s shrunk at least three inches and fifty pounds.

In his place is Dolos, the god of trickery. He’s lean and scrappy and his hair is a pale blonde so light I’d say it was dyed if he weren’t a god. One thing that hasn’t changed, his black eyes. They’re not as beady as Nathaniel’s, but that malicious glint I always saw in the High Priest’s stare is present now. I guess that was a part of himself he could never fully hide.

The crowd is going wild, screaming, and shoving against guards who have lined up to form a human barricade. Blood runs down the marble steps, as clerics and guards are cut down, along with some of the Underground.

We don’t have time to draw this out. I need to take care of Nathaniel–it’s hard to think of him as anyone else–before he escapes.

“Your reign is over Dolos.” Atlas stands beside me. He’s never looked more like a warrior than he does now, with his sword in his hand.

Members of the Underground surround Nathaniel. One by one, they shuck their masks, revealing their faces to the world. Even Savanah is there. She and I might not be best friends but the smirk she throws my way is basically a high five from her.

I take in the faces of the other fighters, seeing pride and awe. The kind of fierceness that gave them the courage to stand up and fight. This territory may have a long way to go, but tonight we struck the first blow. A massive one that will change everything for the people of this region.

“You will be imprisoned somewhere you can never escape. You’re done. Your clerics will be eradicated. We’ll wipe all traces of your cruel handiwork off the face of the planet. It’ll be as though you never existed.” Atlas slowly delivers his speech, looking down his nose at the god.

Dolos sneers, opening his mouth to reply, but I’m done with him. With this night, and the games. I’m over all of it. I cock my arm back and then slam my fist into his face. The god cries out in surprise, falling against the waiting Underground fighters.

“Fuck you, Nathaniel.” I shake out my hand. That felt really good.

“Take him to Kat. She’ll have somewhere to keep him,” Atlas commands, and the others drag the god’s limp body away. There’s a waver in the air and Bart, the fucking transporter, pops up out of nowhere. He grabs hold of Dolos and they disappear.

“What the hell,” I shout, my wings stretching and my Fury raging. Atlas curses next to me, then squats down to pick something up. It’s Nathaniel’s finger. He holds it out to me.

“I’m good, thanks.” I shake my head. Atlas gives me a disgruntled look and slides off the ring that’s still on the severed finger. He tosses the digit over his shoulder and holds out the ring.

“He’s lost his ring. We’ll blast Dolos’s picture all over the media. He will never be able to show his face without dozens of people wanting to kill him. He’ll fade into obscurity and be powerless.”

My Fury calms as I take the ring and stuff it in my pocket. Atlas is placating me. We can’t know for sure what will happen. Nathaniel could find another ring, disguise himself once again, and work his treachery from behind a new face.

The screams of the crowd drag my attention away from Dolos. For now, he’s been dealt with. For now, his power is gone. That alone is something to celebrate.

Now that I've put four gods to sleep, the guards have started disappearing into the crowd. The clerics are still fighting, although I spot more than a few ripping off their robes and attempting to sneak away. The crowd isn’t letting them, though.

“I say we let them fight it out.” Ares comes to a stop beside Greer, resting his arm on her shoulder. She pushes it off like he’s a piece of lint.

“Of course, you would. Don’t think you’re out of the woods yet. Wren can still put you to bed like a naughty toddler.”

“Oh, I bet you just love the naughty ones, don’t you?”

“What is happening right now?” I squeeze my eyes shut. I want to pinch my brow, but I can’t lift my arm. That’s how wiped out I am.

“I think they’re flirting,” Atlas murmurs.

“No fucking way,” Greer shouts at the same time Ares chuckles and says, “Fuck yeah.”

Atlas shakes his head, gently pulling my battered body into his arms. He drops his forehead to mine and exhales like he’s been holding his breath for the last hour.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

I hook my fingers in the waist of his pants. That’s all I can manage. “Chop off fingers?” My joke is weak, but my heart is just as battered as the rest of me.

Atlas grabs hold of the back of my head, tipping it back. His lips ghost over mine, his eyes bright with emotion. “Leave me. I love you too damn much.”

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