Page 68 of What Courses Through Her Blood
Nyx snatches it out of my hand. “Can you stop moving and sit down…please?” He takes a steadying breath, so I move over to the couch and take a seat. He follows and sits next to me, so close our knees touch.
“Why did you bring a stack of your father’s journals here?” I ask again.
“Lyra, I don’t know how to tell you what I found in here, because my father doesn’t just mention the prophecy about his sons light saving you or the darkness destroying us all. He goes into detail about everything.” He pauses, and I have a feeling we both need to discuss the same thing.
“Haven’t you ever wondered why the evil creatures never attack you?” he asks, catching me off guard.
“I guess I never really thought about it before,” I tell him. He runs a hand through his hair, exhaling.
“I noticed it first when the Sarrols attacked at Drew’s. None of them seemed to be trying to hurt you. Instead, they were always trying to grab you. They even successfully snatched you at one point and carried you into the air.” He looks over at the stack of journals, deep in thought. He isn’t wrong. That was when I fell into Blood Lake.
“Darkness has been spreading in Eguina long before we ever knew about the hearts in Zomea or Euric’s plans. Evil creatures have been multiplying, and attacks have been increasing. It all happened so slowly that we didn’t notice it at first.” He looks back at me, meeting my eyes. “This entire time, they have all been attracted to you. Even before your dark magic was awoken, they knew what you would become. They sensed it— drawn to your essence.”
I start to gnaw on the inside of my cheek, unsure how to tell him that none of this matters, that I already know the truth.
“Nyx.” I turn toward him, ready to explain, but he silences me again, jumping up off the couch and shuffling through the journals and loose pages.
“You don’t understand. I also have proof that I am the light. I am the one you’re meant to be with, not Colton. My father explicitly states he spoke to one of the gods in a dream, and I am the light. I am the one to save you from all of this, to make sure your darkness doesn’t destroy you...destroy us all.”
He frantically flips through the papers. I put my hand over his, stopping him.
“Nyx,” I start, but he pulls his hand away, shaking his head and interrupting meagain.
“I have it here somewhere. I brought it because I knew you would need proof. I didn’t want to come here and break up the wedding ceremony, but Lyra, damn it, I have to. You and I are meant to be, and I finally found what I needed to prove it to you. Colton will be okay. He can survive this, so don’t—”
I reach up and place my fingers to his lips, unable to hear more. I can’t let him continue this rant. “Nyx, I need to talk, and this time I need you to sit down.” He opens his mouth to protest, but I take his hands in mine, pulling him back to the couch.
“I believe everything you’re saying. I don’t need you to prove anything. I believe you, and before you say anything else, I need to tell you about the time I spent in Zomea.” That finally captures his attention, and he settles down, eyes fixed on me, ready to listen.
“I finally traveled beyond the gates, and it wasn’t what my father thought. Euric was wrong. It’s not where all the gods live, and you don’t ascend to being a god when you cross the threshold.” I shift, crossing my legs. Nyx remains still, his anticipation evident in his intense gaze. “I did see some gods there. I spent time with Ryella, the Goddess of Darkness and Shadows. I also met Riddick, the God of Decay; Misha, the Goddess of Forgotten Memories; and Delfi, the God of Nightmares, to name a few.”
I pull my bottom lip into my mouth, my chest tightening with unease over what I need to tell him. “You spoke to all of these gods? What did they say? What were they like?” Nyx asks, finally moving to face me more, propping an arm over the back of the couch.
“They were different. Some were kind, and some were not. But I learned a lot in the short time I spent with them. The most important thing I discovered is that my true destiny has always been a choice.” I take a deep breath.
“The choice to be with me or Colton,” Nyx says, his voice almost a whisper. I shake my head.
“I don’t think I ever truly understood the difference between destiny and fate before. I now know fate is something that was always meant to happen, no matter my actions, while destiny is the path I am meant to follow but can be influenced by choices along the way. Destiny can always change, shaping how you reach your fated outcome,” I explain, my voice steady. Nyx nods, urging me to continue.
“I saw a future with you, Nyx. We could rule over Egunia together, have children, and live a happy, fulfilling life. That is a choice I could make, but it wouldn’t change my fate. It would only delay it,” I tell him, my voice tinged with sorrow. Nyx sits up straighter, his eyes narrowing in concern.
“What is your fate then, if not to be with me?” he asks, his voice trembling slightly. I swallow hard, trying to rein in my emotions.
“You are right about one thing. You are the beacon of light your father spoke of, and I am the dark sorceress he predicted. But he didn’t have the whole picture. If I chose to be with you and rule over Egunia, you would help me stay true to myself. I don’t doubt that you would keep the darkness at bay. But my fate is to embrace it,” I say. Nyx stands, starting to pace in front of me, making it harder to say the next part.
“My fated mate is Colton, and my fate is to be the ruler of the underworld. I am the Dark Sovereign, the Empress of Darkness—however you want to say it, they all mean the same thing. I am the queen of Hell, and that is my fate.” Having finally spit it out, I get to my feet and standing in front of him so he sees me, hears me.
“The queen of Zomea...” he starts, but I cut him off.
“No, Zomea is a realm of second chances. It’s a realm between life and the afterlife. What lies beyondthe gates is the true underworld. What lies beyond the gates is where souls go in the end. What lies beyond the gates is hell,” I tell him, my voice steady and resolute. He freezes in place, the weight of what I’m saying sinking in.
“That’s why the darkness has been spreading? The demons multiplying but not attacking you outright?” Nyx asks, beginning to pace again, running his hands over his face.
“Yes, and the darkness would continue to spread if I stay here. The demons, the monsters, have all been after me all along—not to directly harm me but to drag me down to where I belong. Anyone getting in the way has been hurt or killed. Those deaths are all on me.” I don’t bother trying to stop his pacing. Instead, I move to the other side of him and sit on the edge of the bed.
“What about the other dark Sorcerers in history? Why you? Why is this your fate?” His voice starts to rise, frustration mounting.
“There hasn’t been a proper ruler of the underworld in a very long time. Those before me with this fate didn’t fulfill it for various reasons. I don’t have all the answers, and I won’t pretend that I do. But I know the souls are restless. Evil has been seeping into Zomea, Eguina, and beyond because there has been no ruler to keep it in check.”
