Page 2 of Bound Paths
“I was chosen to sacrifice myself—for the balance of our continent.”
“And yet…here you are beyond the veil.” She glanced at her fingernails, feigning disinterest. He wouldn’t be here without good reason, and her heart hammered in her chest to know what it was.
“Yes.” He paused as if knowing his next words would be damning but realizing he had no option but to speak them. “I’m not sure a god can die, so I planned to go to the next best place.” He raised his arms, gesturing to the realm around them, his gaze roaming the dense forest surrounding the river.
She schooled her features as she replied. “My realm is not your refuge.”
Zrak’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t considered not being allowed to stay. His lips pursed. She could almost see his mind working, considering his next move. Her lip curled into a smirk as she thought of what would happen to his precious plan when she kicked him out.
His words ran through her head unbidden.I’m not sure a god can die.Was that true? She shook her head again. His concern was not the same as hers. All that mattered was that she protected the spirits—her promise to the land here.
As if following her thoughts, he said, “It would be beneficial for both of our realms.”
He paused momentarily as their gazes met. It seemed like he would take a step toward her. Fury must have burned as bright in her eyes as in her heart. She was sure he could see it as something stopped him in his tracks.
How dare he speak of joint benefit? When she warned them fifty years ago, none of the gods cared about their joint downfall. They didn’t care what the downfall had led the humans on the continent to do. Cassandra hadn’t told them everything, but she’d told them enough.
Ultimately, the four gods were to blame for Celeste’s desperation.
Zrak coughed uncomfortably as he tried to continue. “Your land requires balance as much as the continent.”
Orion growled at her feet, sensing her unrest.
“Choose your next words very carefully, Zrak,” she said through gritted teeth. “I tried to have this conversation with you already. I’m not above reminding you that you ignored me.”
“We weren’t ready then. I told you when we made the peace offering—the willow tree. But we’re ready to make a sacrifice now.” His words were pleading. Cassandra was almost caughtoff guard by his tone. Planting a tree on the continent with a connection beyond the veil had been to appease her. They hadn’t wanted to deal with her rage after Celeste’s actions.
She steeled her spine as she thought of her own sacrifice. “You’re ready now?” Her voice was so low. Orion couldn’t help himself, letting another growl rumble through his body on her behalf. “You think you know sacrifice?” she hissed. “You think your actions today show your dedication to your people?” She waved her hand in dismissal. “You will never know what I have done—what I continually do—to clean up your mess.” She closed her eyes and dropped her chin to breathe. “I’ve done what was necessary here. You pretending to care now will only ruin it.”
Zrak opened his mouth to speak and then closed it. Surely, her words couldn’t be a surprise to him? He had to know that his actions had consequences in her realm. Then again, it had taken them this long to admit they even had a problem with theirs. They were that self-centered.
“I could work for you. You say you no longer send your veil cats out, but given that one’s latest trip”—he gestured to Orion—“you must still need to do so. Use something you can afford to lose: me—my Nebulus—to help shepherd spirits across the river.”
She tried to blank her expression, but it was likely a lost cause. His point cut deep. She could no longer trust the humans on the continent with her cats. They were too desperate, doing anything to protect themselves from the catastrophe of the god’s creation.
The god stepped back from whatever he saw before realizing he was still at the river’s edge.
“You’re right about you being something I can afford to lose at least.” Her smile was all teeth. “But alternatively, we could let Orion off his metaphorical leash and test your theory aboutgods dying,” she said as the cat growled again beside her. “If you returned in spirit form, I’d have no right to bar your entry.”
The veil cat on her right rubbed against her leg, placing its head directly under where her hand hung. She scratched her absentmindedly while contemplating this god’s fate.
“Surely, you see why that wouldn’t be an ideal solution,” Zrak said.
He didn’t sound nervous. Somehow, he had found his unending confidence again. Only the shifting of his eyes gave away his nerves. He seemed to evaluate escape routes as he spoke.
With a single snap of her fingers, her veil cats could chase him back into the river, letting him find his way back to the continent. Her spirits were safe—that’s what mattered. She was comfortable in the cage she’d built for herself.
His unblinking gaze followed the movement of her fingers. “I know that people let you down—even those you trust,” he said carefully.
“I don’t trust you—I can’t imagine you would do anything but take from my realm,” she replied.
Zrak’s head tilted. Finally, his legendary planning was on display. He realized she held his fate.
“Another able to bond with the land will come.”
His words were a whisper, but they shook her to her core. Briefly, she wondered if she’d imagined them. Then her green eyes snapped to his, and there was no mistaking his meaning.
She was too stunned to stifle her response. “You can’t know that.”
