Page 42 of Winter Goddess
Most of the snow around me has lifted into the air, and still the snowflakes are rising. What's going to happen next? Will there be more snow? Will everything thaw?
"That balance is a myth that your mother likes to draw on whenever I do something she doesn't like," Angus says angrily. Funny how he describes trying to invade her Realm as something 'she doesn't like'. I'd have some much stronger words for that, but I doubt the Summer God is going to want to hear them.
Dewi shrieks in alarm and I turn in the direction of the scream, but of course, there's nothing to see. We're all both separate and together. Yet another metaphor?
"It's... everything's turning into mud!" she screams. "The leaves, they're falling, but before they touch the ground, they turn into sludge. The trees are melting... get me out of here!"
Flora starts screaming as well, and Angus begins to curse.
"Angus!" I shout. "Do you see what's going to happen if we don't keep the balance? This is a warning, a vision of what's to come. We need to work together to stop this from happening, please!"
He doesn't reply, only curses more. What's happening wherever he is?
"I'm ready to talk and negotiate," I tell him urgently. "If we join forces, we can beat the Morrigan and then fix what's been broken. Please, Angus, listen to reason!"
There's a noise behind me, a roaring sound, and I swirl around. Two tornados are coming towards me, one filled with snow, one made from pure, burning flames. They're destroying everything in their path.
I need to get out of here.
And I am. As soon as I think that thought, I'm back in the Great Hall, the crown weighing heavily on my head. Nobody is staring at me any more than they did before. It seems it was all in my head.
Kind of. Dewi meets my eyes and nods slightly. Yes, she saw it too.
It was very, very real.
Chapter Fourteen
As soon as everyone has started mingling - the benches have magically disappeared to make space for dancing - I turn to my guys and tell them all that's just happened to me.
"Do ye think Angus will change his mind?" Arc asks, clearly very doubtful about that prospect.
"Maybe not because of this vision, but in combination with his wife's desire to be with her daughter... it might be enough to sway him. I'm not trying to make him my best friend, just to stop him from being my enemy."
"Hopefully we'll hear good news from the Dragon Realm soon," Storm says. "I think your mother would like to talk to you."
I turn and follow his gaze. Beira is still sitting on her chair, but she looks paler than she did at the start of the ceremony. Time to get her back into bed.
"I'll take care of her. Guys, could you mingle a bit? I'd quite like to know what the other Gods think about me being Queen now."
Crispin sighs. "As long as I don't need to flirt. I hate flirting."
I frown. "I'm having trouble believing that."
He chuckles. "Flirting with you is amazing. Flirting with other women is annoying. They get all flustered and blush and giggle. I can't stand giggling."
I grin and leave them to it, heading to my mother.
"Beira." I bow my head to show her that I still think her far above me, despite me being Queen now. She's never officially abdicated, but so far, nobody has questioned that. Maybe people will accept two Queens, or maybe they just have too many other things to worry about just now. War is a little more important than how many thrones there are.
"I'm so proud of you," she says, her voice so quiet I'm having trouble understanding her. "You did very well."
I shift the crown on my head to a better position. I should start taking bets on how long it'll take for me to drop it. Or lose it, in the worst case scenario.
"How long did it take you to get used to the crown?" I ask and she smiles weakly.
"I was wearing the crown when I first opened my eyes. It's part of me, and don't worry, it will become part of you too. It takes time to get used to the role, but I'll be here whenever you need advice." She clears her throat, another weak, aching sound. "Could you help me back to my chambers?"
I nod and gently take her arm, teleporting us straight into her bedroom. I help her into her bed and make sure the pillows are supporting her back. She looks exhausted, but I can't leave without asking her a question.
