Page 53 of Between Soul and Vessel
Slowly, Folkoln retracted his hand. “Just hear what she has to say.”
Realization punched into my gut. “You talked to her. You told her what we were doing today, didn’t you?” I’d be a damned liar if I didn’t admit I felt a sliver of betrayal.
“I did,” Folkoln said, owning up to it. His voice switched to our private channel.And you can hate my rotten guts for it. But here’s the thing, when this fucking bitch—his eyes flicked up to the giant before they shifted back to me—killed Aryx, the Saphira we knew died too.I know Saphira has done brutal things to you, and I’m not condoning her actions—I never fucking would, brother—but this could be her chance to find Aryx again. If she does, she might become the sister we once knew, before this world broke her.”
I looked over his shoulder, watching as Saphira walked toward us, her cloak swayingbehind her. For a moment, I could almost see the little girl who would ask me to go out and gaze up at the stars with her.
I turned my head to the side, looking down at my sword. I had a decision to make.
When Saphira got closer, Folkoln stepped to the side.
We stood face to face. I searched her emerald eyes. In them, I found nothing but . . . desperation.
“Please.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I know that I have done unspeakable things to you and Sage, and you have every reason to hate me for it, but if there is a chance that Aryx is alive, please,please, let me have it.” She got down on her knees. In her hands, a chest materialized, one I recognized immediately. She laid the box at my feet. “Freely, I give you your child’s feathers back.”
And then, the proudest goddess I had ever known bowed and pressed her head to the ground.
I stood there, silent, conflicting emotions warring within me. I didn’t trust Saphira—her past actions were too loud to ignore, and when I thought of what her intentions might have been for my child’s feathers, ice crept along my skin. However, as I watched my sister grovel before me, something she had never done before, I realized something—she would do anything to be reunited with her mate, just as I would Sage.
Fallon strode closer to us, and she said with a shrug, “Fate said nine.”
Indeed, she had.
“Oh, for Creator’s sake, this is taking too long,” the giant sighed as she reached over and plucked Soren by thescruff of his tunic. He kicked and screamed as she tilted her head back, placing him above her parted lips.
“Wait!” Ezra yelled. “He hasn’t drunk the—” Her words fell short as the giant dropped Soren into her monstrous, cave-like mouth. Ezra sighed. “Never mind.”
True to her word, the giant didn’t chew.
I couldseeSoren pass through her esophagus, like a snake swallowing a mouse.
Weallwinced.
“Hmm-hmm,” she chuckled gleefully. Clearly pleased with herself. She licked her fingers and smacked her lips, then looked at us. “Who’s next?”
I turned to face Ezra. “How many vials do you have?”
Milky-white orbs stared blankly as she replied, “Eight. I was unaware of my sister’s vision.”
My shadows swept around my sword, dissolving it. “Well, since Soren won’t be needing his anymore.” I held out my hand. “Give me two of them.”
Without question, she collected two from her pocket and placed them in my hand.
My shadows swept around the chest of feathers, concealing them in their vast storage as I crouched and dangled a vial in front of Saphira’s face. “I’m going to give you this, but so help me, Saphira, if you make me regret it, I’ll destroy you once and for all. Understood?”
“Yes.” She nodded swiftly, gratitude lighting her misty eyes.
I dropped the vial into her hands before I rose to my full height. I looked at Destiny, then Fate. “And you two willkeep up your end of the deal, yes?”
“We will,” Fate answered. She waved her hand, and two spinning wheels appeared. Nine spools landed beside them, neatly stacked. I spotted my own. “Although, we cannot promise it will work. We have never weaved past the Three Realms before.”
Once we got to the Mother Realm, we would be in bad shape due to the giant’s poisonous stomach. Fate and Destiny would snip that part from our spools and weave another truth—that the damage had never been done, reverting our bodies and our souls back to normal. The irony was not lost on me that when I had taken my dead mate to them, begging for this very thing to be done for her, they had been unable to, all because of Aurelius’s fucking heart. It had been the conduit that gave her life here, but ultimately, it was not hers, and the damage done by the Blade of Moram was irreversible.
Tearing the cork from the vial with my teeth, I spat it to the side. I raised the glass to my mouth and shot the burning, salty liquid back before I tossed it over my shoulder. The small glass shattered when it struck the ground. With a grin, I said to Ezra, “For good luck.”
Then, I walked toward the giant.
I had a feeling this was going to hurt like a son of a bitch.
