Page 9 of A Song of Saints and Swans
My twin must have heard something in my tone as his golden eyes snapped to mine, his brow furrowing.
Quickly lifting my knuckles, he deposited a kiss. “She needsbothof us.”
My lips pressed into a thin line as I wordlessly stared back at him, unable to agree.
I was saved from continuing the conversation when a villager whooped from the direction of the bonfire, capturing Jarilo’s attention.
“Come, sister!” His mouth stretched into a feral grin. “Let’s dance untilVelja Nocturns intoVelik Dan—until we drive Veles back into the Nav, where he belongs.”
It was a symbolic banishment, of course. Our existence didn’t depend on belief or practice, or if any humans remembered us at all. We were as much a part of the earth as the ground beneath our feet, and would continue to shine in the heavens long after this realm had faded into nothingness.
What we are has always been and forever will be.
“Yes,” I laughed, allowing my other half to pull me toward the flames, away from my worries and toward what could be our last year celebrating these rituals together. “Let’s help these heathens remember the old gods—just for one night.”
Even if they forget our names again tomorrow.
Do You Remember?
ANTHIA
Iawoke in a pile of furs covered by a light frost, groggily blinking at the pinkish dawn sky filtering through the pine boughs above.
Where did the night go?
I vaguely recalled a fire so enormous, I feared it would burn down the Prav.How vodka sang in my veins, and breath tickled my sweaty skin as Veles whispered in my ear.
“Do you remember?”
The ruler of the underworld had remained by my side, unless he was whisked away so drunken humans could take turns dancing with him. It was a novelty to watch him graciously lower his head, allowing their fumbling hands to test his fangs and caress his horns, marveling over what they assumed was extremely accurate cosplay.
None realized they were touching a god.
It washiswillingness to mingle that soothed my own anxieties about being surrounded by so many humans. While it wasn’t an enormous crowd, it was a rowdy one—with everyone in attendance welcoming the new year in as untamed a way as possible.
Which gave me permission to do the same.
Marena and Jarilo were never far away either, with one or the other stepping in if a villager got too friendly. Otherwise, they danced together, so wrapped up in the other’s arms, a casual observer might have assumed they were lovers. Something about their intimacy made my chest ache—along with other parts of me—but a wild party wasn’t the time to examine that.
“Do you remember how it felt to be loved?”
The night continued. I was insatiable, unable to stop spinning—my rapturous gaze lifted to the starry night as all painful memories and future concerns were forgotten. My wings uncontrollably appeared, but before I could take flight, Veles brought me back to earth again.
“Do you remember your mother’s love?”
Memories had rushed to the surface at this question. An old swan settlement with an abandonedVardoon the lakeshore. Its achingly familiar bohemian interior was one I’d attempted to recreate countless times over the years, but something was always missing.
Something I would never get back.
“Do you remember your mother?”
I shot upright, fully awake now as a crystal clear image of my mother’sVardoflashed through my mind. Squinting at the surrounding forest, I realized where we were now wasn’t far from its location—which would have seemed coincidental if I didn’t know how fate loved to play.
No matter if her pawns are ready or not.
Shivering as the early morning air brushed over my now featherless skin, I began groping beneath the furs to find my discarded sweater.
Which was when I accidentally grabbed a cock.
