Page 214 of The Eye of the Fifth
‘She would find another way, Kyra,’ Gedeon said, a little more aggressively than he intended. ‘Prophecy or not, she will not rest until she restores the Old Gods to power. Everything she has ever done has been for this cause. One of us dying will only be an obstacle shewillovercome, in one way or another. She has sacrificed her life for this cause. Nothing will deter her.’
Kyra looked at him then, an unreadable expression on her face.
‘That aside, Kyra,’ Naal interjected, ‘you are both Wardens. If we lose either of you, we become more vulnerable than we already are. Azar may have slaves, High Wielders and two imperi at her disposal, but we are four Wardens united and strong. We should do everything in our power to remain that way.’
It took a few seconds, but Kyra eventually nodded. It wasn’t entirely convincing.
‘Gedeon, if you will walk with me,’ Naal said, standing from behind the desk. She folded the prophecy and tucked it into the folds of her robes. ‘Kyra, we can talk more in the morning. For now, I would like you to find some rest.’
‘Can you find Maida?’ Kyra asked. ‘I haven’t been sleeping. If she can help…’ She sounded so lost. So broken.
‘Of course. I will fetch her for you.’ Naal hesitated for a split second, and then moved around the desk to stand in front of Kyra. A tentative hand lay on her fur covered shoulder. ‘Kyra, we are nostrangers to loss in this temple. We know what it is to grieve. The ebb and flow of life and death is the cruel reality of our mortal existence. But know this: when we lose those we love, they can never be truly gone. You, above all others, should understand the potent power of memory.’ Kyra’s chest began to rise and fall. She gripped a hand over Naal’s as a tear rolled down her face. Naal crouched so their eyes were level. ‘These are dark times, full of uncertainty and despair. But you are not alone, Kyra. You have never been alone, nor will you ever be.’
Naal touched a hand to her cheek, her thumb wiping the tear away. Kyra swallowed hard.
When Naal stood, she looked between them. ‘I will give you a moment to say goodbye. Gedeon, when you are ready, I will be outside.’
Gedeon nodded, and Naal swept silently from the room, leaving him alone with Kyra for what was sure to be the last time.
Chapter Fifty Eight
The Sun Always Rises
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Gallena’s Temple, Phaenon.
Kyra.
The room was awfully warm. Stifling, almost. Her clothes were becoming damp under the roughly cut furs upon her back and shoulders. But Kyra did not take the coat off. She sat in that uncomfortability, almost relishing in it. A physical suffering akin to the one that ravaged her heart and soul.
The door had clicked shut behind Naal a few moments ago. Gedeon remained still in his seat next to her. He hadn’t moved. Neither had she.
What could she say to him that hadn’t already been said? What was the point in saying goodbye?
What was the point in anything at all?
She could not help the hopelessness that had crept beneath her skin. Naal’s parting words had been beautiful. It should have helped ease the heaviness within her. But it hadn’t.
Kyra was beginning to feel that nothing ever would.
Mother. Father. Rosary.
Those she loved had been taken from her in a desperate attempt to force her into following a fateful path.
Taken. Used. Killed.
She was beginning to despise her own existence. No matter what Gedeon and Naal had said, she knew she was right. If she died, no one else would have to suffer.
They’d all be safe from being Empress Azar’s collateral fucking damage.
‘I do wish you’d stop hurting yourself.’
Kyra looked at Gedeon. Had she somehow been sharing her thoughts with him? Had he heard everything she’d just been mulling over?
His gaze flickered down to her hands.
She’d been picking the skin around her fingernails again without even realising. They were red raw. It was a new development. Or more of a resurrection of an old habit. ‘I… used to do this after my parents were killed. I only stopped when I met Rosary.’ She stared blankly at the blood slowly welling up around the nail on her forefinger. ‘I suppose there’s nothing stopping it again now.’
