Page 75 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

It was so close to the truth and so hilariously wrong that she laughed. Loud and long.

“What’s so funny?”

So much for saving this conversation for another time. “My love, Erebos isn’t just a man. Not even close. And if he has a god complex it’s because he is one.”

“What?”

“Ronan... think about it. How did Kieran accomplish all that he did?”

“He’s a slimy, manipulative bastard.”

“Maybe so, but what are the odds he’d find the correct prophecy, bring down the citadel, and break out of the Kiri’s palace? Amanwould never be able to accomplish all that.”

“And yet he did.”

She gave him a little shake. “Do you really believe a single man could best the entirety of the Keepers? Kieran was never the one pulling the strings, Ronan. It was Erebos. Kieran is as much his puppet as I was, but in so many ways, he had it worse because Erebos didn’t just use him. He took over.”

“What are you saying?”

“You know what I’m saying.” Reyna held his confused stare, giving him time to process all she’d just dumped in his lap.

“It’s not just a new identity.”

“No.”

“Kieran is a Vessel.”

“Yes.”

“The same way Helena is.”

“Yes.”

“This whole time... we’ve been dealing with a god?”

“Maybe not the whole time, but most of it, yes.”

“How?”

This was the part she didn’t fully understand herself, but she gave him as much of the truth as she’d pieced together. “I suspect he used Kieran to break him free. Those markers he unknowingly helped come to pass were more like locks. With each one that broke, Luna’s hold on Erebos weakened. Once he was freed, he was able to fully assume control of Kieran’s physical form, not just manipulate him from afar.”

“But why? What interest could he have in walking among us?”

“Revenge.”

“Revenge? For what?”

“Luna imprisoned Erebos for centuries for his crimes against the Chosen. I can’t imagine he was very happy about it. Do you remember when we found the prophecy referring to theTul Mort Jateh? The creator of the Night Stalkers?”

Ronan nodded. “The Father of Dreams.”

A shiver of foreboding raced down her spine. “Otherwise known as the Lord of Death.”

“That’swho we’re dealing with?”

Reyna gave a wooden nod, throat suddenly dry.

“He’s the one who’s been stalking your dreams.”

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