Page 14 of Taloned Heart

Though brave, he still flinched from the intensity of a dragon covered in blood before him. “What are you planning to do to us?”

“We’re going to let you go.” Abraxas reached for the manacles and took hold of the chain that connected the man to the next. “There is a town not far from here. Get there before the sun rises and find whatever basement you can hide in. There’s not many people left, so find a house that’s been abandoned. No need for you to go anywhere until it’s night again. Keep out of sight. And keep quiet.”

The chain link snapped between his powerful hands. The humans all started murmuring, hope in their voices as they stood.

A woman at the end quietly asked, “Just him?”

Did they think Lore and Abraxas were trying to send a message?

Rage simmered underneath her skin and magic bubbled to the surface again. Not a massive amount, just enough to snap the chains with Abraxas. “No. All of you. But I don’t suggest you stick together. A large group is much easier to find.”

And so they spent the better part of an hour breaking through the chains. There were easily forty people here, although Lore lost count as she freed them. They each wanted to tell her their names, whisper where they came from, and beg her for more information on where they might be safe.

She didn’t know. There was nowhere safe left in this kingdom.

“Have you heard of the Stygian Mountains?” She heard Abraxas ask. “They’re overrun with spiders, but if you have your wits about you, it’s possible to avoid them.”

She looked at the woman in front of her, who was frail and thin, but looked quick enough. “The Fields of Somber are safe now. The crypts are not the most comfortable, but most, if not all, of the wights should be gone. Take your time finding a crypt that is empty of bodies and bring food there. Your family can stay.”

Over and over again, they advised these people on where to go, how to seek shelter, what area might still have food that they could take with them.

And all the while, she hoped she wasn’t sending them to their death.

“Thank you,” another woman whispered, reaching out for Lore’s hands and holding them tightly. “We don’t know what we would do without you. What is your name, miss? So I might speak of you to my grandchildren someday.”

Lore looked at Abraxas, wondering just how much he’d heard. Her dragon had stiffened, but he gave her a slow nod. As if to say now was the time for them to spread rumors.

They’d been so afraid of Margaret realizing she was here, but perhaps it would be good to have rumors of a goddess reborn. Perhaps that would give people hope again.

She smiled at the woman and let the moonlight play across her skin. Lore had done this so many times in her life, if only to have light to read by. But she knew what humans saw.

The moon glowed inside her. Its magic glittered like diamonds and lit her entire body up with rays of light that flashed in their eyes.

A gasp echoed from one person, then another.

“Goddess Divine?” someone whispered. “I thought she was only sent for the creatures?”

“No.” Lore sought the person who had said that and then smiled at the man. “I was sent for the kingdom, not for the elves or the creatures alone. I never would have left if I knew this was the end of that story.”

“But... they claim you were sent to free them from us. That you knew what had happened and you... you...” The man staggered back, fear in his eyes. “That if you ever returned, it would be to destroy us all for good.”

“People put words in the mouths of gods. You would be wise to heed only the sights you have seen yourself.” Lore shook her head again. “I was sent for everyone. This kingdom is my home as much as it is yours, and I will see no one die or become enslaved. I made a mistake. I trusted the wrong people, and you were the ones to suffer for that. For this, I am sorry. I will repay your pain, but first I have to fix what I broke.”

They all staggered away from her, then. Some of them giving her a quick thank you before disappearing into the trees. Others didn’t even look at her.

She understood their fear, but she hated that she had become the symbol for it.

“Come,” Abraxas said, cupping the back of her neck and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “We need to go as well.”

And so they left the fallen elves where they were and disappeared into the shadows.

CHAPTER6

Lore couldn’t get the image of them out of her head. All she saw were hollow eyes and emaciated flesh, bones sticking out of their backs like wings. She remembered their gazes as they stared up at the sky, waiting for someone to help them, but then realizing they were alone.

Was this what it was to be a god? Was she supposed to save them all and somehow set this part of herself aside from what she feared she actually was?

Selfish.

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