Dust and stone rained down. My lips parted as several smaller pieces smacked harmlessly off the ground while a spiral, scroll-like ornament broke off, coming right down on Elias’s head and shoulders. The god gave a muffled grunt before his body slumped.
Slowly, I turned my head to Bele. “No harm, no foul?”
Bele’s eyes were wide. “He’ll live.”
My brows lifted.
“That is not my fault.” She crossed her arms. “Not like I knew Ehthawn would decide to land there of all places.”
The ache in my temples increasing, I turned back, watching Ehthawn extend his neck to lower his diamond-shaped head. He nudged the unconscious god before tilting toward us. Vertical pupils surrounded by crimson focused on me as he made a low, chuffing sound.
“He’s apologizing,” Bele explained.
“Uh-huh.”
Ehthawn sniffed, his warm breath ruffling the strands of hair around my face. He let out a soft, almost mournful squall.
Ash’s hand tightened around mine, seeming to respond to the sound the draken made. I glanced at him. Like before, his features were locked down.
Ehthawn moved in closer to me, his eyes closing. I tugged my left hand free, then hesitated. Other than little Jadis, I didn’t often touch a draken in this form, but he didn’t pull his head away. I lightly pressed my palm to his powerful jaw. The scales were smooth and dry, only the ridges of each rough. A trilling noise, almost like a purr, radiated from Ehthawn.
“It’s okay,” I told him, even if I doubted he was really apologizing. My gaze flicked over his flat, broad nose. Thickness coated my throat as I glanced at the blue, cloudless sky above, not seeing another draken. “Orphine?”
Ehthawn made that mournful sound again. My heart began squeezing. Bele had fallen silent.
“Orphine fought bravely,” Ash said quietly. “She did so until her dying breath.”
Fingers curling against Ehthawn’s scales, my eyes closed. Sorrow rose, slicing through my chest. I wasn’t sure I could call Orphine a friend or say she really even liked me, but I had been closer to her than Davina, who’d fallen in the fight against the entombed gods. I respected Ehthawn’s twin, and she’d respected me. And if we’d had more time, I thought maybe we could’ve become friends.
Grief lodged in my throat as I opened my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I whispered to Ehthawn as Ash stepped in closer to me, coolness coming off his body in contrast to the heat of the draken’s scales.
Ehthawn gave another chuffing noise and then drew back. More dust fell, coating Elias’s shoulders.
“Get him down from there before the whole roof collapses on him,” Ash ordered.
Bele sighed. “Fine.”
Ash threaded his fingers through mine as Bele stalked forward, unsheathing one of the shadowstone daggers on her forearms.
“I should’ve told you about Orphine,” Ash said in a low voice. “With everything going on…”
“It’s okay.” I let out a ragged breath. “Did she…？” I pressed my lips together. “Was it quick for her?”
“I believe so.” Ash tucked a curl behind my ear. “She is at peace now in Arcadia.”
I wished knowing that lessened the grief. I watched Bele slice through the rope at Elias’s shoulders. The god pitched forward and then crumpled to the mossy ground…headfirst.
“Whoops,” Bele exclaimed, returning the dagger to its sheath. “He’ll live.”
I sighed.
Lips twitching, Ash led me toward the Temple steps as Bele hoisted the unconscious god over her shoulders. Mindful of the vines trailing up the steps, we climbed the stairs, the stone warm beneath my feet. Not even halfway up, my breathing became labored, and sweat broke out across my forehead. I refused to let it show, though, forcing my legs to keep moving.
We’d only taken a few more steps when Ash stopped just above me, dipping his head to mine. “Let me help you.”
My back stiffened as I stared ahead, lifting one protesting leg and then the other so I stood on the same step as he did. “I’m fine.”
“Liessa, look at me.”
“What?”
A salty breeze lifted the hair from his shoulders as he said, “There is no shame in needing help.”
My cheeks warmed.
“And there is only strength in accepting aid.”
“I can climb stairs,” I persisted, even as my muscles screamed in denial.
“I know. That doesn’t mean I can’t help you.” Eather spun in his eyes. “Allow me this. Please.”
I swallowed a curse. “I think you’ve caught on to how I can’t deny you when you say please.”
One side of his lips kicked up. “I have no idea what you speak of.”
“Sure,” I muttered, but I didn’t resist when he lifted me into his arms. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I could’ve made it to the top.
And that truth didn’t only make me feel pathetic.
It also scared me a little.
Ash reached the main floor of the Temple within a few heartbeats, immediately placing me on my feet as Bele strode past, dropping Elias by one of the pillars. I half-expected her to make a comment, but she said nothing, her features pensive as she stopped at what appeared to be the base of a statue that must’ve once stood proud. I scanned the Temple floor, seeing several blocks of marble in varying stages of ruin, leading to the far side of the Temple, where there was an enclosed space.
“Thank you,” I whispered under my breath.
Ash pressed a kiss to my cheek then straightened as several figures appeared along the back columns, passing the enclosed portion of the Temple. As they crossed the floor, my shoulders tensed in recognition of most of them.
Saion and his cousin Rhahar walked together, their similar, striking features a rich brown in the sunlight. Both wore silver armor over their chests, and like Bele, all manner of weapons were visible on them.
Both drew up short, stopping at the Temple stairs. Behind them, the fair-haired god Kars that I knew as one of the Shadowlands guards appeared, along with another god I remembered seeing in the training fields.
Saion was the first to break free of the small group and approach Ash. I could’ve sworn the god’s dark eyes glimmered as Ash moved to clasp his forearm. Saion didn’t stop there, though. He pulled the larger man forward, into a one-armed embrace.
Surprise rippled through me. I’d never really seen anyone but Nektas get close to Ash, let alone touch him. And anytime they saw me touching him, it seemed like they were witnessing some sort of magic.
Ash hesitated, clearly not expecting the response. I bit down on the inside of my cheek, waiting and hoping he returned the embrace. These people. Saion, his cousin, Bele—all of them—were Ash’s friends, even if he hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge that since Lathan’s death. Even if he wasn’t supposed to form bonds with any of them, they already had them. In my mind, not being able to see the journey of a soul or impact where they went wasn’t more important than what one experienced while alive.
So, I disagreed with the Arae. Eternal afterlife wasn’t more valuable.
A shudder of relief went through me as Ash finally moved, folding an arm around Saion’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you,” Ash said roughly.