Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars 2)

But I meant every word. I won’t sacrifice any person for beings—divine or not—that consider us so…disposable.

Clearing my throat, I shrug off the uncomfortable silence. Then look to the two members of the Nactue. I don’t want to trade blows with them. I hope that it doesn’t come to that. I’ll never raise my sword against them with intent to kill—I’ll die first—but I won’t allow them to blindly obey orders and take a life for a cause we don’t fully understand.

Half of them joined because they believed in our cause. In ending the war with the Otherworld, in ending the threat of Bale, so that no other would lose the people they love. Serving Empress Iana, someone they believed would lead them to that victory, was a part of that cause.

I don’t know how they feel about the orders they’ve been given now. Only that as two of them stand here—one from Cavan and the other sprung from the Reckoning—if they plan to stand with the empress, then they stand against me.

More than anything, I wish Lilly were here. I need to look into her eyes and understand what she’s feeling, thinking. Because maybe it’s me. Maybe they all trust the empress, believe this is the only clear choice, and I’m the one who’s wrong. I just don’t know anymore.

“Kaliope,” Empress Iana says my name so low, I almost don’t hear. But I look at her. “No one appreciates your struggle more than me and your sisters, I assure you. But this is what must happen to end this war. To assure that Bale does not take form in our world. It was pre-ordained long before either of us existed. I can only pray that, by the end, you will understand we’ve all been given little choice.”

I can’t stop the laugh that tumbles out. “The excuse that all is the will of the goddesses. It doesn’t pardon your choices, Empress. You do have a choice. I have a choice. And I choose not to become Bale’s vessel, and not to let Caben die.”

“Prince Caben is nearly here,” she says.

I shake my head. “How do you know that?”

“We’ve made sure to offer something that he, despite the influence of the dark goddess, cannot refuse.” At the confused look on my face, she clarifies, “His mother.”

“What?” Icy tingles prick my cheeks as the blood drains from my face.

She walks toward the cell door, allowing her sleeves to fall to her wrists. “You once asked me if I was certain that Caben still resided within himself. If there was a part of him able to fight against Bale’s hold. And I hesitated. My answer was that I wasn’t sure.”

I remember. When I first came to her after we escaped the Otherworld. I needed to know for sure that Caben was still…Caben. That he could be saved. That I could save him. And that hesitation she gave me, that moment of pause, told me enough. It was just a second, but it ignited the hope within me that has pushed me forward ever since.

“Despite Bale’s nonstop attempts to take the goddess relic and the shard, Prince Caben himself had other reasons for leading the raid on his own palace. His mother. He came here for her.”

This is true. The Caben I knew, who spoke of his mother with the love of a boy, would want his sickly mother far away from any danger. He’s untrusting of everyone, and would only believe his mother is safe with him. It renews my faith that he’s still in there. He’s still fighting.

Keep fighting, Caben.

“And you used his mother to bait him to his own death?” An ill feeling lump settles in my stomach. I shake my head. “How…?”

“How could I do this? How could I sink so low?” She lifts he

r head higher. “The how is unimportant. I hope you never have to make the difficult choices I’ve had to make, Kaliope. Like the prince himself has had to make. Just understand that the end result is what matters here.”

Anger flares beneath my skin, the mercury heating with my dread. After what his father did, taking his mother away from him and putting her in a mental ward, the last thing that needs to happen here is his own Council—his people—betraying him by hurting his mother.

“What have you done?”

The cell door slams shut, and I flinch.

“Kaliope, I’ve always had faith in you, as well have your sisters. You must prepare yourself now. Pray. Ask for guidance and for strength.” Empress Iana grasps the bar, her soft eyes pleading. “Soon, you’ll meet Bale. The true essence of her, and you need to be prepared. Use this time wisely.” She bows her head.

Taking two long strides, I’m at the cell door and touching her hand, imploring, “You’re not even going to let me say my goodbyes?” I squeeze her fingers. Not hard, just enough for her to feel my anguish. “To my mother, or to my friends? The Nactue?”

She removes her hand from mine without looking at me. Then slowly, she raises her eyes to mine. I see the sorrow in them, but it’s little consolation for what she’s doing to me. What she’s done. “You have so little faith in our goddesses, and in yourself, that you don’t believe you’ll triumph?”

I back away from the door and look to Whip and Kai. They’ve stayed respectfully silent this whole time. They’re faces reflect the fear coursing through me. I’m not sure if it’s fear that I won’t survive, or fear that I will.

“I forgive you,” I tell them both. “Let the others know…I forgive them. But only for what has been done to me, not Caben.”

Kai swallows. I watch her throat bob, and I know she wants to say something badly.

Empress Iana turns to her. “Give her the message.”

Kai approaches the cell hesitantly and pulls her shoulders back. “From all the Nactue, we believe in you, Kal.”