As quickly as he could, Caelan tucked each of the gods and their corresponding powers inside of his body. They didn’t fight him, but it felt as if his skin was going to split like an overripe plum. How was he going to hold all of this in? Especially after he bonded with the Goddess of Fire.
“How? Why?” Masaru demanded in a rough whisper.
“Zyros, the Goddess of the Hunt, is attempting to break free of her prison. She intends to destroy us all. The goddess has already bonded with a woman by the name of Safa, and she’s attempting to steal the power of the other gods to free her goddess.” Caelan lowered his hands to his sides and took a step closer to the desk. He launched into the insane tale of how it took all the gods and goddesses to defeat Zyros once and imprison her, but it required them to be imprisoned in the godstones as well.
It was only on the retelling to yet another new soul that it became clear how few details he had about Zyros and the battle. Why was the Goddess of the Hunt trying to kill everyone? What had started the fight between the gods in the first place?
For once, the gods in his head were silent. No one was offering up any answers despite the fact that he was sending his thoughts in their direction. That was not a good sign. What were they hiding? Did he not have a real shot at defeating the goddess in the first place? He was already reconciled to the idea that this battle was probably going to kill him, but what was the point of going through all this to die and not have a true chance at winning?
We would never have set you on this course if we didn’t think you could defeat her, Tula murmured.
We don’t like losing any more than you do, the God of Storms added.
Caelan didn’t exactly feel reassured, but now wasn’t the time to be mulling over all his doubts.
“No.”
That single word worked wonders for clearing his mind. His attention snapped up to Masaru, who was still shaking his head. The dragon’s chin jutted out slightly in a look of stubborn pride.
“What?” Caelan was beyond politeness. He couldn’t possibly have heard the man correctly. Did he not believe what Caelan was telling him?
“No. You are not permitted to visit the Fire Stone, and you are not allowed to steal the power of the goddess.”
“I’m not stealing anything,” Caelan argued, though it had been a feeling he’d harbored prior to visiting the Wind Stone in Caspagir. Prince Shey and his mother had watched over it their entire lives. Caelan had spent his life aware that bonding with the Goddess of Life was his birthright, and he’d felt that maybe he was taking that birthright from Shey.
Now he felt he’d done Shey an enormous favor by keeping the God of Storms’ powers from him.
Ungrateful whelp! Kaes grumbled.
“I am the Guardian of the Godstone, the one chosen by the gods to battle the Goddess of the Hunt. She threatens not just Erya, but all of Thia. She will come after the dragons of the Isle of Stone.”
“And we will not be left helpless because you’ve stolen the powers of Caris.” Masaru shoved to his feet, his face twisting up. “Like the Goddess of Fire would bother to bond with anyone other than a dragon. You have no hope of defeating Zyros, even if your story is true. You’re nothing.”
Caelan smirked at the man. “Then why haven’t you bonded with your goddess?” He leaned forward. “I can tell you haven’t. If you had, I’d be able to feel her power in this room. As it is, I barely feel her at the manor. The Fire Stone is still a good distance off, isn’t it?” Caelan straightened and lifted his left hand, holding it palm up. He rubbed his fingers together and shook his head. “Do you know what her power feels like? It’s warm water flowing over your hand. It’s a friendly embrace. The laughter of a loved one.” He narrowed his gaze on Masaru. “I look forward to meeting her.”
“No,” Masaru repeated, but he sounded a touch unsure this time.
“Go speak with your goddess. See if she’ll tell you about the war that’s coming with Zyros. If she’ll bond with you, great. You get to travel with me to the Ordas and fight the Goddess of the Hunt. If not, you let me speak with Caris.”
The dragon’s face relaxed and he at least appeared to be considering Caelan’s words. The gods in his head complained, but Caelan was seriously beginning to question how he was going to possibly fit a fourth god within him. The powers at his fingertips were already threatening to tear him apart, and it wasn’t hard to see that Nyx wasn’t thrilled with the idea of being anywhere near the Goddess of Fire. It was better if Caris bonded with Masaru. The dragon could help him in the fight with Zyros.