Cloak of Night (Circle of Shadows #2) - Evelyn Skye Page 0,28

said. “There’s a lot going on in the world, as well as in Celestae, I imagine. Our human affairs are small in the grand scheme of it all. But ironically, it helps us if Zomuri didn’t put much thought into protecting his vault from humans. We should head to the ice caves as soon as possible.”

“I can’t go,” Daemon said.

Right. Because he was a demigod, and Zomuri had protected the vault against them.

“You could wait outside the ice caves,” Broomstick said.

Daemon shook his head. “And be completely useless while you all have to face whatever’s in there? No way.”

They stood around for several moments, trying to come up with a better idea.

“I could stay with Wolf outside the caves,” Broomstick said. “We could be your guards.”

“Or maybe we could try to rescue Empress Aki first,” Fairy said. “She might know a weakness—or something like that—about her brother that can help us get close enough to him so that we can reunite him with his soul and kill him.”

Sora chewed on her nails. “I think you’re both right,” she said.

“How?” Fairy asked. “Our suggestions are mutually exclusive.”

“No, they’re not. We’ll divide up again,” Sora said. “We have three things we need to get done right now: retrieve the soul pearl, find and rescue Empress Aki, and do everything in our power to stop—or at least slow down—Prince Gin’s progress toward attacking the mainland kingdoms. So Broomstick and I will go to the ice caves to take care of the first part, and Fairy will stay with Wolf here to work on the other two. With our gemina pairs divided, we’ll be able to use our bonds to check in with each other.”

“And each pair will also have some brawn,” Broomstick said.

Fairy rolled her eyes. “We don’t need boys to protect us.” She glanced at Daemon, though, and seemed to realize something. “But still, I can stay with Wolf. I feel like we could use that time productively.”

Jealousy reared its ugly head at Sora, but she shoved it away. I’m happy for them, she reminded herself.

It helped to keep focused on the gargantuan tasks before them. “Maybe Liga can also teach you how to use your powers,” Sora said to Daemon, “and you can train for our inevitable showdown against Prince Gin.”

“Oh no.” Liga raised both hands in the air. “I only came to sate my curiosity about your prayers and to see how my brother was doing.”

“What?” Sora shook her head. “We’re up against an army with more magic than we’ve ever encountered before. You have to help us.”

“I can’t risk being seen involved in a plot against Zomuri and his Evermore army.”

Sora huffed. “You’re a coward!”

“I beg your pardon?” Liga looked as if she’d slapped him.

“You’re scared to pit yourself against Zomuri?” She shook her head in disbelief.

“Yes, I am,” Liga said. “Have you noticed that he eats hearts for pleasure? I’m half human. If he wanted to punish me, I could die, just like you. I can only live forever while under my father’s protection in Celestae. But if I wrong another god, my life is fair game.”

He’s not immortal. It began to sink in why Liga would be afraid. But still, they needed him.

“Please.” Sora lay herself in a bow before him. Maybe she should have done this all along. Maybe she needed to show him more respect and offer him something, like how Sola took a year of life. It wasn’t an easy thing to give up, but what else could Sora do?

“My lord,” she said, “the citizens of Kichona have worshipped the gods for millennia. They pray to you every night, throw festivals in honor of you every season, and put all their faith in you that you’ll protect them and their children. Don’t you owe it to them to do something more than just bless their harvests? Teach Daemon how to serve them. Teach him how to use his powers so we can save the kingdom. And in return, I offer you a year of my life or whatever you wish to take.”

Liga started laughing.

Sora rose from the ground. “Why is that funny?”

He couldn’t stop. “Because . . . you . . .” He pointed at her, still on her knees. “I . . .” He gestured at the piles of flowers and the sleeping-mat prayer stations. “I’m only a demigod. No one prays to me.”

Daemon offered his hand to Sora and pulled her up. Then he stepped forward. “All the more reason to help