went or what happened.
Silence echoed through the room as Ryder stared down at Dristan’s pyre. The comforting words his brother had said did little to ease his passing for Ryder. Instead, it fueled Ryder with anger, driven by a need to avenge those who had been taken from us. I was with him on that page, but to battle the gods, he’d have to be stronger than one.
I was Ryder’s ride-or-die girl, and he knew it. I didn’t need to say those words out loud for him to know that whatever he did, I’d stand with him. I’d honor his choice, regardless of where it left me.
I inspected the single drop of essence as it mixed with ambrosia already in the cup I held. Placing it on the nightstand, I closed the vial. Standing, I picked up the goblet and walked to Ryder, kissing his spine while I held my hand out, allowing him to accept the drink. Swallowing hard, fear pricking against my mind, I studied the glass as Ryder lifted it to his full mouth and downed it in one gulp.
My heart knocked violently against my ribs with the knowledge of what I’d done, what it could mean for us. I wouldn’t lose my husband to a god as I’d lost the others. Ristan had yet to allow another person to hold his son; not even his mother was allowed to touch the wee thing. Finley had insisted on checking the infant out, but Ristan had snarled, turning multicolored in his true form with a whisper of wings that had made us all pause and stare.
Ristan had been born with wings, horns, and a tail, much like his son. Alazander hadn’t liked how lethal those things were, so he had them removed when Ristan was old enough to survive the violent procedure.
Zahruk was currently fucking anything he could to ease the guilt he felt for Darynda, and it was troublesome. The dark circles beneath his eyes reminded of me of the nightmares he’d mentioned, sticking in my mind.
We were all falling apart tonight, and grief was driving us to act out. We were lashing out at each other as we muddled our way through the tragedy that had left us barely breathing.
“Ryder,” I whispered, tears swimming in my vision as I placed my hands on his shoulders.
He turned, tilting his head. His obsidian eyes mixed with golden galaxies as if burning constellations of stars were held within them. His power flowed through the room, and his hands gripped my shoulders as an angry slant tilted the corners of his mouth. A growl vibrated through his chest, and he silently studied me as he was filled with the power of the Goddess of Faery.
“I’m so sorry, but I will not lose you,” I whispered as he growled, shoving me against the wall, glaring into my eyes. “I love you enough to let you hate me.” I swallowed a broken sob as his hand tightened around my throat. “For Faery and those who need us, we cannot be weak. For the people who gave all and the stars they ride, from now until forever, I claim you as My King.”
“What the hell did you do?” he snarled, staring at his hand as claws extended, black and gold veins pulsing through them. The black wings on his back unfurled, the lines within them matching his veined arms. The dragon markings on his chest grew, stretching as he evolved.
“I transformed you into the beast they created you to become. Now I have made you into the God of Faery. We will not abandon the land or our people. We will fight to save both. You planned to leave Faery, and I cannot allow that to happen. The Stag told me secrets, Ryder. If the fae leave the land, they will become mortal as a man. You promised me forever, and I intend to hold you to it.”
“It wasn’t your choice to make, wife.” He snorted as his eyes narrowed, turning angry and promising violence.
“No, but you would have turned down Danu’s essence merely on principle. You and I, we are the only