Fae had created the Farungal with their God of Death? What the fuck?
“They were wondrous creatures once,” the Goddess murmured as she looked beyond Ry'zaran at the souls that soared across the Realm of Death.
“Before you cursed them,” Ry'zaran hissed.
“I merely revealed their true natures,” she said sadly. “They could heal themselves if they'd only change. But they keep killing for you. You are what keeps them cursed now.”
“That's a lie!” Ry'zaran roared. “I am Death; all I can offer them is death. I can't help that. You think I should turn my back on them as you have?”
“I think you should guide them better, Ry'zaran.” She turned to look at me, her expression softening. “Tristan, come here, child.”
The Goddess held her hand out to me, and my heart filled with joy and profound peace. I stood up.
“No!” Ry'zaran shouted, and I was shoved back into my chair. but he didn't take his gaze from her. “Don't leave me again, Vara! Please! I'm begging you. I have nothing without you. Only emptiness. Don't go.”
“Ry'zaran,” she said gently and caressed his cheek. “I wish I could stay with you, but you have made it impossible. If you had only accepted the Beasts before, we could have lived in harmony.”
“You expected me to share you,” he said bitterly. “To just give part of your heart away.”
“I am a Goddess; I am bound by magic even as it empowers me. You know that. You should have loved me enough to accept it.”
“I did! I do! I just needed some time to understand. Can't you forgive me, my love? I would have forgiven you if the roles had been reversed, and I know you have a jealous heart. You would have reacted the same as I.”
“Make me forgive you, Ry'zaran,” the Goddess urged as she took his hands. “Show me that you are worthy of forgiveness.”
“How?” he whispered.
“You can start by letting Tristan go.”
Ry'zaran didn't even glance at me. “Take him. I renounce my claim on him. He's free. I only stole him to bring you to me.”
“Then releasing him is only the start of what you must do to win me back,” she declared.
“What else? Tell me and it will be done, my love.”
“If you don't know, you aren't worthy yet, Ry'zaran.” The Goddess let the Green Dragon go and reached for me.
I lurched to my feet and ran to her. In a blinding flash of light, we were gone.
Chapter Forty-Six
The echoes of heartbroken sobbing welcomed me back. I reformed exactly where I'd left, standing a few feet before Kardri. The Leopard Lord hadn't moved except to crumple to the floor. He knelt face down upon the cold stone, the remains of Red Caps pooled around him. His hands were fists in his hair, pulling at the strands like a lunatic as he cried, wailed, and roared. I gawked at him a second, frozen in shock, then jolted forward.
“Kardri!” I shouted above his wailing as I grabbed him, wrapping myself around his huddled form.
“Begone! Leave me!” he sobbed.
“Kar!”
“I can't live without him!” Kardri roared as he lurched up, then his stare landed on my face, and his eyes widened in shock. They were red-rimmed, streaming tears, and lined with strain around the edges. “Tristan?” he whispered. Then he yanked me into his arms and cried, “Tryst!”
“I'm all right,” I said soothingly. “The Goddess saved me. Again. She rescued me from Ry'zaran. I'm all right, Kar.”
Kar started crying again, but now it was in relief. “Thank you,” he whispered over and over as he clung to me. “Thank you, Goddess.”
I held him until he calmed, and then we just rocked gently together, reassuring each other with gentle strokes and tender kisses.
“She looked like you,” I said softly, drawing a finger over his high cheekbone.
“What?” Kardri frowned.
“The Goddess, she looked like you; she had your coloring.”
Kardri gaped at me, then let out a soft huff of wonder. “She appears differently to everyone, and now I know why.”
“Why?”
“People see what they think is beautiful.” Kardri grinned, but it wasn't smug; it was grateful and amazed.
“That makes sense.” I brushed my lips over his, then spoke against them, “You are the most beautiful creature I've ever seen.”
A soft sound finally interrupted us, and Kardri glanced to the side. Then he stiffened. I followed his gaze to Storme, who stood in the shadows, shoulders hunched and arms crossed protectively around himself.
“You fucking bastard,” Kardri hissed and shot to his feet.
“No!” I grabbed Kar's arm as I stood with