as she wanted Ignitus dead. She wanted revenge, simple and grotesque, and the desire sickened her like she’d choked down spoiled meat.
Ash replayed Hydra’s message in her mind like some kind of desperate prayer, clinging to that goal over the rotten, misshapen desire to bleed Stavos dry.
I have heard no similar rumors. He should stop worrying, and leave me out of his squabbles with Biotus, Aera, and Geoxus.
If Ash thought about the words enough, could she shake the secrets out of them?
Stop worrying. Leave me out of his squabbles with Biotus, Aera, and—
Realization made Ash bolt to her feet. Her head rushed with standing so quickly, and Tor followed her up.
Leave me out of his squabbles with Geoxus, Hydra had said.
“Stavos threatened Ignitus,” Ash said, talking fast. She hated even saying his name. “He said, Soon, Geoxus’ll make sure everyone gets what they deserve, even your lying god.”
Rook, leaning against the wall, frowned. “Those were his exact words?”
“A war insult.” Tor shrugged. “He thinks Geoxus will beat Ignitus.”
“If that’s all he meant, he said it strangely,” Ash pressed. “Even your lying god, as if Ignitus was an afterthought. Hydra said that Ignitus is in some squabble with Biotus, Aera, and Geoxus. Maybe there’s a larger conflict, and it has to do with the thing Ignitus fears.”
“And a meathead Deiman gladiator knows about it?” Tor’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “We aren’t even sure if the threat against Ignitus is credible.”
Ash scanned the room, feeling a little manic, until she spotted an unlit candle and matchbox that had fallen out of Spark’s medical bag. “I know how we can find out.”
This plan was idiotic.
So it was a good thing her brain was foggy from the beating she’d taken; otherwise she might not have gone through with it.
Ash grabbed a match from the box, lit the candle, and stared at the flame.
Tor realized what she was doing. “Ash—stop! What are you—”
“Great Ignitus,” she said to the igneia. “I need to speak with you. Now.”
Tor seized her arm, but no one in the room dared say more with the fire burning.
A long moment passed.
“Ignitus,” Ash said again. “I know you can hear me. I failed you today, but I need to—”
The room burned.
Every crevice filled with a vibrant flash of blue light. Ash spun, instinct jarring her so hard she slammed into the table. Tor, Rook, Taro, and Spark fell to their knees, shielding their eyes from Ignitus’s extravagant entrance.
The light faded to reveal their sour-faced god, his arms folded, his glare on Ash. The walls of the chamber bore scorch marks now; this stone was sandy and rough, not the sort of rock made by fire that Ignitus had dominion over. No, this was Crixion—everything was Geoxus’s.
Ignitus looked down his long nose at Ash. “Yes. You did fail me.”
Shock reverberated through her body. The candle had gone out, and she squeezed the dead wax to ground herself.
“Great Ignitus,” Tor said, prostrate on the floor. “The first few fights always bring certain nerves. With time, she will—”
“I didn’t lose because of nerves,” Ash cut him off. She ran her tongue along her lips. One had split; she tasted blood. “During the fight, Stavos taunted me. He said that this war will be different. That there is someone in Deimos who will give you what you deserve. Is it true, Great Ignitus? Could a person exist who might harm my god?”
Tor sat back on his heels. Rook, Taro, and Spark eased upright.
Ignitus’s scowl broke apart. It was so fleeting, his expression imitating a flash of lightning through the blackest clouds. His eyes widened and he sucked in a quick breath.
He was concerned. And it was not the offended concern of his reputation being slighted.
Ash’s question had made him worried.
Ignitus huffed a laugh. “What a clever lie he told you. My brother’s efforts to undermine me have no bounds. Your concern is touching, Ash.” He lurched forward, intensity brightening his eyes, and again Ash found herself thinking of the wrinkles that had creased Geoxus’s eyes. Ignitus’s skin was smooth—but the hair at the back of his neck, the few gray-white strands, was still there. “In the future, do not let yourself get distracted by what is clearly a vicious, bold lie.”
He snarled the last word. Ash suppressed a smile at his slip of emotion.
Whatever threat Hydra had told Ignitus to leave her out of—it was real. Real enough that Ignitus feared it.
“Of course, Great Ignitus,” she managed. “I will be more discerning in the next