Page 107 of The Half King
Unable to delay any longer, she lifted the Petros Blade from the altar and reached for Kian’s hand. She would begin with him. “It is believed that house Mortara,” she said, her fingers so cold and numb that she could barely feel Kian’s touch, “called upon their allies to slay our Holy Creator. They led the noble dynasties into unspeakable sin, and for their treachery, house Mortara was cursed with darkness.” She asked the king, “Is your heart filled with repentance?”
Kian glanced at her with a hidden smile. They both knew what his heart contained, and it wasn’t love for the goddess. But he answered, “Yes,” and laid his palm open for her to slice a scarlet line in his flesh.
The instant his blood appeared, the blade absorbed it and glowed brightly enough to make Cerise shield her eyes. It lasted only a moment before the glow dimmed, but it filled her with the first real hope she had felt all day. She met Kian’s gaze as excitement passed between them.
The ceremony was working.
Eagerly, she waved Daerick forward. “House Calatris,” she said, taking his hand, “used their superior intelligence to devise a method to slay the goddess. For their treachery, they were cursed with more knowledge than the mortal mind can bear.”
“My heart is repentant,” Daerick blurted before she could ask.
She sliced his palm and nearly cried with relief when the blade absorbed his blood and glowed once again.
He quickly traded places with General Petros, who offered his meaty palm. Cerise announced, “House Petros, skilled in the military arts, forged the weapon to slay our creator. That weapon is the same blade I hold today. For their treachery, house Petros was cursed with insatiable bloodlust.” She tipped back her neck to meet the general’s eyes, which shimmered with moisture. It was ironic and somehow fitting that his heart was filled with more repentance than the others. She had to bear down slightly harder to cut his callused skin, but once she did, the blade accepted his blood and dimmed for the final offering.
House Solon.
Cole still wasn’t there. She turned to Father Padron and found him at the back of the room, engaged in a conversation with Father Bishop. Father Padron looked at her and shook his head. He hadn’t been able to find Cole.
Her stomach sank. She darted a glance at the curtained windows, wondering how much longer she had until sunset. If Cole didn’t appear before Kian vanished, would she be able to continue the ceremony, or would she have to start over the next day?
General Petros leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Use your own blood, my girl. Cole’s heart is a stone compared to yours.”
She didn’t doubt that. But General Petros didn’t know the truth about her parentage. She wasn’t a Solon.
But she knew where to find one.
“Nobody move,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
Taking the Petros Blade with her, she hitched up her gown and ran down the aisle between the priests, propriety be damned. She streaked past Father Padron and continued through the open-air corridor, into the crowded palace foyer, and up the stairs, ignoring the clamor of confused voices in her wake. She sprinted all the way to her suite and tore open the door so quickly that Nina, who’d been giving Blue a bath, fell onto her backside.
“Are you all right?” Cerise asked.
Nina nodded, rubbing her swollen belly. Her veil was pulled back, both sleeves wet and pushed up to her elbows. “Is it…is it over?”
“No.” Cerise helped her sister to her feet. “I need you to come with me.”
Nina shook her head wildly as she lowered her veil.
“Listen to me,” Cerise said. “The ritual is working, but I need a Solon to finish it. I was going to use my blood, but I’m not a Solon.”
“What about Cole?” Nina asked.
“We can’t find him.”
“There must be another Solon in the palace.”
“Maybe, but I don’t have time to look.” Cerise lifted a hand toward the open balcony, where the daylight had taken a pinkish hue. “The sun will set soon. Please. For Daerick. For me.”
Nina’s chest rose and fell in rapid breaths.
“No one will know it’s you,” Cerise promised, reaching for her sister. “Your face will stay hidden, and I won’t announce your name. After this, you can go home to your husband, and he’ll never know you were here.”
Nina was so tense that she’d balled her hands into fists. She took one forward step and stopped before taking another. After a long breath that billowed her veil, she wiped both palms on her skirts and then followed Cerise out the door. With their fingers laced together, they left Blue behind and rushed to the sanctuary.
Nina’s fingers trembled as Cerise towed her down the aisle between the priests and to the burning altar, where Kian and the others waited with questioning gazes. Cerise gave them a quick shake of her head—a message that she would explain later.
Right now, there wasn’t time.
