Page 115 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
‘Perhaps.’ Alina continued to slowly observe the cavern. Deeper within, elderly women knelt by the edge of another pool, washing garments against smooth stone, their laughter soft and untroubled. They appeared wholly absorbed in their own world. ‘I don’t particularly care.’
‘If gods truly walk among us—’
‘What would that change?’ Alina’s attention snapped back to her, sharp as a blade. ‘The world would still be rotten. Hagan would still be breathing. And Saren…’
Dawn hesitated. ‘Do you think she’s… truly a god?’
Alina exhaled through her nose, already weary of the line of thought. ‘I do not care what she is. I intend to kill her.’ A faint smirk curved her lips at the way Dawn’s eyes widened.
‘You can’t kill a god.’
‘Whynot?’
Dawn faltered. ‘Because… no one ever has. And it sounds almost… wrong.’
‘The heavens can crumble for all I care,’ Alina replied. ‘Saren is on my list.’
‘List?’ Dawn echoed, frowning.
‘Of those who have wronged me. And who will pay.’
‘You have a list?’ Dawn coughed when Alina’s eyes narrowed dangerously. ‘Is it so long you needed to start keeping count?’
‘I have only two names upon it,’ Alina said, irritation threading through her voice. ‘I would not object to adding another.’
Dawn lifted her hands in surrender, water dripping from her fingers.
Despite herself, Alina felt a soft smile tug at her mouth. It reminded her of another time, when they had spent entire days together, laughter spilling between them as easily as breath. The memory struck without warning, vivid and warm.
Then came the sting.
Betrayal flooded in behind it, bitter as bile at the back of her throat. She was so tired of being wronged. So tired of being wounded.
‘We meet tomorrow before first light,’ Alina said at last, her voice once more iron-bound. She turned and climbed from the pool, water cascading from her skin onto the stone. She did not look back at the way Dawn’s expression dimmed.
And she most certainly did not allow herself to dwell on the small fracture forming in her own heart at having caused it.
…
Alina had spent the past few hours tending to her dragons when Mareena approached. Both of them had wrapped their heads in cloth against the relentless desert sun. Alina watched the phoenixian princess draw nearer, noting, despite herself, the fluid sway of her hips, almost hypnotic in its rhythm. She glanced away at once, irritation flaring at her own weakness and at the traitorous way her body answered to the sight.
‘You are allowed to feel again, amira,’ Hessa’s voice drifted beside her.
Alina did not startle. She rarely did anymore. The ghost leaned languidly against one of the dragons, arms folded across her chest as though she still possessed weight and warmth.
‘It’s too soon,’ Alina replied quietly.
‘Is it?’
Alina’s hand rose instinctively to the white stone pendant resting against her skin, fingers curling around it as though it might anchor her.
‘You lied about that,’ Hessa said, her eyes narrowing. ‘You told them I gave it to you. But I never had the chance.’
‘But you would have, wouldn’t you?’ Alina stared at the phantom, so close she could almost touch her, yet forever beyond reach. When Hessa smiled and gave a small nod, Alina added, almost defensively, ‘So what difference does it make what I said?’
‘You find it too easy to lie these days,’ Hessa replied, her features tightening with quiet displeasure. ‘She’s changing you.’
Alina stilled at that. ‘I thought you wanted me to feel again. Which is it?’ The words left her sharper than intended.
