"Elise, you have to slow down. Stop." Apollo demands, his voice grating on every final nerve I have left. "This isn't doing anything."

"Other than proving no one is ready for what is coming." I point out, tossing my sword onto the dirt beside me.

"I'm not going to lecture, but come on. Think about this."

"I am and I'd do it again. I am done with being constantly underestimated and treated like shit, for what reason? I am the fucking Empress and they need to learn what that means. These idiots chose the hard way."

"This isn't going to end well." He sighed.

My hands are shaking, the cramping had stopped over an hour ago much like the ache in my arms and shoulders. I feel the collective sigh of relief around me, just as parts of my body begin to come back to life from the numbness I sank into earlier. I couldn't get my fingers to straighten, the pins and needles intensifying by the second, right as I realised the icky sensation all over my body was sweat and my clothes were feeling glued on. There was a decent cut on my forearm, more than one bruise and dirt stuck to my damp skin wherever it could.

I kept my hands at my side, not sure how I'd go moving my arms much more than that anyway and hoping to hide them from Apollo's judgement. It hadn't meant to be like this; a small training session with a few of the best these allies had to offer. I said I'd only observe, and well, I lied.

It wasn't completely my fault. These assholes had no clear concept of what exactly my position here was or what I could do. I'd never been able to resist a challenge and after two hours of whatever this apparent takedown actually was, Apollo got to healing the last so-called warrior.

"You should be thanking him, a lot more than what I am hearing right now." A murmur ran through them, eyes kept to the bloodied dirt while some stretched and attempted to move again after nearly meeting whatever maker they believed in. Powers or not, I was done with being underestimated.

"So this is where- What is going on? Elise? Apollo?" Kara's voice got higher with each word, and I closed my eyes willing her to go away.

Instead, her footsteps got louder.

More joined hers.

"Just some training," Apollo answered quickly, standing up as he helped the horned guy from who knows where. Should have cut those off. "Nothing major."

"It does not look like nothing major," Kara whispered while still managing to yell; great, she was super pissed off.

I wasn't in the mood for this.

"Well, it was." I turn, smile and ignore the Valkyrie with her as I move to leave.

Her hand snaps out, grabbing my arm. "Elise,"

"Let me go."

"No. Talk to me, you haven't been yourself since the other night." She inched closer, her eyes wide with worry and something else. "I'm worried about you Elle and you look like it was more than nothing. What happened to just watching?"

"I've never done well with just watching."

"You can't-"

I pull free and keep going, and not risking being followed or bumping into anyone on my way to my room, I skip the trip to go straight to my bathroom. No wonder Kara was upset. I am a mess. Blueberry suddenly moves, drawing me away from my reflection and down to my ever-growing stomach. My hands are coming back to life now and I rest them on either side of him, the adrenaline wearing off as I sit on the edge of the bathtub.

"I love you, little one. More than I ever thought I could but why, why now? Why did you have to choose now to come along?" He was a complication. A risk. A distraction.

Nausea hit without warning and turning around, I threw up the nothingness in my stomach. Shit - had I eaten since breakfast? What even was the time? I heaved until I couldn't breath, and kept going until my face was now streaked with tears. Slumping to the floor, I fought to get my breath back, while tiny black dots blurred my vision until I realised I wasn't alone anymore.

Double shit.

I took the glass of water and hesitantly sipped it, before nearly finishing the whole thing. Cain took my hand, moving around to lift me up and as he carried me out of the bathroom I felt each cut and bruise healing. I felt cleaner, my head clearer and as he dropped me onto the bed, a plate was then shoved into my chest. I ate quietly, thankful for the new clothes and clean up - even the minty taste in my mouth that did not mesh well with the fruit on the plate.

"Are you going to yell at me now?" I finally asked, sinking into the pillows prepared for my fate.

"Do you remember when we fought Hercules?" He said instead, actually sounding calm and not faking a good mood. Looking at him at the end of the bed, Cain didn't actually look like he was about to give me an Apollo-sized lecture either.

"Yes?"

"It was a long battle. More than him. The armies, berserkers, Eris. I fought Loki before the real battle even began. I was tired. We both looked like hell, I remember that. I couldn't unlock my thumb completely from where I managed to put it at this awkward angle into my palm until I healed myself," He reenacted it, and I inched closer to instead hold his hand not entirely sure where this was going. "Because I am fortunate enough to have that ability."

"Where is this going, Cain?"

"I know you, I know what you can do, what you can survive. We don't get to show weakness, Elise. What happened after we defeated Hercules?"

I thought back to the fight, no sooner had it ended, another had begun. "You went into Dark King mode and expected me to actually kill you."

"Between Hercules dying and that moment."

This time, I tried harder almost unwillingly as the bulk of that night has been locked away in the back of my mind. I remember how terrible we both looked, exhausted, beaten, but alive. We'd watched Gonzo make a fool of himself and then Apollo appeared. I'd braced myself for another war between the pair, yet Cain wasn't my Cain anymore. He'd put the mask back on; his wounds vanished, and his clothes were new and clean. All of him was even that aura of exhaustion had vanished making me wonder if he had even been the same person fighting at my side through it all.

"You don't let yourself get the point you can't come back from. You don't let them see how beaten you are or how tired or just how close they could have come to stopping you. It makes them want to try again, just as you have bested Nieve twice and will do it again because you know you can beat her. When you are close to success, you try again with that knowledge behind you. Do better." He stood up, turning back to me.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Do better. Pushing yourself into that state isn't how you win any of this. Sacrificing yourself is for what purpose?"

"There were nine of them against me, and if Apollo hadn't come in when he did there would be nine less in our army. I wasn't even using my powers." I point out. Not much of a sacrifice on my part.

"You want their fear? You got that at the party."

"No, I got their interest at the party. I was proving a point. They didn't think-"

"What do you want, Elise?" He yelled this time, a crack in the otherwise calm demeanour he'd been lording around me since he arrived.

"I don't want their fear, I'm not like Zeus or even Uranus. I want them to know," What did I want them to know? I felt my anger wavering. "That I'm not just some mortal who got lucky with her powers."

"Bull shit. It wasn't about that."

"How do you know?"

"What point were you proving to those warriors today? What made you get to the point of nearly collapsing in your fucking bathroom, if not to demand their fear of you? Perhaps you should have used your powers to make them think twice about even attempting to face you again, and more than that, why would you risk causing another war before this one is even over by almost killing them? Did you even go there to watch, or to simply start a fight because you couldn't kill Nieve that night?"

"What? She has nothing to do with this."

"Then tell me why if not to gain something other than just punishing yourself?" He demanded as thunder boomed from outside while we faced each other.

"It wasn't-"

"Okay, say I believe that. Why then do this to yourself, time and time again? What does it prove? There needs to be an element of fear, there has to be respect and-."

"Fine!" More thunder, and this time it wasn't him doing it. I glared at Cain. "I wanted to kill Memir. I wanted to shut his stupid mouth and remove any chance of a threat in the future. I wanted to watch the life leave his eyes and see the surprise that remained cemented onto his face when I actually fucking did it. Those assholes weren't much better. I want more than their respect. I want more than their fear. I want to be seen as who the fuck I am because it doesn't matter who I am trying to be or where I am, or what I do, I am forever questioned and doubted, and told how it should be done and what I am doing wrong, and I fucking over it. Even now. With you! Don't use your kickass fighting abilities, Elise, use your powers. Do better."

"I don't sound like that." He pointed out, not appreciating the way I mocked his dumb, goofy voice.

"You do from where I am standing." I huff.

Cain boldly stepped closer, clearly relying on how good he smelt to stop me from stabbing him in his stupid eye. "Fuck off. I don't want to hear it from you any more than I want to hear it from Kara or Apollo or anyone else right now."

"I know. I also know that Gudrun was right. I should have been doing more and doing it sooner. I don't mean this how it's probably going to sound to you right now, but you are young and you are still learning-" As I opened my mouth he shook his head. "With little time left. I know exactly what you were doing today, and I've been there. All of this, I've been there I was just fortunate enough I didn't have all the other shit you have to deal with with it. I know what you are capable of Elise, I've seen glimpses of who you are becoming every day and you will work this all out on your own in your way. I want to let you get there on your own, but-."

My anger began to ease. "We don't have time for that."

"No, we don't." Cain agreed, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "So, next time if you want to kill Memir, do it."

"What?" Not the response I was expecting.

"You've always had a sharp gut instinct, what stopped you?"

"Kara mostly."

"Do you regret it?"

"A little." His eyebrow raised slightly, not believing me. I already knew he knew exactly how close I'd come to doing it. I could practically see him with his bruised ego sneaking around this place, looking for support or to cause some kind of trouble as payback. I might even ask Circe to get the Lions out patrolling tonight. "Yes. I think he's going to be a problem later, not Thor levels but an issue."

"And next time you want to prove a point, you don't let them see the toll it takes on you."

"Like how you just went back into Dark King mode after killing Hercules." I got it.

"Yes. You can't heal, but you are strong, resilient and stubborn. No matter what, you hold it together until Apollo or I are there. In the meantime, you do not let them see a single hair out of place and you look like you will go on until every last fucker is dead before you will consider stopping." I'd never cared how shitty I'd looked post-battle. I mostly just cared about surviving but it was more than that now. "You once asked me to guide the way, that together we would do what needed to be done and I held back. Neither of us can anymore."

"So, you're not annoyed at what I did, you just don't want to let them see me post-fight disaster?"

"Pretty much and I don't want you to hold back to please anyone. You can always ask for forgiveness later."

"You're ridiculous."

"I am immortal and untouchable."

I rolled my eyes. "No, you're not."

"That's what I want my enemies to think." He suddenly handed me over a dagger. "Cut my shirt."

"What?"

He opened his arms wide, "Do it. You can't hurt me."

"Sure I can't." I take a swipe, and sure enough the fabric rips. "Yes, that was hard and-"

His shirt is fixed before I even finish what I was going to say. Cain smiles and I do it again, and again, suddenly determined to do more than rip his damn shirt.

"What are-" I stop and he laughs.

"That's my point."

"Stupid fucking point." I throw the dagger at him, not surprised when it just disappears.

"Elle," I shake my head, and push him back as he attempts to pull me closer.

"No. Message received, thanks for whatever this all was, but I'll find you later. I just, need some space."

I leave before he can stop me and once I'm sure I also wasn't followed, I end up making my way to Circe's room. Knocking on the door, she is sprawled out on her bed leaning on one of her lions with her nymphs dancing around in front of one that's playing a harp. Of course.

"Elise, this is a treat. Welcome." Circe greets, not bothering to move. "I had a feeling I'd be seeing you soon."

"Did you now?" I muse, daring to go further in. Other nymphs sleep together in the corner of the room, or at least I think they are until one sits up, slips off her dress and lays back down.

"What is you want, as I don't think you're here to relax with me and mine."

"I'm not." I sigh, my early tiredness returning. "But I would like to ask for your assistance."

Her eyes light up as she leans forward, crawling to the end of her bed. "The pleasure is all mine. Speak. Whatever it is I am here to help."

"I want your lions on patrol tonight. I have a feeling Memir isn't done just yet, and if anyone or anything else it might raise suspicion."

"Of course." She clicks her fingers and the harp stops. "You heard the Empress."

The nymphs slip away and with a lazy yawn, whoever was on the bed gets up and slowly pads out after them. Circe sits up properly, clearly unbothered by the see-through fabric that is doing little to cover her body as she closes the distance between us. Her face is wrinkled in concentration and caution looking more like the woman I first met than the friend she'd become.

"You showed him mercy at the gathering. I'm intrigued by your sudden interest. If we find him tonight, what would you like us to do exactly?"

"Bring him to me."

"And our Queen?"

"For now, she doesn't need to know. She was the one more eager to keep him alive in the first place" I decide. Kara would be a later problem.

"Of course." Circe hesitated before she held her hand up. With a twist, a card was suddenly in her grasp. "Empress."

"Hecate?" I took the card, already recognizing the image on the front but the words on the back were a new addition.

"A raven dropped it off, not long before you arrived."

"You always were one to break the rules." I sigh. "Helpful as always"

Circe shrugged. "I think it's her way of approving your next move. Guidance can be found everywhere but only if you're looking for it. Hecate always leaves her clues."

"I just want answers."

"Maybe that's not what you need." There was something in the way she said it that got my attention. "Where has waiting around for answers got you in the past?"

"Nowhere," I admit.

Circe smiles, "Ah, wait. That. That sounded like an answer. Looks like you found one after all. Was it one you wanted or needed? Maybe both or maybe neither."

"You're starting to sound like the rest of them."

"I'd agree with you but I'm sensing that might not be the best idea right now. What's going on?" She motioned to the small table and chairs by the window, and we went to sit down. Oddly a teapot and two matching cups appeared a second later as one of the nymphs seemed to appear from within the curtains and vanish the same way. "Are you alright?"

"I literally feel like I am at a fork in the road. No matter which way I go, someone is going to get hurt and I am always the one left to pay the price." I admit.

Circe looked thoughtful for a moment. "I am no stranger to bad decisions and their consequences, yet here I am. A long time ago I met someone who made it possible for me to find what it was I had needed this whole time, and that I'd always had it within me. The mind is a powerful tool, Elise, the heart a dangerous one, and when they are at war it is when we are at our weakest. So go deeper. Find that wild woman wherever you have kept her caged and set her free. There is only a question of which path to take if you ask it."

"It's not that simple." I wasn't even sure if I believed that.

"Tell me, when did you feel at your most free, your most powerful, your most authentic." She paused, her eyes burning into mine before she smiled. "Tell me about it."

"I. I um, I don't know."

"You've already seen it. Thought of it. I can see your cheeks flushing with the memory of when you truly felt alive." She took my hand in hers, a finger sliding around my wrist to push against my pulse. "Your heart is racing. I want to know. Tell me. Every detail."

Closing my eyes I'm standing in front of the portal on the beach. My boots are cold and damp from where they'd started to sink into the sand. I can smell the ocean; feel the spray of the waves as they crash against the cliffs. Moving through the Berserkers to get to Cain and Hercules with Alfie, I'd never been so focused, or as strong as I had become during my first encounter with Uranus. Tartarus filled my vision, my hands tingling with my power as the memory of truly releasing it in a way I hadn't before forced my eyes open as the ground here began to tremble.

"Oh, that good?" Circe smiled, subtly holding the table to maintain her posture before the quake eased. "Now I really want to know."

I let out a breath. "Ailin once told me that each time I leave, I come back different and she's worried one day I won't. She might be right, I don't know who I will be once this is over. I feel like once I do this there is no going back."

"I don't know who Ailin is, but that sounds more like her issue than yours and darling. Do you ever see a flower shrink back into the seed once it blooms?"

"Now you sound like Ailin." I force a smile.

Circe takes my hand in hers. "I sense the love you have for her, so I am going to think that is a good thing?"

"Not from where I am sitting but I guess so. I tell you, I can't wait to be old enough to speak in riddles and metaphors."

Circe's laugh is loud, genuine and slightly contagious as I let myself laugh with her until barely a second later Artemis appears. Her face instantly wrinkles with dislike as she looks around, and the eye roll as she turned our way wasn't missed by either of us.

"Doors. Knock. Try it." I groan.

"To what do we owe this little intrusion?" Circe's voice is tight, her mood changing quicker than mine.

"I wanted to see Elise. Apollo said you'd-"

"Did nothing I couldn't handle," I answer. "You may go now."

"Elise, I'm worried about you. Surely even you, Circe can see she's hardly in a position to start a fight, let alone lead an army into war."

"I disagree and not just because the one time we do agree with one another will likely be when hell freezes over." Circe snaps.

"Been there. Done that." I mumble.

Circe ignores me. "What will it take for at least one of you to believe in this girl? You were in the Crossroads with her. You've stood by her in past battles and saw her almost defeat the Furies, and survive facing Perseus shield. This girl you openly judge and doubt has Gaia taking her orders. But not you or any of these other small-minded, egotistical-"

"Watch yourself Circe. You've never known your place and I am not the only one willing to remind you of it." Artemis warned.

Standing, Circe faced Artemis;  her eyes burning with pure loathing.

"Oh, I am well aware of who I am and where I belong. The only reason I am not showing you exactly what I am capable of is sitting right there, trying her fucking hardest to hold all of this, and more together for your ungrateful sakes. When this is over, I know you will come for me and I will be waiting." No threats, just promises.

Something flickered in the corner of my eye, and turning Gudrun now sat where Circe had; a small, black rabbit nestled into the crook of her arm as she inspected what was left in the Circe's cup. I glanced back to the others, not sure if they all saw her too or if I was imagining it, but sure enough, Circe looked surprised and Artemis well, when she vanished a second later that part wasn't a surprise.

"We're plotting, are we? I'd love to know what the three of us have to whisper about." Gudrun lowered her voice. "She made need a few, hard, painful pushes in the right direction but she'll follow her twins' light in time."

"You're the exiled Valkyrie." Circe crossed her arms. "I never thought much about wards here, generally I'm down with the more the merrier but today seems to be making a point that it is not always the case."

I opened my mouth, not sure if I should apologise for Artemis, make sense of Gudruns arrival or try to soothe Crice so instead I just closed it, took the other tea cup and poured myself some tea. Next up the Mad Hatter was bound to appear and the rabbit might dash off yelling at me for being late and it wouldn't even be weird.

"Gudrun." She grunted. "And you're the sea witch bastard whose wild won."

"Circe."

"Aren't you going to ask me why I'm here?" The exiled Valkyrie looked my way and I simply shrugged. "I don't much know so don't worry. I simply followed the rabbit, and the tension in here was unmissable."

"I am surprised Hecate hasn't truly shown herself." Circe sat back down, frowning as Gudrun helped herself to more tea.

"I woke this morning thinking the same thing. Most unlike her, yet she has eyes and ears everywhere."

"Of course she does."

I'd fallen asleep. Sitting in Circe's room, having tea with her and Gudrun, discussing Hecate like the weather - it felt, off. Artemis and her little display seemed normal enough, but just one of the many other worries plaguing my mind at the moment.

"Elise?" Circe broke into my thoughts.

"I, ah, have to go." I decide. "Keep me up to date with what we discussed."

The comfort and familiarity of my room were instant, yet seeing Cain and Apollo by the door only added to the off feeling. Great. I went into the bedroom, climbing into the middle of the bed just as the pair of them came in. Almost instantly I felt better, like being away from here wasn't a good idea right now.

"Apollo shares our concern about Memir. He tried bringing it up with Kara but she wasn't interested." Cain stops by the bed, his eyes trained towards the end just beyond my feet. "Don't move."

Apollo slowly steps around to the other side as I feel a heaviness on the bed, and from within the mess of pushed-aside blankets I notice the movement that had Cain on edge. Reaching out, whatever was there was not a threat and kept their powers back as I made the first move. Changing my position so I can slide my arm under the sheet the sensation of a snake body wrapping around my forearm offered the kind of comfort I hadn't realised I'd been aching for as a grey pearl-like shimmer of scales emerged.

"The fuck is that, Elise?" Apollo whispered, whatever he was planning on doing clearly no longer a go as he kept his eyes on my new friend. "Alfie is a demon, and managed to give off more warm and fuzzy feelings than whatever that is!"

"Hello." I raised my hand, the head sliding out to rest on my fingers before it opened its mouth wide and hissed, revealing nothing but black and a promise of death.

Despite being a snake, there was power here. Hecate. I felt my arms and shoulder tingle wherever we touched and could just imagine the danger its poison carried. So much so, if this snake was in anyone's bed other than mine, their death would likely be unavoidable. Looking into the black of its eye, I could see only darkness but also hear the gasp of surprise. As its tongue flicked out towards my nose, we both breathed in that feeling of panic as the darkness is removed to reveal more of Memir than I'd ever want to see again, as it bites again, and again. It shows me how its poison worked, not as painful as I had expected; with pins and needles, and numbness, yet as he strikes at his victim's chest, the bites being painless is hardly a mercy. Memir knows what's happening the second before his heart stops beating - the venom has taken control of his body and there is nothing he can do about it.

"I won't need you to help me, little one." I sigh, almost disappointed. "Tonight, I will take care of Memir. Not you."

"She's talking to a snake again." Apollo points out to Cain.

"That's not your typical snake." He answers. "Go."

Apollo doesn't need to be told twice.

"A gift from Hecate?" Cain asks, boldly sitting beside us.

Looking at him, I understand why he sent Apollo away, and safety wasn't the reason for it. There were still gaps in trust, now more than ever. I feel its muscles tighten, its head raised as a glassy eye turns his way. I'm fascinated by its black tongue, that empty void of nothing that seems to exist inside it while well aware of where its thoughts are going.

"He's mine. No biting." I warn, yet am unable to stop myself from poking its mouth gently with a finger, curiously looking where I know I shouldn't as it opens slightly. "You are stunning. I've never seen a snake like you before."

"Are you expecting it to talk back?"

"Don't mock me, or him. Alfie talks, why would this one be any different?" I inspect the scales, letting the snake slide across my arms. "I needed this today."

"And them?" Cain points towards the window, and within the vines that seem to have miraculously appeared around the opening, there are a few more well-camouflaged green bodies within the leaves.

I push back the blankets and sure enough another Empress card awaits. A very Alfie-like snake has its head on my knee and its body around my throne.

"She seems to be getting more involved in a very uncommitted way." Cain frowns as he inspects the card before tossing it onto the bed.

My new friend slides over it, cautiously using the blankets that now fall onto the floor as a guide to get down and away to join the others in the new foliage of my room. I wait until I sense no eyes on us and climb onto Cain's lap. His hands run down my back sending a shiver along my spine until his hands rest on my hips and all that stops me from getting even closer to him is Blueberry. I kiss him until I'm breathless and hot, and feeling something strong enough to keep that strangeness I'd felt in Circe's room away. I didn't want numb. I didn't want lost. I needed to feel myself. I needed to feel us.

"Circe has the lions watching Memir. Artemis is going to be in a mood and I've probably pissed Kara off too. I will definitely be upsetting her with a big old I told you so as far as that asshole from the North is concerned, and I think Hecate is sending a message the only way she can. I can see, no, it's more, I feel her waiting. She's stuck and growing impatient. Something is going to happen to ignite a spark that will make all of this explode and I need you to keep me in one piece through it all."

"It's you and me, Elle." He promises.

I pull back as he kisses me again. "I know. And, that's why she's here."

The flicker of confusion vanishes as Gaia appears. I can see the uncertainty all over his face, despite how well and how fast he can put up that mask of indifference. It could start raining spaghetti and meatballs right now and you'd think he was the one that forecasted it. My kiss is brief, before sliding off his lap and out of his hold. Slowly he stands, staying just behind me as I go over to Gaia.

In seconds we've stepped into some kind of fairy kingdom, and if a damn unicorn didn't trot past us pooping rainbows I was going to be super disappointed only not nearly as disappointed as I'd be if Cain didn't want to go through with this. I took a deep breath, smelling the ocean and the sweetness of the flowers that surrounded us. The air was clear and warm, free of the responsibilities and upcoming war back at Olympus.

"Elise, where-" Cain went quiet and Gaia simply smiled as she walked down a small path and left us alone.

"I want to warn you, I am insane. I literally went from nearly killing people this morning to somehow thinking of this by the afternoon."

"What is this, exactly?" He inspected his own outfit change; the soft linen of his shirt to the cut of the suit pants. "You look, amazing."

"Thank Gaia." I smiled, taking his hand in mine. "You look pretty great yourself."

Our outfits weren't something I had considered, yet the Grecian style gown with its loose flowing fabric was ideal. I wasn't sure what it was made of, swishing the skirt slightly it managed to sparkle even in the dimming light of the evening and that was enough. Just how having my hair down and loose, felt like a foreign treat since it had been kept in messy buns and braids recently. That feeling of me-ness I'd been looking for was there just like the way the sand surrounded my toes.

"You gave me this ring and a promise, but you've given me so much already. I feel everything, with you. I feel safe and strong. I feel heard and seen. I feel supported and loved. I feel like I am home, and I've never had that. Not like this. I will fight to keep this, to keep you and do whatever I can to give you whatever peace you need how you've done for me." I pause, unsure how to say what I want. "I'm rambling, and I already told you I'm insane, but whatever. I just. I love you. I want more than this ring. I want it all, and if you want it, me, beyond my mortal customs, I ah, well, how do I do this? I want us to be bonded?"

"You don't sound so sure," Cain smirked, pulling me closer.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Good. I love your rambling and your moments of insanity. Especially ones like this." Just before his mouth is back against mine, he moves so instead we're cheek to cheek. "Gaia?"

I shrugged. "I don't do anything the simple way, besides I literally thought about it as I went into the bedroom and I just kind of knew she'd show up at the right time."

It made sense as I said it.

"Are you two decided or is it time to leave? This offer does have an expiry." Gaia called out, right on queue.

"So I guess it's now or-" I start only to stop as Cain does kiss me this time.

"Later. But now is better."

Later could be the better option as I hold onto him, only instead he gets us to Gaia in the blink of an eye and we're out on the beach with a purple sky above and an endless ocean in front of us. Gaia is luminescent with the full moon rising behind her and as she guides us into position. For some odd reason, standing face to face as we had a million times before I feel exposed. Not nervous, just full of anticipation of what is happening as we take each other hands, crossing over one another as Gaia reaches up into the sky, into the moon as it glows orange behind her. I stop breathing as the thread forms in her hand, not a stranger to the strange glowing thread that she gathers.

"That's like the thread-" I can't talk, a spike of fear tightening my chest as she does the first loop around our hands.

"Yes." Is all she says, focused on the task of binding our hands together.

"I thought you knew how this worked, Elle," Cain whispers gently. "Bonding ceremonies can generally only be done by one of the Fates, or someone acting on their behalf. It's why it's such a huge affair if it's done in this world. Few ever go to the trouble or are willing to risk the commitment."

"Not just some vowels and a kiss at the end then?" I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"No, Empress. Your lives were already so entwined, this will be most simple to complete. Your two halves want this. I've been waiting for the call." Gaia sounded much too happy about this. "This will be the final stage of binding your lives together."

"Elle?" The. caution in his tone had me looking away from the golden light of the thread that seemed to melt into one another quicker than Gaia could move. "Talk to me."

"It's the thread. Not you. I want this. I wasn't expecting the Fates to be playing some role in this after, well, everything."

"Worry not, for fate is now in your hands." Gaia chuckled to herself.

"No, she didn't know what this actually meant. Gaia, stop. Elle, Elise. We don't have to do this now, we can stick to the mortal ways. If you think for a second-" Cain stepped closer to me, causing Gaia to mutter something under her breath and push him back into place.

"No. It's okay. Really." I assured him. "Together?"

Cain nodded, the grip on my hands getting tighter. "Together."

Gaia tied the thread off, her eyes glowing with the same golden shimmer that now covered our hands. Silence surrounded us as the ocean paused, the gentle push and pull of the waves against the shore frozen as even the sand didn't shift under our feet and the wind abandoned the trees. Gaia threw her head back, her hands reaching up the sky before they grabbed onto ours and I wasn't sure if the hum was coming from her or the thread.

"And so we begin."

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Sorry all, not sure what happened but half the chapter was missing! Thanks for still being here ❤️