Tale of the Heart Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos #4)

Chapter 39

C HAPTER 39

W e spend the day and night helping clean up the wreckage. The city feels like it’s dangling on the edge of a knifepoint. Rumors are spreading, and some of them are closer to the truth than anyone would like. Not that Gabriel is trying to keep this knowledge from anyone, but it might also cause a mass panic, and that’s the last thing anyone needs.

The sun is rising on the following day when we all meet in the palace, occupying one of the large dining rooms where the cooks have been bringing in food on a regular rotation so the soldiers, healers, and anyone else on duty can stop in and grab something whenever they need.

Last night, I found a spare moment to catch up with Halo and Marici and revealed everything to them. They were as shocked as everyone else and only wished the best for me. I wish the best for them too and pray that if we come out the end of this, I will see them again.

Nadir and I now find ourselves in a quiet moment, sitting with Gabriel, Erevan, Tristan, and Mael. After the quake, the rebel leader appeared at the palace, and I watched from a distance as he sat in a serious conversation with Gabriel for a long time. When they were finished, Erevan remained here, helping deal with the aftermath.

Everyone is exhausted, and no one says much as we pick at our food and occasionally sip our drinks.

“We need to meet the other rulers in two days,” Nadir finally says, looking at Gabriel. “We sent the missives just before the quake.”

“We understand. Thank you for all of your help.”

I exchange a look with Nadir. I feel terrible about abandoning them right now.

“I’m sorry,” I say, but Gabriel waves me off. “If you really think this is a part of some bigger change in Ouranos, then you need to deal with it. This is only a minor thing compared to what might happen if it continues.”

I nod and take a sip of my water. It’s boiling hot in the room despite every window flung open to the breeze. The air is filled with smoke and ash, which does nothing but coat everything in a depressing layer of grey dust.

“The heat,” I say. “According to the Empyrium, that’s what happened to Aphelion last time.”

I look around the room, half expecting Zerra to be standing there, smirking at me. If she didn’t cause the quake, I’m still all too aware that she might strike again at any moment, which seems like a good reason to clear out of Aphelion as soon as possible. They’ve got enough on their hands.

“Can we talk about the ark?” I ask.

Gabriel shrugs his shoulders. “Tyr said you should have it. Who am I to argue with my . . . king?”

He keeps stumbling on that word.

I nod. “We actually don’t want to take it anymore, but we do need him to destroy it with his magic,” I say. “And since he’s unbonded, he might need his Primary’s help. In Tyr’s case, it seems almost certain he would.”

Gabriel stares at me before he sighs and rubs a hand down his face.

“Do you think he can?” Nadir asks. “When was the last time he used his magic?”

Gabriel shakes his head. “I couldn’t tell you. Certainly not since before Atlas cuffed him.”

“Do you think the arcturite affected his abilities?” Nadir asks.

As he and Gabriel discuss the implications of extended exposure to arcturite, my gaze slides to Erevan, who watches everyone with a guarded expression like he wants to escape through a window. Atlas isn’t the Primary, so it must be someone else related to their family.

“Is it you?” I blurt out.

Erevan sits up straighter. “Me what?”

“Are you the Primary of Aphelion?”

Gabriel’s gaze darts to Erevan and then back to me. “Lor—”

“Sorry. I don’t mean to pry, but if Tyr can’t use his magic anymore, then we might need your help. ”

Erevan’s shoulders drop, and I sense he’s been carrying a lot of weight on them for a very long time.

“I . . .” He sighs. “Yes. I am the Primary.”

“You?” Nadir asks. “And Atlas knew?”

Gabriel nods. “The day the Mirror told Tyr, he ran straight to me and Atlas.” He pauses. “That was the beginning of the end.”

“How long have you known?” Nadir asks Erevan, leaning forward.

“Maybe all along,” Erevan admits. “But Tyr told me right before Atlas . . . Well, before he did everything.”

“What do you plan to do?” Nadir asks, and Gabriel and Erevan exchange a loaded look. I place my hand on Nadir’s arm, indicating that maybe this is none of our business, even if I am the one who started it.

“I don’t know,” Erevan says, his words clipped. “I don’t want to be a king.”

A shuffle at the door draws our attention to Tyr, who stands beside Hylene, her hand gripped around his elbow. We all pass looks around the circle, wondering how much he heard.

Gabriel stands up. “Tyr . . . I’m sorry. I . . .”

Tyr raises a hand, and Gabriel snaps his mouth shut as Hylene escorts the king into the room with slow steps. It’s nearly painful to watch him.

Hylene pulls out a chair and Tyr settles into it as we all watch in silence.

“Tyr,” Gabriel says, his voice pained. “You should stay in bed.”

“I’m fine,” he says, his voice a little more forceful than his appearance suggests .

He turns to look at me. “You need me to destroy the ark. Please tell me everything, Heart Queen.”

I nod and then fill him in on the rest of the details. I watch his hand open and close like he’s reaching for his magic.

“I can still feel it,” he says after I stop speaking, and my chest heaves with relief before he adds, “But it’s not the same as it was.”

“But it’s still Imperial magic,” Nadir says. “You’re still the ascended king.”

Tyr dips his chin. “All I can do is try.” Then, his gaze moves to Erevan. “Or ask for help from the Primary and the soon-to-be king of Aphelion.”

Erevan looks like he’s just been kicked. Gabriel sits up in his seat, alarm spreading over his expression. Erevan can only ascend if Tyr descends into the Evanescence, and then he will be gone forever.

“No,” Erevan says, a firm set to his jaw. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Then we need your magic,” Nadir says.

Erevan shakes his head. “I swore an oath never to use it until the low fae have been granted use of theirs again.”

“But—” I open my mouth and then snap it shut at the dark look Erevan tosses me. It’s clear from his expression that he has no intentions of wavering.

Tyr tips his head slowly and gives Erevan a look up and down that suggests his cousin doesn’t really have a choice in the matter.

“Then I will try. After the warders return and are released,” he says, and then more firmly, “ We will destroy it. ”

Erevan gives no sign of acknowledging that statement.

“Any sign of Atlas?” I ask, and Gabriel gestures to a piece of paper on the table.

“They’re getting closer. I’m hoping they’ll return any day now.”

Nadir nods. “We appreciate all of your help.”

We’re due to arrive in Heart in two days. But I’m not quite done with everything I need to do here. There’s one more person we need to see.

I turn to Tyr and ask, “Before we leave, do you mind if I borrow the ark for one last errand?”