An Echo of Gods by Tallie Rose

Author:Tallie Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, family-drama, gods, blood magic, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, witches, fae, murder, death, prime minister
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2023-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

COPPER HAIR. BUDDING blooms. A note. A phone. A tapping against her mind. Briar was going to summon Nilaja into whatever weird gathering this was and strangle her. That was the only way she was going to see her right now. She didn’t want to remember that night, her resolve to sacrifice her aunt. Her desperation.

She tried to send images back but had no idea if it worked. Later, she’d give in, but not now. Not when an unsettlingly cheery Fauna was drunk in her living room, wearing what Briar was pretty sure was her mother’s dress.

Whatever worked. She’d taken one psych class in college but she knew there were stages of grief, though she couldn’t remember any of them but acceptance. Still, she wasn’t catatonic. It had to be better.

Soren watched her, his eyes following every movement. The sharpness of it reminded Briar of a predator watching prey. His expression changed whenever Fauna looked at him, a gentle smile.

Her resolve to use him weakened with every moment. There had to be another way. A way that didn’t involve sacrificing anyone. She needed to try. Maybe Henrik was right, if everyone knew maybe someone would have a solution.

Maybe someone else would do it for her. She didn’t want anyone to die but she’d rather a stranger than Soren. Or maybe they could work together. A massive amount of magic existed in this world. The Gods couldn’t know everything. They hadn’t predicted this. Maybe they could trap her somewhere, deep and dark and dank, until she lived out the natural lifespan of Jenia’s body.

Maybe they could stab her instead.

Briar took another shot offered to her by Fauna. She could feel Henrik watching her as Soren watched her cousin. She imagined summoning a God just to frighten him—make him understand the realities of their situation. Universes were born in their eyes. Seasons swirled around them. They rattled bones and shook the stars. Their magic was wild and intoxicating.

And that’s why she was frightened to tell. She didn’t know what would happen. Some would flock to Eliana, even half a God was more than had been seen in centuries. When they realized she’d cracked the door for Gods to walk with them again they’d want to try. Who knew what the Gods would bring with them or what the people summoning them might call instead? She didn’t trust the Deities to make the right choices.

“My father wants to help,” Soren said, breaking the silence of the room, then took a drink. “I know he’s…well, I know he sucks, but we should let him.”

“Everyone we involve is in danger.”

“Everyone is in danger,” Soren said, echoing Henrik’s earlier words. Briar understood. He didn’t want to die. He wanted another solution. How could she deny him that?

“Well, he was Prime Minister,” Sparrow reminded them, from his spot sprawled across the floor in front of her balcony door. “I’m assuming Evaria knows and she’s powerful. Ansel still has some clout with…shadier groups.”

“And Agatha Marsh is on our side.

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