Chapter 20 Betrayal’s Edge
The meeting with Naia was set for midnight in a neutral sanctuary, and every instinct I had screamed that it was a trap.
"I don't like this," Jeron said for the third time as we approached the crumbling shrine. It existed in a pocket realm between mortal and divine, accessible only through Echo's portals. "It's too convenient. Too easy."
"Everything about this rebellion has been too convenient," Lysander pointed out. "Echo appearing exactly when we needed a guide. Moros accepting us after one fight. Sometimes luck is just luck."
"Or it's a setup," Kael countered, his hand resting on his weapon. "And we're walking right into it."
Through the bond, I felt their wariness mixing with my own. But we didn't have a choice. Without someone inside the palace, our plan fell apart before it began.
"Echo vouched for her," I said, though the words felt hollow. "Said Naia's been questioning the Council for years."
"Echo also admitted they help us because they're bored," Theron said quietly. "Not exactly a ringing endorsement of their judgment."
The shrine was small, barely more than four walls and a roof that had seen better centuries. Inside, a single figure waited, illuminated by moonlight that filtered through gaps in the ceiling. She was smaller than I'd expected, maybe five-two, with dark skin and eyes that held the weight of too much knowledge. Her robes marked her as a keeper of the archives, embroidered with symbols that hurt to look at directly.
"Naia," Echo said, stepping forward. "Thank you for meeting us."
"I'm not here for you," Naia said, her voice soft but carrying an edge. Her gaze fixed on me. "I'm here for her. The Goddess of Ruin. I needed to see if the rumors were true."
"Which rumors?" I asked, moving closer despite Jeron's warning hand on my arm.
"That you're real. That the prophecy child survived." She circled me slowly, studying me like I was a manuscript she was cataloging. "That you're powerful enough to actually challenge the Council."
"I don't know about that last part," I admitted. "But I'm trying."
"Trying isn't enough," Naia said bluntly. "The Council has ruled for ten thousand years. They've crushed dozens of rebellions, executed thousands of dissidents. What makes you think you'll succeed where everyone else failed?"
"Because I have to," I said simply. "Because if I don't, they'll kill thousands more with their Purification Engine. Because someone has to stand up to them, and apparently that someone is me."
Naia's expression softened slightly. "The Engine. So you know about that."
"The Oracle told us," I said. "Everything. The real prophecy, the Council's lies, the weapon they're building. We know we're running out of time."
"Less time than you think," Naia said grimly. "The Council moved up their timeline after your escape from the Spire. They're activating the Engine in two days, not three."
My stomach dropped. "Two days?"
"They're paranoid now," Naia continued. "They know you're gathering allies, building an army. They want to neutralize the threat before you can strike."
"Then we move sooner," Kael said immediately. "Attack tomorrow."
"With what preparation?" Jeron demanded. "Half our forces haven't even been briefed on the palace layout."
"If we wait, thousands die," Kael shot back.
"If we rush, we all die and those thousands die anyway," Jeron countered.
"Stop," I said, and they both fell silent. Through the bond, I felt their frustration, their fear disguised as anger. "Naia, can you help us get inside? Weaken the wards like Echo suggested?"
She was quiet for a long moment, and I felt the weight of her decision pressing down on all of us. Then she nodded slowly.
"I can weaken them. Not disable them completely, that would be noticed immediately. But I can create vulnerabilities, openings you can exploit." She met my gaze directly. "But understand what you're asking. The moment I do this, I'm a traitor. If you fail, if this attack doesn't succeed, the Council will execute me in ways that make death seem merciful."
"We won't fail," I said with more confidence than I felt.
"Everyone says that," Naia said. "Right up until they do." She sighed. "But I'll help you anyway. Because I've read the original prophecy. I know what you're meant to do. And I'm tired of watching the Council destroy everything beautiful in their quest for control."
Relief flooded through me. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," she said. "There's a complication. The Council has a new weapon, something they've been developing in secret. A collar that suppresses divine power completely. They're planning to use it on you specifically."
"How does it work?" Lysander asked, his mind already racing through the implications.
"It's keyed to your specific energy signature," Naia said, looking at me. "Once it's on, you won't be able to access your power at all. You'll be mortal, vulnerable. They're planning to capture you alive, put the collar on, and use you as bait to draw out your mates."
Through the bond, I felt rage explode from all four of them. Jeron's shadows flickered violently. Kael's hands ignited with crimson light. Theron's eyes sparked with lightning. Even Lysander's usual control cracked.
"That's not going to happen," Jeron said, his voice deadly quiet.
"It won't if we're prepared for it," Naia said. "I can tell you where they're keeping the collar, give you a chance to destroy it before they can use it."
"Where?" I asked.
"In Selara's personal chambers. She's been assigned to lead the task force hunting you." Naia's expression darkened. "She volunteered for it, actually. I think she takes your existence personally."
"Because I threw her into the Void," I said, remembering the Council envoy's rage at the Crossroads.
"That, and you're everything she's not," Naia said. "Genuinely powerful instead of politically connected. Loved instead of feared. She's been climbing the Council's ranks for centuries, and you appeared out of nowhere and became more important than she'll ever be. She hates you."
"The feeling's mutual," I said. "Can we get to her chambers before the attack?"
"Risky," Naia said. "But possible. I can create a distraction, give you a window. But it would have to be tonight. Tomorrow the security will be tripled."
"Tonight then," I said immediately.
"Athena," Theron started, concern thick in his voice.
"If that collar exists, it's a threat," I said. "Not just to me, but to the entire plan. If they capture me and use me as bait, you'll come for me. All of you. And they'll be ready for it."
"She's right," Lysander said reluctantly. "We need to eliminate that variable."
"It'll just be a small team," Naia said. "Any more than three people will be noticed. You'll have maybe ten minutes before the wards reset and trap you inside."
"I'll go," I said.
"Obviously," Kael said. "And I'm going with you."
"No," Jeron said firmly. "If something goes wrong, Athena needs someone who can get her out through shadows. I'm going."
"You're both going," I said before they could argue further. "Three people. Me, Jeron, and Kael. Theron and Lysander stay here with the army, ready to move if this goes wrong."
"I don't like splitting up," Theron said, his storm-grey eyes troubled.
"Neither do I," I admitted. "But we don't have a choice."
Through the bond, I felt their reluctant acceptance. This was dangerous, possibly suicidal, but necessary.
"I'll open the portal to the Divine Realm in one hour," Naia said. "That gives me time to create the distraction and weaken the specific wards around Selara's chambers. Once you're in, you need to move fast. Find the collar, destroy it, and get out."
"What kind of distraction?" Lysander asked.
Naia's smile was grim. "I'm going to trigger a false alarm about a Void breach in the eastern quadrant. It'll draw most of the guards away from the residential wings. But it won't last long. Ten minutes, maybe fifteen before they realize it's fake."
"Plenty of time," Kael said with dark confidence.
"For you, maybe," Naia said. "For most gods, it would be suicide." She looked at me. "Be careful, Goddess of Ruin. The Council has waited a long time to get their hands on you. They'll have more than just a collar prepared."
"What else?" I asked.
"I don't know," she admitted. "But Selara's been working on something in secret, something even I couldn't find records of. Whatever it is, it's meant for you specifically."
Perfect. Because this mission wasn't dangerous enough already.
"We'll handle it," I said, trying to project confidence I didn't fully feel.
"I hope so," Naia said. "Because if you fail, if the Council captures you, everything we're fighting for dies with you."
No pressure then.
After Naia left to prepare, the five of us stood in tense silence. Through the bond, emotions swirled like a storm. Fear and determination and love and desperation all tangled together.
"This is a bad idea," Theron said finally.
"All our ideas are bad," Lysander pointed out. "This one's just slightly worse than usual."
"If anything goes wrong," Jeron said, looking at me, "you run. You don't try to fight, you don't try to be heroic. You run, and you let me get you out."
"Same goes for you," I countered. "Both of you. We go in together, we come out together."
"Deal," Kael said.
Jeron hesitated, then nodded. "Deal."
One hour later, we stood at the portal Naia had created. It shimmered with unstable energy, and through it, I could see glimpses of the Divine Realm. Crystal spires and golden streets, beautiful and corrupt.
"Ready?" Jeron asked, his shadows already gathering.
I wasn't. I was terrified and exhausted and wondering if this was the moment where our luck finally ran out. But I took his hand anyway, took Kael's hand too, and stepped through the portal.
The Divine Realm welcomed us with golden light and the promise of death.