Chapter 110

“What else are we gonna do, if not go to the temple?” I ask, looking up at Orion with wide eyes, spreading my hands wide.

“Plan our assault on my father, educate you about your future kingdom, plan our wedding,” Orion suggests, the final word coming out from between clenched teeth.

A gasp sounds from the corner of the room and we all turn towards it. A little guilt rolls through me as I realize that it was Blythe. And that I forgot about him. Again.

“You’re engaged?” he whispers, appalled. “Again!? Already!?”

“Don’t be jealous, Blythe,” Anton says, low and teasing. “You had your chance.”

“I’m not engaged,” I say on a sigh, stabbing at my pancakes.

“I have no idea what’s going on,” Blythe moans, tucking his face into his hands.

“Join the club,” Laila murmurs, a bit more cheerful about it, her mouth full of pancake.

“All right, enough of this!” I say, breathing sharply through my nose, too annoyed to be hungry anymore. “I’m in charge, and I say that we’re going to the Temple! Everyone’s got ten minutes to get ready, and then we’re off!”

“Why are you in charge,” Orion grumbles. “You’re the smallest one here –“

I spin, glaring, poking at him with the tines of my fork. “Push me on it, big boy,” I snarl. “See what happens.”

Orion gasps a bit in surprise at the feel of the sharp tines on his arm, but then he jumps back a step and bursts out laughing. “Fine, fine, my Queen,” he says, dipping into a low and courtly bow. “Whatever you say, as usual.”

I grin a bit, liking that much more, and turn back to the table where no one has moved.

“Well?” I say, raising an eyebrow as I look around at them? “What are you waiting for?”

Everyone bursts into action at once, making me grin.

Thirty minutes later, we all appear at the top of a hill outside a circular walled city that shines all white and golden in the darkness.

“Oh!” Laila says, squeezing my hand. “Oh wow, it’s so…pretty…”

“How is it all shiny,” Anton asks, frowning at Orion, “when there’s no sunlight?”

“Because it’s full of life or whatever,” Orion says with a sigh, dropping Anton’s hand and running his fingers through his hair, his eyes focused on the city ahead.

My eyes immediately go to the huge temple built on a hill just at the center of the city, probably as they’re supposed to. I mean, honestly, it’s so gorgeous that it’s almost impossible to look at anything else. The temple’s long columns and stately roof shine almost like a star, radiating light and…power? I don’t know, but I feel a very keen affinity for it. It becomes instantly obvious that this is Her temple, the place where She dwells within the city.

A little smile comes to my lips as I fix my eyes on it, pleased to have a direction, a goal.

But Orion sighs.

I glance up at him on my left, frowning and squeezing his hand in turn. “Why are you all upset?”

“Because I’m not supposed to like, be here, June,” he growls, giving me a little glare. “My magic doesn’t work here because she doesn’t allow it.”

“Why not?” I say, dropping his hand and gesturing towards the city. “Isn’t that your aunt?”

“Yeah, but she and dad aren’t getting along right now,” he sighs.

“Since when?” I ask.

“Since I was like…born,” he mutters, shaking his head and looking out over the city. Anton leans around Orion, listening closely. Faiza just sighs, bored and irritated, looking up at the three moons in the sky and tapping her foot, waiting for us to get on with it. Blythe stands on her other side, looking out at the city, his face tired and worried.

“Again, why not?” I ask, doing my best to keep my attention on Orion.

“I don’t know – centuries worth of disagreement all culminating in my existence, I guess,” Orion says, giving an awkward shrug. “I didn’t ask. Dad didn’t really encourage familial closeness and sharing. She’s always been kind to me and stuff but my powers in her city have always been shut down.”

“Well, I’m sure she loves you and will be glad you’re here,” I say, dismissing his concerns and starting forward towards the city, eager to get on with it. “You’re her nephew!”

Orion grumbles but the whole group begins to walk down the hill towards the city. I grin, setting my shoulders back, feeling oddly…excited. I mean, I don’t fully know why, I just think we’re getting closer to answers and a strategy – both of which we desperately need

Anton falls in on my lefthand side and Laila on my right. I glance over my shoulder to see both Orion, Faiza, and Blythe following moodily behind.

“You feel good about this?” Laila asks, glancing over at me.

“I do!” I say, cheerful. I tilt my head to the side, considering her as we move forward. “You don’t?”

“I don’t know what I feel,” she murmurs, tucking her hands behind her back and keeping her eyes on the city. “I’m…a little at a loss for my place in this world anymore, Junie. I mean, if there isn’t any Game anymore, why am I here?”

I very nearly stop in my tracks - only Anton’s hand moving to the small of my back and giving an encouraging bit of pressure keeps me going.

“Do – do you want to go home?” I ask, quickening my steps to keep up with Laila, my eyes trained on her. “Oh my god, we should send you home – of course we should send you home –“

She turns a little to grin at me. “I don’t know if that’s what I want,” she says, shrugging. “I would…miss you guys if I were home. I want to stay here with you, if that’s possible.”

A bit of guilt sweeps through me as she glances over her shoulder, biting her lip. Because I understand the general direction of her desire. Laila – she’s gotten very close to me and Anton, but the real draw here?

Well, she’s not looking at Faiza or Blythe over her shoulder like that, is she?

“I want you to stay too, Lai,” I say, slipping an arm around her waist and tugging her close. “As long as it’s safe.”

“Good,” she says, slinging her arm around my shoulder and tugging me in for a hug. “That’s what I want too.”

I nod to her, quite pleased and grateful to have my friend as we move towards the huge wall that surrounds the City of Life.

To my surprise, as we get closer it becomes abundantly clear that there are no guards at all at the city gates, which stand wide open.

“People can just…come and go?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder at Orion and Faiza, knowing they’ll best have the answer.

Orion shrugs, confirming it.

Faiza lifts her chin, a proud little smile coming to her lips. “Dozens of worshippers come every day to offer their prayers to my Lady and ask for her favor. She wouldn’t keep them away with a locked gate.”

“Really?” I ask, surprised, turning back to the gates with my eyebrows raised. And as I watch, two shades – as transparent and beige as Blythe – appear at the gates and begin to walk forward. “Oh, like, dead people?”

“Dead people, living,” Faiza says. I look back to see her give a little shrug. “I mean, that’s what you’re doing, after all, isn’t it?”

“I guess so,” I murmur, frowning a bit, realizing that she is right. That I, just like these ghosts, am likewise a pilgrim voyaging to the temple, seeking answers and maybe a favor. I smile, kind of liking the adventure of it all. Anton stays steadily at my side and I grin up at him as we pass through the gate.

As soon as I step into the city of life, a pulse of magic rushes over me. I gasp, but so does Anton, whipping his gaze down to mine.

“Did you feel that?” he whispers.

I laugh a little, looking down at my arms where the hair is still standing up. “Yes! I mean – what was it? It wasn’t bad, was it?”

A little shiver runs through Anton and he smiles, looking forward down the road. “No, I mean…it felt nice, didn’t it?”

I study him, curious, because I’m not sure it felt particularly nice to me. It just felt very powerful. I turn to Laila, curious if she felt anything, but before she can open her mouth to tell me what she thinks Orion stumbles a little bit as he comes through the gate.

“God damn it,” he grumbles.

“Are you okay?” I ask, stepping forward, offering my hand – just as Laila does.

I hesitate at the last moment, letting my friend step forward and be the one to put a steadying hand on Orion’s arm.