Redeemed (House of Night #12)(91)

“I would like to be like that, but Rephaim has two things I don’t have, two things I don’t think I’ll ever have.”

When he didn’t keep talking, I prompted, “What two things?”

“The forgiveness of Nyx and the love of a woman.”

I started with the one that wasn’t a ticking time bomb. “Why don’t you think Nyx has forgiven you? Have you asked her?”

“Every day,” he said. “I light a candle at the feet of her statue and ask for her forgiveness every day.”

“Well, then, why would you think the Goddess hasn’t forgiven you? You’ve chosen her path. You’re only doing good. You even saved my grandma from Neferet.”

“She’s never spoken to me.” The sadness in his voice made him sound like he was a zillion years old.

“Nyx hasn’t spoken to a lot of us,” I said.

“That’s not true here. Nyx has appeared multiple times. She appeared today.”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“The Goddess knows what I am. She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“Aurox, that can’t be true. Nyx allowed Heath’s spirit to enter you so that you could choose to be more than a vessel.”

His gaze met mine. “She didn’t do that for me. She did that for you.”

I didn’t know what to say to him. I’d spoken with Nyx’s authority before, when I’d heard her voice, or felt that nudge in my gut that said I was on the right path. I didn’t feel either of those things right now. I just felt bad for Aurox.

“And as for the second thing—you know why I’ll never have that,” he said.

“Aurox, I care about you, but I’m with Stark. It’s just too complicated between us for that to change.”

“No, Zoey. You don’t care about me. You care about Heath. And that’s why it’s too complicated to change. Now I am going to finish my patrol.” His smile was sad and sweet. “Blessed be.”

It was after he’d walked away that I noticed the absence of the warmth that had been spreading from the small, circular stone that rested between my br**sts.

“Old Magick,” I whispered, staring after him. “Aurox is definitely hooked into Old Magick.” So how the hell could that help me?

I had no clue. But I was going to figure it out. I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Aphrodite: Include Aurox in your group text. I waited until my phone wookie roared with her return text saying Okay. Go to sleep before I walked the rest of the way to the dorm.

My feet felt super heavy as I dragged them up the stairs and to my room. It was cool and dark and quiet inside. Stark was sound asleep. I was glad. I didn’t want him to wake up and feel my sadness and stress. I’d have to explain about the Seer Stone soon enough. And I didn’t want to explain about Aurox at all. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, and worried in silence.

I had to move Nala so that I could lie down next to Stark. She only grumbled for a second and then she circled the covers at my feet, making a little Nal nest, flopped her fatty body down, and started up her purr machine. I closed my eyes.

Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Go to sleep.

I sighed and fluffed my pillow and scooted away from Stark so that my restlessness wouldn’t bother him.

“You’re worrying again.” Stark’s voice was sleepy. He pulled me back against him, and his hand found my shoulder, which he started to knead gently.

“You don’t have to do that. I know you’re super tired,” I said.

He moved my hair and kissed the back of my neck. “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

“Thank you for taking care of me,” I whispered.

“Always, Z. Always,” he said. And his touch led me to sleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Lynette

“Lynette, my dear, you look lovely!” Neferet smiled and walked a circle around her. “I knew my gown would suit you. You’re much thinner than your old clothes make you appear.”

“Well, lately I’ve lost weight,” she said, smoothing down the silk dress. Lynette caught a glimpse of herself in Neferet’s long mirror. I do look good, even though the only way I could fit into this dress was to have the gathered waist completely ungathered. “And you were correct. It is good for morale to dress up and look our best.”

“Of course I am correct. I am Goddess!”

Lynette watched Neferet do a graceful twirl around the room. Her long golden dress swirled around her and her serpents wriggled enthusiastically about her ankles, like they were a perverted version of puppies.

Kylee entered the penthouse. “Goddess, your supplicants are gathered in the ballroom, awaiting the gift of your presence.”

Lynette was nodding her approval to Kybot—the girl had addressed Neferet exactly as she had coached her—when Neferet whirled by, taking the dumbstruck receptionist in her arms and commanding, “Waltz with me!”

She’s been like this ever since she figured out how to break the protective spell. It’s like she’s having a manic episode. Neferet’s jubilance worried Lynette. She knew all too well that what went up had to come crashing down. I’m not going to be in her path when she crashes, Lynette promised herself. My survival instinct is one of the things Neferet appreciates about me—she’s told me so.