Warrior Queen - Karpov Kinrade Page 0,2

skin dims. “Our original plan was to retake the kingdoms, install the sons of the kings onto the thrones and govern our people with peace and prosperity. But…" His voice trails off.

"It’s Clay you’re dealing with. You should have known better." Pain dampens my sarcasm, but it comes through enough to make him wince.

"I don't know how I didn't see it," he mutters, his voice heavy with regret. "But now, his thirst for power knows no end. He’s putting himself on the throne. Every throne. Every kingdom. He’s mad. And next…”

“Next?” I prod when he doesn’t continue.

"Next Clay intends to take his army to the Underworld where Persephone reigns. There’s a gate to the mortal realm there, and if Clay gains access, he’ll take his army through and use his powers to rule Earth and all her people."

A chill runs down my spine. "You need to stop him.” I want to shake some sense into Apollo, open his eyes to the mess he’s made, but the pain of my wound is keeping me bound to the bed. Still, he has to take responsibility. "You started this, Apollo. You need to end it. Do the right thing."

His light dims even further, nothing like he was when I first awakened. A bitter smile tugs the corner of his lip as slowly, he pulls his tunic aside. I see a gaping hole in his flesh, and the ichor oozing out is a sickly yellow, nothing like the glimmering gold it should be.

Then, he looks me in the eye and simply says, “I’m dying.”

2

"Misfortune shows those who are not really friends." ~Aristotle

Apollo…dying? I inhale in shock as Prometheus’ memories surface. He shared so much with the golden god. Swimming as dolphins in the sea. Escaping Daphne’s nets. The time they stole Helios’ chariot…

A pang of sorrow rolls through me. I look back at Apollo, slouched in his chair.

“How?” I ask softly. “Who?”

"Epimetheus.” A gleam of bitter amusement dances in his eyes as he slowly covers his wound. His movements are stiff, and his hands shake like he’s an old man. “I opposed his plan to travel to Earth. Then he stabbed me with my own poisoned arrow. Justice, I suppose. You, my dear friend, always warned me to think of consequences. I should have listened.”

I draw my lips in a sympathetic smile. It’s still hard to process. In my mind’s eye, I’m still seeing the memories Prometheus and Apollo shared. It’s strange, distant, yet familiar at the same time.

Apollo sighs. “So, as you can see, I will be of little help. You are the only one who can stop Epimetheus, old friend."

I give a loud snort and clutch at my wound. “I’m not in much better shape than you.”

Apollo chuckles and then leans forward. "May I?"

Figuring there's not much to lose, I nod.

The sun god lets his hand hover over my abdomen. After a moment, he offers a small smile. "I can heal you," he says. "If you're willing." He reaches behind his back and pulls out his bow, a masterpiece of gold inlaid wood, with a golden arrow made of light.

"You're going to shoot me?" I’m all Lily now and nothing about letting the sun god shoot me in the stomach seems like a good idea.

"With this bow, I can heal or kill, depending on the arrow I choose," he reminds me softly.

I eye the gleaming arrow. I read so many legends of Apollo's mighty bow, curled up on the couch sipping hot mugs of cocoa. To think I’m actually staring at not only the weapon of legend but the god himself makes me shiver. At times, it’s still hard to wrap my head around all this… but Apollo was a good friend to Prometheus, and in my heart, I know I can trust him, at least with this.

"Do it," I say before I can change my mind.

I maintain eye contact with him as he notches the arrow, aims, and lets it fly. My screams fill the Dungeon halls as pain rips through me, and the arrow dissolves into my wound like a ray of sun, burning the poison out of my body.

Ichor tainted with a dark shadowy ink leaks out of me, and then my skin begins to stitch itself back together until within seconds, only a small scar in the shape of a sun remains, like an ancient Greek version of a tattoo.

I'm shaking from the adrenaline rush, and my body feels hot from within, almost too hot. But then I