Burning Bright (25 page)

Dym laughed shakily, wiping his tears away with shaking hands. "The apples, Eminence. I went to the manor to fetch an apple to make you happy just like I used to do before … before it all went wrong. It was still in my robe."

"You ate a golden apple?" Zhar Ptitsa asked disbelievingly. "But—mortals can't eat those, Dym. It should have driven you mad."

Laughing again, an almost hysterical edge to it, Dym said. "Eminence, I am nine hundred and thirty-six years old. I have killed one thousand people to bring you back, and that does not include those who died trying to help or hinder me. Not once have I faltered in or turned away from my sole objective. What makes you think I am sane? No apple, no matter how powerful, could overcome the madness of being hopelessly in love with a god—and one I failed. Guilt and love trump apples, Eminence."

"Sweet Dym, I do not deserve you," Zhar Ptitsa breathed, and he kissed away the fresh tears on Dym's cheeks before taking his mouth.

Dym gasped, unable to stop crying, scared to return the kiss he had never dared to hope for—that Raz had kissed him was no guarantee that Zhar Ptitsa would. "Eminence … "

Zhar Ptitsa laughed softly. "You do not have to call me that, Dym. I told you, I'm just Raz."

"Raz?" Dym repeated, staring at him. "Yes, I suppose you are. Raz was just you, but mortal. I was afraid that was how you wanted to remain."

"But you still did what was right, exactly as you should," Raz replied and finally stood, gently tugging Dym with him. He cupped Dym's face and drew him into another kiss, not relenting until Dym began to kiss him back. Raz tasted like smoke, like wine, and something sweet beneath all of that—the taste of golden apples on a warm summer day. "Thank you for saving me, Dym."

"I will always save you, Eminence," Dym replied.

Raz kissed him again. "No better Priest of Ashes could ever exist, and I am grateful that I still have you. I do love you, Dym. I died regretting I never admitted that, to you or myself."

"Eminence—" Dym choked, tears burning his eyes again, and he wondered if he would ever manage to stop crying.

Smiling, Raz just kissed him again,  and then held him close until Dym finally steadied. "Come," Raz said. "We've some minor business to attend." Holding fast to Dym's hand, he opened the door and stepped back out into the main sanctuary.

The crowd was gone, and moonlight shone through the windows, casting dark jewel light down on the four people remaining:  Shio, Shinju, Ivan, and Krasny.

"I thought so," Krasny said.

"The mermaids were telling the truth," Ivan said, staring in awe at Raz.

Raz beamed at all of them. "Well, it's a good sign that the Tsar and newest duke do not look alarmed by my presence."

"I prefer a happy end to a tragic," Krasny said. "Ivan told me what the mermaids told him, and I had my suspicions anyway. I am glad you are returned to us, Holiness, and not the vengeful god that history has made you out to be."

"The Priest of Ashes did what was necessary to see me brought back," Raz replied, tugging Dym forward and smiling gently up at him. "I am sorry he carried so heavy a burden, but now I am restored I can make it up to him and to my children."

Letting go of Dym, he beckoned Shio and Shinju forward. Embracing them, kissing their cheeks, he said, "Tell my brothers you are forgiven, and all your sisters, and no further grudge will be tolerated. Return to your seas, daughters."

"Thank you," Shio and Shinju said quietly, and with a faint rumble of thunder they vanished from the cathedral.

Raz turned to Ivan, beckoning him forward. "You look overwhelmed, Vanya."

"I woke up this morning a mercenary certain he was letting a good man die for no good reason. Now suddenly I am a duke who has helped bring a god back to life. What am I supposed to be but overwhelmed?"

Laughing, Raz reached out and lightly touched his forehead. "Yet every life you have ever lived, you have assisted the gods, the crown, leaders of all sorts. You have always been there for Pozhar, Wolf.  You're a good man yourself whatever else you try or claim to be. You aren't finished helping people, either."

Ivan scowled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean there is a white cat you are destined to see again."

"A white cat?" Ivan repeated, scowl turning into disbelief with a hint of longing.

Raz smiled. "Yes, but first I think you have a duchy to set to rights. Go find your men, Vanya, and go settle into your new home. The snow will no longer impede you." Ivan nodded and, after bowing to both Raz and Krasny, left.

"I always said you seemed too old for your age," Krasny said to Dym. "I hope you are happy now, Dym."

Dym nodded, still not entirely certain he could speak.

Raz stepped close to Krasny and gripped his shoulders. "Thank you for helping him and being a friend. I promise that I see happiness in your future as well, Kolya."

Krasny smiled wryly. "Probably in the next life. I think people know that something is amiss. I must go and address it." He did not wait for Raz to reply, simple bowed before turning and walking away.

"Now what?" Dym asked when they were alone, but his words were nearly drowned out by the crashing sound of thunder, and the cathedral filled with light from the burst of lightning beyond.

He blinked and four men stood before them, clustered at the base of the altar. "Holy Dragons," Dym greeted, bowing low. "It is good to see you returned to us as well." He rose and walked toward them, bowing again to the fourth man. "You are the new Priest of Storms. I am Dym, Priest of Ashes."

"Taka, and I'm still not really sure I'm used to being a priest of anything," Taka said with a wry smile. "Raiden has mentioned you before. He thought you were still around despite the fact you apparently should not be."

"Apples," Raz said, smiling. "Lizards, how are you? I see much has changed." He looked at Raiden. "I am sorry."

Raiden shrugged and said, "I am too, but I cannot change the past. My new brothers are bearable." He gestured. "Nankyokukai and Kindan."

Raz smiled at them, but his levity faded when he said, "So that is four gods restored, and now we must wait to see if our brother Basilisk will join us."

"As you say," Raiden said. "We must wait and see. It is good to have you back, little bird." He hugged Raz tightly. When they parted, Raz hugged each of the other dragons in turn, and finally Takara. "Take care of yourselves until we are all restored for Teufel nearly succeeded in stopping the final sacrifice through an avatar—and only a weak one. We still do not know what happened to the Priest of Night and Day, and if he was corrupted he could be hiding somewhere."

"We'll have a care," Kindan said. "You should be especially vigilant; we aren't Schatten's neighbor, after all."

Raz nodded. "We will be careful. Farewell for now, brothers."

"Farewell," Kyo replied, eyes flashing, thunder booming, and then Raz and Dym were once more alone in the cathedral.

Raz strode down the stairs to join Dym, throwing his arms around his neck and pulling him down into a heady kiss. Dym whimpered and hesitantly looped his own arms around Raz's waist, still unable to believe that he had what he'd always wanted. Raz kissed him until Dym was dizzy with the need to breathe.

When he finally drew back, Dym realized they were no longer in the cathedral, but the garden he had built behind it. Raz stood beneath the apple tree, staring up at it. "Not quite the same."

"You can restore the original easily enough," Dym reminded him.

"Another day, perhaps," Raz said and with a thought, banished all the snow, warmed the garden, and made it seem as though it were spring. The moon shone down, soft and bright, the stars sharper points of light all around it. Raz sat at the base of the tree, and then reached up and grasped Dym's wrist. With one, smooth yank he brought Dym down across his lap, laughing at the disgruntled expression on his face. When Dym was settled more comfortably, Raz said, "We have a lot of work ahead of us, sweet Dym, to set Pozhar to rights once more."

Dym blinked up at him. "Yes, Eminence. What—"

Raz cut him off with a finger over his lips. "But it can keep for a little while my priest takes a well-deserved break. Close your eyes, Dym, and rest." Before Dym could reply, Raz began to sing softly.

The song was the very same one that Dym had heard so many years ago as a little boy lost in the woods after his family had been killed. It was the singing that had guided him out of the woods and, over a garden wall to watch and listen while a beautiful man sang beneath a tree of golden apples. Since that day, Dym had never left the side of his beautiful man, his Eminence.

Dym closed his eyes and finally allowed himself to rest.

The Lost Gods
will continue in
Stone Rose...

Nine gods ruled the world until the ultimate betrayal resulted in their destruction. Now, the world is dying and only by restoring the Lost Gods can it be saved.

The Kingdom of Piedre has been torn apart by feuding since the Basilisk was found dead. The Brotherhood of the Black Rose seeks to ensure the Basilisk is destroyed forever, while the Order of the White Rose searches desperately for a way to restore him.

The latest mortal incarnation of the Lost God of Death is Prince Culebra, the Basilisk Prince. Plagued by assassins, one lover dead and the other gone, Culebra spends his days in despair, painfully aware that his predecessors died only one of two ways: murder or suicide.

Megan grew up a military brat and traveled extensively with her family. She is now firmly settled in Ohio, with two roommates and their four cats. She has always been book obsessed, and writing obsessed since she first gave it a whirl in college. Romance and fantasy are her primary obsessions, but she’s game to write just about anything and enjoys a challenge. She is a sucker for stories of enemies becoming lovers. When not writing, Megan is drinking too much coffee, reading still more books, and harassing family and friends, or otherwise doing whatever possible to avoid editing.