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The flower petals folded back, and I opened my eyes. Stretching my arms overhead, I scanned the balcony outside the fire god’s palace. The warmth spread across my skin. Oh, this place felt like heaven. Thankfully, the snow would be melting soon back home. Mahkah helped me to my feet.
“Remember, stay out of trouble and don’t wander off. I still don’t trust these fire elements.” Mahkah glared at the pair who were walking toward us.
Zoran threw open the curtains. “Mahkah, Terrin. Welcome.”
Fin jogged to his side with a baby dragon in his arms.
“How was the trip?”
The earth god’s expression remained blank. “You said it was an issue of life and death. If this is some trick, I’ll leave your garden with a parasite that will make it a life or death situation.”
Zoran’s smile started to wilt, though he forced himself to continue smiling. “Well, aren’t you just a well-mannered guest. Why don’t you come in?” He waved his arm behind him.
I went to Fin. He tossed the dragon to the side and we walked inside while the two gods had a heated staring contest.
“I’m guessing he’s still mad.” Fin glanced at them.
I nodded. “Well, Zoran was working with Aedus.”
The firebird nodded. “True.” He looked at me from the corner of his eyes. “I’ve heard you’re cuddling up to someone else now.”
I punched him in the arm.
“Aw!” He rubbed the spot. “Zoran has a big mouth. It’s not my fault. It’s not like he actually knows anything. He figured since Mahkah was practically ready to declare war from a simple letter, then you two had to be doing it.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “So, are you?”
The gods approached.
Mahkah shoved Fin to the side, making him toppled onto the bed. “Mind yourself, firebird, and stay out of my affairs. Terrin, let’s go.” He put his arm around my shoulders and led me out of the room.
“They’re definitely doing it,” muttered Fin.
I flinched at the sudden increase in temperature. I looked back to see the bird flattened by what I believe was a fireball.
“Knock it off!” Fin slammed his fists down on the mattress.
Zoran smiled. “You’ve already been warned to mind yourself.” A black vine twisted around Fin and lifted his chin. “We have guests, or I’d properly punish you. Maybe later.” With a smirk, Zoran arched a brow.
The firebird glared at him. “I’m not in the mood.”
With a wave of his hand, Zoran made the tar vines disappear. “Liar.” He marched after us.
I turned forward. Those two were still the same. I peered up at Mahkah. We were different. Our relationship was very different now. I smiled to myself and leaned into the god’s side. We walked down the staircase and continued outside. Zoran formed in front of us and walked into a field of wilted flowers. My spirits dropped at the sight of the brown edges.
“What’d you do to them?” I knelt and ran my finger across the petals.
“It’s that damn, Notus,” said Zoran. “He’s late. My flowers are wilting because of him. He has one simple job, and he can’t even do that properly.” The fire god shook his head.
“Don’t you dare harm him,” warned Mahkah. “His one job is more important than anything you do. We’ve lived centuries without fire. I’ll happily do it again rather than give up a breeze.”
Zoran sucked in his cheek with his arms folded. “Maybe I should only take my gift away from your people.”
“Don’t be petty,” said Fin from behind me. He marched past and went to stand with the god. “This world doesn’t need any more wars.”
Zoran flicked the bird’s forehead.
“Aw!” Fin rubbed the spot.
“Don’t lecture a god.”
“Then quit being an ass.”
The fire god snatched his chin and squeezed. “Enough, understood?”
Fin bowed his head and backed away.
Zoran let out a deep breath and smiled. “Well, you see my problem. Now can your shifter fix it?”
Mahkah looked at me. “What do you think?”
“It’s not Notus’s fault.”
“What?” said Zoran through gritted teeth.
“The garden has already been pollinated.”
“Then, whose is it?” asked the fire god.
I stood and moved closer to Mahkah. “Yours,” I whispered.
The earth god took a protective stance.
Zoran did not look impressed. “Really?”
“The soil is wrong for the plants.”
“How?” he demanded. “The damn lava is suddenly not hot enough.”
Fin folded his arms with a smug look on his face. At least, he was smart enough not to say anything.
“Zoran,” said Mahkah firmly. “We will leave.”
“Fine.” He rubbed his forehead. “Whatever, just tell me how to fix it.”
I ran my hands down my braid. “I... I can try something. It might work.”
“I’m waiting.” Zoran’s hand fell to his side.
Nodding, I hurried through the field to the lake.
Mahkah rushed to my side and grabbed my arm. “What are you doing? You’re not indestructible.”
“I’ll be careful.” I knelt down with the worried god looking on. I dipped my hair into the lava.
Mahkah hovered above me, ready to step in. My hair, luckily, didn’t burst into flames. The swirling colors of orange and red traveled onto the strands. I could feel their warmth against my back.
“That’s good enough.” Mahkah snatched my wrist and quickly led me away from the edge.
“You’re so doing it,” said Fin, under his breath when we passed.
I glared at him. “So what,” I shot back.”
He bristled at the comment but remained quiet.
Stopping in the middle of the field, I dropped to my knees. Mahkah gave me some space. Zoran kept his arm around Fin’s shoulders as they watched from the edge of the patch. I wanted the flowers to live. They needed the heat. I pressed my hand to the ground and felt the different heat veins below the surface. The main one had been blocked, and the lava had been directed into another channel. Closing my eyes, I felt the warmth spread down my arms and into the earth. The flowers tickled my legs as they began to perk up and grow.
The last of the heat left me. Rising to my feet, I watched the signs of life spread through the field.
Mahkah was beaming. He gave me an approving nod and held out his hand. I went to take a step and hit the ground in a puff of yellow pollen. I heard Fin snort. Flipping over, I saw the mass of stems that had twisted around my ankle.
“Perfect,” I muttered, untangling myself.
Mahkah came over to help. Grabbing my arm, he lifted me to my feet.
Zoran was back to his happy, content self. “Good work. My garden is stunning yet again.”
“You have a blockage,” I stated. “The lava that feeds this part of the garden was diverted. If you fix that, it should be fine.” I wiped my arms, but the pollen was sticking to everything. My hair was a mess.
Zoran pursed his lips.
“The explosion,” whispered Fin with fear in his eyes. “Oh, no.”
“Oh, no? Really? That’s all you have to say.” The fire god turned to the boy. “You and Yuki decided it would be fun to harass Uther. Does it seem so fun now?”
“We weren’t,” begged Fin. “Really, Zoran, we didn’t mean to.”
“You collapse an entire tunnel!”
Fin flinched and rubbed his arm. “We said we were sorry.”
Zoran held up a finger. “You, go find Yuki and Uther right now.”
“But they’re downstairs,” whined Fin. “I don’t want to go down there. Uther is pissed at me.”
“I thought you said you didn’t mean to.” Zoran narrowed his eyes.
Fin chewed on his lip. “All these dragons piss me off.”
Firebirds, I shook my head and felt a little weird. I collapsed my forehead.
Mahkah held me to him. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I got a little too hot. I’m going to go inside and sit down.”
“Have him go with Fin,” said Zoran. “It’s colder downstairs. He’ll be able to cool off faster.”
The firebird marched toward me with a sour look on his face.
Mahkah nodded. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do about that blockage.”
“Please do,” said Zoran, trying to keep it together.
Fin nudged me. “Come on.”
I followed him toward the palace while Mahkah went to the fellow god’s side.
“Shifters,” breathed Zoran. “I don’t know what to do with him. If Fin isn’t fighting with me, he’s pestering Uther or burning something down.”
Mahkah slapped him on the back. “You just chose the wrong one.”
“Oh, like Terrin is any better. You’re lucky The Great Creator stepped in, or we’d have another heaven fire beast to deal with.”
Fin stopped at the doorway and looked at the pair. “I didn’t mean to. It was Yuki’s fault. Uther was hanging out with some female dragons. We were trying to make him jealous. He hates it when Yuki only hangs out with me and ignores him. I didn’t mean for it to turn into a fight.” He shrugged. “Uther not hanging out with the other dragon anymore, though.” He picked at the stone. “I haven’t seen Yuki since the accident. Uther is being an asshole and has him trapped somewhere as punishment.”
“Never knew dragons were so complicated,” I replied.
“They’re not.” Fin shoved his hands in his pockets and led the way inside. “Uther and Yuki are the only ones. The two lovebirds are nothing but trouble.”
“Kind of like you and Zoran,” I said with a smirk.
Fin scoffed at the comment. “Come on, we better get you cooled off. Never met someone so weak to the heat.”
“It’s lava, Fin.”
He turned down a spiral staircase. “Shut up.”
The temperature started to drop and it was helping clear my head.
“So, how’s life with Mahkah?”
“Good.” I smiled to myself. “We get along really well.”
“Do you like him?”
“I love him,” I replied.
Fin stopped and turned around. “You’re delusional for loving a god.”
“Why? Don’t you with—”
“No! I hate him,” Fin stated. “Don’t ever think I could love something as cruel and degrading as Zoran.” He quickly marched on ahead.
I didn’t think he was being completely honest. No one sticks around with someone they hate just for the hell of it.
“Mahkah loves me, too,” I yelled after him. “Even if you don’t love Zoran, I think he might love you.”
The footsteps stopped. I smiled to myself.
“Delusional, you’re fucking delusional!” The stomping sounded from below.
Those two, I’d never understand them. I reached the bottom, but the firebird was gone. “Fin?” I wandered around but didn’t see any sign of him. I peered down a long corridor. “Fin?”
A rush of wind hit me from behind. I dropped to the ground and covered my head. Pollen spun through the air as it floated down the hallway. What the hell was that? I slowly rose to my feet and dusted myself off.
“There you are.” Fin marched over and grabbed my wrist. “It’s this way. Come on.”
I nodded and followed him toward a large cavern. I glanced at the skiff of pollen that had fallen out of my hair. A gust of wind shot through the area and swept it into a small funnel. From it, a man with white-blond hair appeared. He swayed, fading in and out as he gazed down the long tunnel. I stopped as the firebird marched on, rambling to himself.
The golden strings of wind swirled around the man. He looked so sad. Cupping his hands, the man watched the pollen fall into them. A small smile spread across his lips.
“Terrin!”
I turned around.
“Well, come on,” said Fin.
“I’ll be there in a second.”
I looked back, but the man was gone. The pollen sat in a pile on the floor. I went to it and knelt. Gathering up the tiny specks, I searched the area. No one was around. The man had seemed so lonely, so lost. I smiled to myself as I examined the golden flecks. I knew what I wanted. I had found the place where I belong, where I could be happy. I wanted everyone to know that feeling.
Peering down the corridor, I held the golden flakes up to my lips and blew.