The people I loved had survived Lote's assault on my world and that felt like a miracle considering what we'd faced.

Our warriors defended the villagers, managing to save every single person. The few who'd come close to death were saved by those in Gael's forces gifted with healing.

When we returned the villagers to their home, I gathered with them all in the center of town, standing atop the ground still stained with the blood of our enemies.

"I realize that I cannot ensure that our secrets won't spread beyond those who witnessed our battle today. I ask you though, for the safety of our kingdom, do not tell anyone about the people who look like Piercey, Nash, and myself. Don't mention other worlds. If I could explain it to you, I would. Understand that the mysteries of the gods were never meant to be revealed."

The village chief reached for my hands and I let her have them. "Prophet Eclipse," she said. "We love our village. We love our valley. We love this new kingdom. When we speak of what we saw today, we will tell the world about the mighty power of Eclipse and her warriors. That is all."

I squeezed her hands, hating that I asked her and this village to hide anything. "I want nothing more than for us all to speak the truth."

"We're only human, Eclipse. The truth is not always ours to speak."

That wasn't a reality I could abide, though if I'd learned anything this past year, it was that I needed to strategically choose my battles and mind my limitations.

"Our world is safe. That's what matters right now." I looked out to the people, anguished by the memory of the children crying. "I promise that we will leave behind a valley that is much safer and that your children will not grow up living in fear." I pressed my forearm to the chest of the chief. She clasped mine. "My flesh."

"My blood."

The people raised their forearms. "My flesh," they said.

"My blood," I finished.

----------------------------------------

When I returned to the Sacred School, the healers were finishing their treatments of our warriors. Jax wiped the blood from his face with a cloth and regarded me with a smile. I returned one.

"We have to go home now," Ashton said.

We'd fought alongside each other without any thought of our circumstance and everything had been too crazy to really let myself feel what hit me right in the gut now as I looked at her. "This is so fucking weird."

She laughed, letting me see exactly what I looked to the world, dappled in the blood and sweat of battle, and somehow smiling anyway. "We'll come back as soon as we can and update you on our world."

"You need help," I said.

"No. Absolutely not. We have plenty of people with power. What you did today will discourage your enemies, so you all need to be here if you're actually going to scare them away. They could decide to attack while you're weakened."

I'd spent enough time in her past to worry about her kingdom and her friends. "What will your kingdom look like when this is through?"

"I have no idea. It won't look like Lote's vision is all I know. He's dead and his rebellion will die with him. We need to kill the foolish hope of anyone else who might rise up in the chaos he's created."

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"Okay. Go. Don't wait around. I'll see you soon." I looked to Jax and Elias. "All of you because you'll fight well and return safely."

"I'm not sure it's wise to ever come back," Elias said. "That man said not to defy the order of the gods."

"I'll get their approval."

"You think he'll know? That it'll be enough?"

"Yeah." I looked around at the damage to the town. "He said he's been observing. He'll know."

"It seems risky," Elias said.

"Stop worrying." I nodded at him. "Go home and I'll talk to the gods. He didn't kill anyone until they invaded our world and they're the only ones he hurt."

"You don't think he's a threat?" Piercey asked.

The question made me feel sick. "I didn't say that. I just don't think he's going to stand against the gods and I'm confident I can get them to agree."

"What makes you so sure?" Ashton asked.

"Because they would rather let us receive a harmless update on your safety than explain to me why they built a security system into our world."

That quieted everyone. Piercey and Elias both watched me with the same worried eyes. They both knew it was true.

"Who else would know so much and travel between worlds? He's here to ensure that a total breakdown in the order of nature doesn't occur."

No one asked the question I thought they all wanted to know and I wouldn't answer even if they did, because it was something I could never say aloud when I'd given the gods permission to observe me.

Yes, the security system was a threat.

Yes, I would figure out how to kill him.

Yes, if he ever threatened my people, I'd end him.

The gods be damned if they ever tried to hurt my kingdom.

----------------------------------------

I felt like I hadn't slept in over a year, but I told myself that soon I would finally rest. Some matters simply couldn't wait.

"Thank you for seeing me," I said, peering into the deep blue of the Collective's waters.

"Congratulations and best of luck with your ascension to power in your new kingdom." The waters rippled smoothly as the Collective spoke. After a pause, "You feel discontent."

I nodded. "When we first spoke, you assured me that you cared about our suffering, and that you didn't intend for Dr. Henderson to meddle in my world. A year later and I feel toyed with still."

"We are not and have never toyed with you."

I placed my hands on the window, stilling my fear of this god who could crush my entire world–all the worlds–and searched for the humanity buried in these waters. "I want to meet with the rest of the council. You hold 51% of the voting power. I want my voice to be heard by all of you, not just the Collective."

"It's a reasonable request, but what do you think you'll gain?"

"From now on, I want to meet once a year with your entire council, and have the right to request a hearing any time. I'm letting you observe me and that means that now you're watching an entire kingdom. My new position requires more power in your society."

The Collective sounded amused now. "Does it?"

"It's only fair."

"We can accommodate this request. The council will be eager to hear personally from you as you embark on this new journey as the ruler of your kingdom."

"I'm sure," I said. "This must be fascinating for you." My heart began to beat harder as I thought of the last thing I wanted to say. "Collective."

"Yes?"

"Do I need to be afraid that the strange man will hurt my kingdom?"

"You think this is something we can answer for you?"

My gaze sharpened on the ripples in the water. "He wants us to follow the nature and order you created for our world."

"It sounds like you have no reason to fear, then."

"I don't want to lose contact with Elias or Ashton and Jax."

"You want our permission?"

I swallowed hard, afraid of who the stranger who could be, and what the Collective might be capable of. "Yes."

"You've already made contact. We can't approve of you sharing resources or living in the world you weren't assigned to. Or dramatically altering your world due to the conditions of the other. But it would appear that the results of the experiment are already contaminated. Seek our approval if you have questions."

Was it a threat? Or a direction? Seek our approval or we'll send an assassin to take you out, perhaps.

When I'd first met them, I'd allowed myself to lash out in anger. I had a kingdom to run now and there was no greater threat to my people than a god who could destroy us in an instant.

For now, I would practice the diplomacy Piercey so desperately wanted me to learn.

"Thank you for being accommodating," I said. "I think we'll be learning a great deal over the next few years."

I stepped back, feeling chilled deep inside of myself.

Soon, I would see if the rest of the council was like the Collective, and just how twisted this society might actually be.