Kaius was barely aware of the passage of time and their trek through the mountains. He was lost between visions and reality. The Deimen's presence was perpetually in his head, tearing deeper and deeper into his mind and dragging up every semblance of guidance Drenusha had offered him.

    When he found all he could, he continued to taunt him with other memories. Memories of Tissaia and Talarion, and all the time they'd spent with each other. Memories of his parents' deaths. Memories of the Blood Fae ripping into him. Memories of nights of pleasure, with Talarion's hands in his hair and their lips pressed together.

    Private memories flaunted before this strange male as if he had any right to view them. Any right to steal them. Because that was what he was doing. Kaius could feel his mind slipping away with every piece the Deimen shredded. He could barely make sense of his own thoughts.

    He couldn't tell when he was trapped in a dream, reliving a memory, or being tormented by a vision. And he was beginning to not care. Perhaps his mind would be broken and he could lose himself to madness forever. Let Roshan try to make sense of his jumbled thoughts then. It would serve him right.

    Kaius let out a harsh grunt as he was pushed off a horse and onto stony ground. Hands dragged him upright, but he couldn't manage to stand. His body was too heavy and the weight of his head alone was pulling him back down.

    "Make him stand," Roshan's strangely distant voice ordered. His legs locked at once and panic tore through his chest as that invisible grip spread to the rest of his body, forcing him to straighten. "Well, Phoenix? Is this the place?" Roshan gestured to something looming before them.

    Kaius blinked his vision into focus and his breath stalled at the ancient stone structure carved into the side of the mountain. The temple from his visions given life. It was still beautiful despite the neglect of the Ages, and he could already tell this temple wasn't like any other he had seen.

    His gaze shifted to the columns holding up the domed entryway and he stiffened as he caught sight of the Doe who stood at the top of stairs, gazing back at him. Her eyes seemed to beckon him to follow.

    "It's the place," the Deimen confirmed. But he made no mention of the Doe, and Kaius cocked his head. Perhaps he couldn't see Drenusha, even in his memories.

    "Then let's quit wasting time." Roshan beckoned to two guards and Kaius gritted his teeth as they shoved at his shoulders roughly, forcing him a few steps forward. He refused to go further of his own accord, and the Lord rolled his eyes. "If he won't move, then make him." The Deimen seized his mind once more and forced his legs to cooperate.

    Kaius fed the male as dark a look as he could, receiving only a cold smile in response. They approached the temple slowly and quietly, with Kaius at the head of the group. He gazed up at the columns as he mounted the stairs, taking in the signs of erosion they had suffered, though there were still many scenes carved into them.

    Rain gave way to dry, musty air as they entered the main chamber of the temple. Kaius's gaze landed on a statue in the center of the room and again, his breath caught as he realized who this temple was for. "Is that..." the Deimen began.

    "Nepenthe," Roshan scoffed at his side. "A temple for the Mother herself. I wasn't aware there were many left."

    He disregarded the statue and began to move about the chamber, taking in every aspect of it. The Deimen accompanied him, and briefly, Kaius's mind was his own. Ignoring his guards, he stepped closer to Nepenthe's statue and lifted his shackled hands to touch her marble dress.

    It had been sculpted around her in soft gathers, barely clinging to her shoulders, but with sleeves that covered her hands completely and fell to the gown's hem. It did not accentuate her tall, slender frame, but rather hung from her like a loose fitting nightgown. Her hair also hung to her feet before it had been chiseled into delicate curls clumped around the base of the statue.

    Her face was rather flat, having no distinction between her forehead and her long, narrow nose. Her lips were perfectly bowed, the top one fuller than the bottom, and her chin appeared soft and rounded while her face was thin. She was unlike anything he had ever seen, yet she was beautiful, and he knew the statue would only portray a fraction of the goddess's true beauty.

    Tears pricked his gaze at the warmth of the stone beneath his hand. It was gradually seeping into him, washing away the cold that had clung to him for days. "You're here," Kaius whispered. "Aren't you?"

    The Mother was watching over him, depending on him to protect whatever knowledge she had left in her temple. The knowledge his future kin would need. It was she who had sent Drenusha to him. And he could not fail. The Deimen's grip closed around his mind and he was pulled away from the statue, but the warmth did not leave him, and his resolve remained steadfast.

    Kaius followed the Deimen deeper into the temple, his suspicion only rising when the others stayed behind. He managed to look back at Roshan and found the male directing his remaining warriors into specific positions around the statue of Nepenthe. He furrowed his brows as Roshan climbed onto the base of the statue, placing himself face to face with the goddess.

    He raised his hand, an unfamiliar obsidian dagger appearing in his grasp. He slashed it across his palm and squeezed his fist, dripping blood onto Nepenthe's carved feet, a smile crossing his lips. And then he began to speak in the Old Tongue, the words harsh and commanding. Commanding a forest to release its hold. Commanding its prisoner to come to him.

    Kaius fought against the Deimen's hold immediately, straining to go back to the Lord and stop him. "No!" He screamed. "No, stop! You don't know what you're doing!"

    Roshan's dark gaze met his. "I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm going to make myself a King, with a god-spawn for his slave, and you're going to bring me what I need to do it."

    "No!" He cried again. "Roshan, stop!" His lips closed against the rest of his protests and the Deimen pulled him further into the temple.

    His heart pounded against his ribs as the chanting behind them grew louder, even as the chamber faded away. Kaius raked his gaze over his surroundings, searching for something that might help him. As long as he was in the Deiman's grasp, he was useless. But if he could just break away, perhaps he could figure out how to rid himself of these shackles and get his magic back.

    He sifted through his jumbled, fraying thoughts for anything that might give him an edge. The Deimen's hand tightened on his shoulder and Kaius glanced at him, his mind finally snagging onto something. Ever since he'd been taken prisoner, he had always been within the Deimen's line of sight. Perhaps his power only held over those he could see!

    Kaius let his eyes flit down towards the male's belt and the dagger sheathed there, before looking forward once more. There was a large set of ancient wooden doors ahead. He guessed they would lead into one of the temple's inner chambers, likely a sanctum that would have been preserved for those of high station.

    If he was correct, that might be where he found the gods' artifact. He could not let the Deimen follow him inside. Right in his path were the remnants of a fallen pillar, and as he reached them, Kaius enacted his plan.

    He caught his foot against the stone and stumbled onto his knees. The Deimen gave a startled yelp as he tripped over him, and there was the slightest waver of his presence within Kaius's mind. Before the male could recover, Kaius twisted on top of him and slammed his head onto the ground.

    He wrenched the dagger from the Deimen's belt and as the male heaved himself to his feet, slashed the blade across his eyes. The Deimen staggered back with an enraged howl as blood welled up along the deep gash, but Kaius was already sprinting towards the chamber. Footsteps drummed after him though he didn't dare look back.

    He skidded into the inner sanctum and cried out as he careened over a massive collapsed statue. He barely registered the dagger slicing his palm or the blood that dribbled from his fingers as he threw himself at the doors. Wood scraped against stone as he shoved the doors closed and lowered the sturdy beam that would keep them that way.

    Kaius glanced down at his trembling hands. Blood was still dripping from his palm, and a few drops pattered onto the beam. A tingle lanced his veins as a warm and unseen presence caressed his shoulders. Kaius's eyes widened as he looked between the beam and his hand. There was no mistaking that tingle. It was magic, but not like the kind his shackles kept suppressed.

    This was an older form of magic. One he'd learned very little of, but had performed himself. The same kind of magic that had allowed him to form his mating bond with Talarion and the vows they had sworn to each other at their wedding, which had been sealed by the tasting of one another's blood and kept their oaths eternally bound.

    And not only that, but it was magic Drenusha herself had used to place an enchantment of protection around her Library. She had sealed it so that in times of great darkness, the Library would hide itself within a veil that only those of god-blood could pass through, keeping it safe from ever being destroyed. There was power in blood, god-blood especially, and he could use it even now.

    Kaius smeared his palm across the beam, coating the edges of it and the door latches in his blood as he spoke words of his own in the Old Language, commanding the door to seal and remain that way. A shudder ran down his spine and he knew the magic had worked.

    Kaius turned away from the doors and hurried further into the temple. He passed by carved stone pews, some crumbling with age and decay. A few portions of the ceiling had caved in as well, granting him a glimpse of the mountain face that was closing around the temple and the darker clouds that had begun to swell.

    No rain was falling into the chamber, but a chill wind lifted the hair from his neck. He ignored the breeze as he approached the altar within the center of the room. Effigies of all five gods were chiseled onto the front of it, Nepenthe standing behind her wards with her arms outstretched as if in welcome. Kaius knelt beside the altar, already examining it for any clue as to what he was looking for.