Sora’s mind raced as she watched Zomuri approach.

The god smirked at her. “You broke into my vault and stole from me. I thank you for providing me with such entertainment. However, I have allowed you to remain free for long enough. You must be punished for your transgressions.”

“I . . .” Sora had nothing to say. She’d known this would catch up to her. How could you steal from a god and expect to get away with it?

Daemon growled and moved in front of her, blue electricity blazing, baring his teeth at the god.

Zomuri chuckled. “As if a mere demigod has a chance against me. But I’ll deal with you children later. First . . .” He looked down upon Prince Gin and Empress Aki. “You summoned me and promised me the heart of a monarch.”

“Yes, my lord,” Prince Gin said eagerly, as if realizing he still had a chance to live. “Tsarina Austine of Thoma is waiting for you in my throne room.”

“Deception!” Zomuri’s spittle landed on the prince’s face. “There is no one there.”

“No . . . ,” the Dragon Prince said at the same time Sora heaved a sigh of relief. If the tsarina was gone, Sora hoped that meant Fairy had succeeded in saving her.

“I do not like being summoned for no reason,” Zomuri said to Prince Gin. “You owe me a royal heart, and I want it now.”

“Take my sister’s,” Prince Gin said.

“What?” Empress Aki jumped back.

“You should have killed me when you had the chance,” he said.

Zomuri snatched Aki off the floor.

“Spirit, help me!” she cried.

The god’s long sharp fingernail traced her chest, drawing a circle to scoop out her heart.

“You’re making a mistake!” Sora screamed, and somehow, that was enough to make Zomuri pause. She glared at both the god and the Dragon Prince. “All this death and destruction is happening based on a fable. But do you even know if the Legend of the Evermore is true?”

The prince scoffed. “Of course it is. Do you doubt the greatness of the god before you?”

She looked again at Zomuri. He filled the small tower, not only with his size but also with the iron stink of blood. And then there was the matter of him holding Empress Aki captive. Sora needed to approach this carefully.

“I don’t doubt his power,” she said. “But I know that myths are stories spun from a combination of reality and fiction. And I also know mischief rather well. This scene reeks of it. Isn’t that right, Zomuri? You never expected Prince Gin to be able to overthrow all the mainland monarchs. The Evermore was never a prize he could achieve.”