Prologue

Anjur stretched, taking in a deep whiff of the fresh air.

“Back so soon?” A voice asked, and Anjur looked back at the majestic tree.

“Only for a short time. I doubt I can keep them off my trail for much longer. It seems we were right, though. She is back once more,” Anjur hummed, walking over and then nestling against the trunk.

“Selene,” the voice continued.

“I have to hand it to her, she is persistent. So what will you do? You know she is after your life, Jay,” Anjur said, looking up at the canopy. The tree shifted as if pondering before giving a response.

“What I always do,” he said simply. Anjur’s lips formed into a small line.

“You know they call that the definition of insanity,” he muttered and Jay laughed, his branches shaking. “What’s so funny?”

“You still think like a time thief, Anjur,” Jay chided, a branch coming down and ruffling his hair, leaving a few twigs in his horns and rattling them about enough that Anjur swiped at him.

“You could stand to do that sometimes,” Anjur remarked, shifting away. He growled as he pulled some twigs out, shaking his head as his horns itched. The forest stirred as animals came to see them. Anjur quickly called on the power of the moon and put them to sleep, wanting to avoid being exposed.

“You sure make use of that power,” Jay chuckled, and Anjur looked up with a pleased expression.

“Your teachings were very inspiring.”

Then his expression grew dark as he thought on what he had found.

“Jay, you realize they might win,” he said softly.

“It’s a possibility.”

“Then you know what that means for the Daemon clan and the other gods and goddesses, right?” he turned bitterly as he nearly yelled. Jay became silent and still, only the wind moved his branches.

“Anjur. You remember that child you brought all those years ago?” Jay asked, Anjur nodded.

“Bard. He’s a good kid.”

“Right. And I raised him. Frankly, I can’t stand up to Selene much longer. She will shade me. When that happens, I will hide myself as far and as long as I can. You will need to retrieve me and bring me to Bard.”

Anjur’s teeth ground as Jay spoke. He disliked it, but after what he had seen, he knew it was the only way. A tear formed and slid down. His golden eyes shimmered as he looked back up at Jay’s branches.

“So it’s really come to this. You would put all your bets on that then,” Anjur managed to keep his voice from breaking as he wiped away the tear, shoving his feelings aside.

“I know you love a happy ending, my dear friend.”

“And you know I will do all I can to make that happen. You… you and Sina have been through so much. It’s the least I could do,” he said, closing his eyes as a chill ran up his spine.

“And that will be enough,” Jay said softly. Anjur returned to the trunk and curled up at the base until he felt his time domain starting to wear thin. He let out a long sigh before turning and placing his palm on the bark before he turned and left.