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I rubbed my hands together. It was getting colder here. Logan had told us how long winter seemed to last on Onuna, but he also spoke of its beauty.
“Mostly. They want Dianna. She stole a fate, attacked us, and attacked Samkiel. Those crimes alone are grounds for execution.” I met his gaze. “The permanent, Oblivion kind.”
Xavier chewed the inside of his lip. “Do they think she is as bad as the one they call Kaden?”
“Absolutely. Especially after she gutted me.”
His fork stilled. “You know what I mean.”
“She’s very bad and not just in the hot can summon fire with a wave of her hand kind of way. Something inside of her makes Samkiel weak in the knees, and they are terrified of that kind of power. But she gave her life for her sister, and that deserves respect. That’s why she is all fire and blood, according to Samkiel. That counts for something in my book.”
Xavier nodded, sipping from his cup.
The shops and businesses near us buzzed with life, people coming and going, laughing with their loved ones, or just talking on the devices they carried. The silence grew at the table, both of us thinking the same thing.
“He won’t do it.”
“He has no choice,” Xavier said. “Unir made the council before Samkiel was born. It is the only thing that has a hope of keeping gods in line so they don’t become what Nismera sought to be. The realms cannot fall under one god’s total and complete control.”
“Fucking Nismera.” I clicked my tongue. “A shame she was so hot but so evil.”
Xavier chuckled. “It’s been quiet the last few days. It worries me.”
“Me too. Samkiel thought he felt her the day they returned from the council as if she was in the room with us. He’s been saying something feels different and has been even bossier and mean since then. He’s worried, but it’s been quiet for weeks except for the weird livestock shortage.”
“You think she is still watching him? Watching us?” Xavier leaned forward, his fingers tapping against his cup.
“Honestly? No. I think she is gearing up for something else, and that worries me. I’ve never fought a King of Yejedin, and from what Samkiel said, she’s a Queen. She ripped my guts out and barely seemed out of breath.”
Xavier looked away. “Yes, thanks for reminding me again.”
“Sorry.” I forced a smile. Xavier was just as protective of me as I was of him, even if his current boyfriend wasn’t a fan of our relationship.
“It’s fine.” Xavier shifted in his seat as if he’d grown uncomfortable. “I actually need to talk to you about something. I wanted to sooner, but everything has been crazy, and honestly, I don’t think there’s a right time.”
“Okay.”
“So I know—” He stopped and tipped his head back. My gaze followed his as the overcast sky darkened, thick, heavy clouds rolling toward us.
“Is it supposed to snow today?” Xavier asked. “Or did Samkiel find something else?”
“Only one way to find out.” We stood, nearly toppling the chairs. His powers had been growing more explosive, to say the least, but even a slight mood change could affect the atmosphere.
“Leaving so soon?”
My blood ran cold, my rings vibrating, shouting danger. I couldn’t believe we hadn’t felt her sooner. I was so attuned to what Xavier had to tell me that I hadn’t noticed the birds had stopped singing and flown off. Xavier’s head whipped toward her, both of us drawing an ablazed weapon.
Dianna rolled her eyes, the gesture so mortal compared to the beast I knew lurked beneath the facade. She sighed, her tongue running over her red-painted lips. She shrugged out of her long jacket, exposing her bare shoulders. Her skintight black dress clung to her curves, revealing that she had no weapons. Xavier and I paused at the display.
“No weapons,” she said and twirled, showing us the crisscross design of the dress across her back. She shrugged back into her jacket before grabbing the bottom of her dress and raising it to reveal one toned tan thigh, then the other. “See.”
“I guess you don’t need weapons when you are one,” Xavier quipped. I tried to hide the smile that curved my lips. She nodded and sat, gracefully crossing her legs. Dianna relaxed like a large feline, her red-tipped claws tapping on the chair arm. I swore I saw sparks ignite against the metal.
“What about your hair?” I asked. That knot arranged atop her head could easily hide a dagger.
Dianna cocked her head to the side, a slow smile spreading over her face. She reached up and took it down, the inky dark mass falling in waves around her shoulders. A small blade hit the table. She shrugged. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. Maybe I had one weapon.”
She waved a hand, the long sleeves of her dark jacket dancing with the movement. “Now sit.”
