Page 110 of The Gods Forbid

“Shut up,” I barked back, though the words held no bite. Jason just laughed in return, a big, booming laugh fit for the god responsible for the best parties the Mediterranean had ever seen.

Adrian, in all his kingly glory, decided now was a good time to jump in. “That offers a great transition into what I’d primarily like to talk about today.”

Despite all controlling their own parts of the world, every god straightened in Adrian’s presence. I could respect his power and authority, and that respect had been a long time coming, but I stayed leaning back in my chair.

“We are stronger than ever,” Adrian began, resting his hands on the back of his throne. He hardly ever sat at these things. “Thanks to a few good moments in the public eye.”

“Reyna,” someone muttered under their breath, trying and failing to smother it with a cough.

At that very moment, thunder boomed outside. “If you plan on speaking my wife’s name, do it so I can hear what you have to say and decide whether or not I should kill you for it,” Adrian said, his voice just as thunderous.

“He doesn’t fuck around where she is concerned,” I said, the words jumping out before I could stop them. It would be a comment I’d normally make, but I was still treading on thin ice here. “Trust me,” I added for good measure.

To my utter shock and horror, Adrian laughed.

My gaze swung to the other end of the table, finding Dominic smothering a laugh under his own hand.

Wait, that wasn’t right. I wasn’t supposed to make any of them laugh. They were supposed to be angry and resentful and spend this time reminding me how badly I’d fucked up.

Though I’d done a spectacular job of doing that myself, it was expected that they’d pile on. Even without Persy’s warning.

It seemed that Adrian had changed course from the brunch, deciding he didn’t quite fancy ripping my head off just yet. I didn’t know if that would change after I instated heirs or not.

“As Sebastian can easily tell you, don’t fuck with Reyna,” Adrian said, his voice full of unwavering authority. “Unless you’d like me to conveniently decide to lose control of lightning, shut it.” Adrian rolled his shoulders back, resetting what he’d meant to say. “We have had some good years, but we need to make sure it stays that way.”

His eyes slid to me for a second. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was something like apology there. “The fact that Sebastian was able to gain supporters means we haven’t been as thorough in our attempts to smooth over my birth as we thought. I want everyone to be more aware of their patrons' concerns, and if you can’t fix it come to me.”

I snuck a glance to the entire table, finding everyone nodding in agreement. I’d expected some sneers in my direction, but found none.

“It is also our responsibility to make sure that if something like this happens again,” Adrian said, this time making his glance at me obvious. I held my ground. I had no intention of doing this again. “It is not for reasons attributable to our leadership or power. Now, any grumblings from any of your patrons?” He asked the room.

Everyone’s eyes swung to each other, finding nothing. Well, I guess this was my duty, then. “I haven’t been as tapped into my old circle,” I began. “But if there was any remaining disgruntlement, it would be from family members.”

“Have you heard anything?” Luce asked, knowing from personal experience how horrid my family could be.

“Andrew pitched a fit,” I explained, my skin rolling with rage at the thought of my uncle. “I haven’t heard anything else yet, though.”

“They may be waiting for the right time,” Rose said from down the table. “It’s been quiet while you haven’t been as active, but they might come crawling back out when you return to the spotlight.”

I had zero intention of ever returning to the level of fame I’d cultivated before this whole mess. I wasn’t someone who preened under attention. I simply loved the gifts my power fueled, and attended public events that supported them. It was nothing more than a coincidence that people viewed art galleries and musical performances and grand hospital fundraisers as the social events of the year. In fact, I found it rather annoying.

“What are you suggesting?” I asked, catching on to the undercurrent of Rose’s words.

“She’s saying you should start engaging more publicly again. See who comes out of the woodwork when you do,” Dominic said, seamlessly complementing his wife’s words.

Ugh, that sounded like fucking torture. But if it meant I could sign this whole thing away and burn it, fine. “What did you have in mind?” I asked Adrian, knowing he was probably the mastermind behind all of this.

Based on his small grin, he had been the one to come up with this insanity. “Start small. Maybe an Apollo gallery—”

“He already did that,” Dominic interrupted. Bold of him, regardless, but I had a feeling I knew what he was insinuating. I had half the mind to jump over the table and strangle him for bringing that up, though I knew that wouldn’t help matters. It was my fault that he and Rose and walked in on me and Persy when I had her practically pressed to a wall.

“Anyway,” Adrian said, drawing out the word while he looked between Dominic and I in confusion. “I didn’t hear any news of that outing, so do it again publicly.”

There was no arguing with that tone. Even I knew that. Still, I asked, groaning, “Is that really the best option?”

“Yes.” Well, Adrian surely intended that word to leave no room for argument.

“Oh, don’t put up such a fuss,” Luce teased from across the table. “You used to love these things.”