Page 124 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

He swallowed, his gaze distant, his shoulders tense. “When I tell you this, you have to know, I’m putting my life in your hands.” His brow furrowed. “More than that—the people of my kingdom’s life.”

My heart raced. “Don’t tell me then.”

He lifted his eyes to meet mine, a sadness permeating his features. “I must. Because I want you to return with me. And”—he swallowed—“I’m asking you to leave your father permanently.”

I shook my head. “I can’t…”

“You don’t wish to?”

I blew out a breath. “It’s not about what I wish for. If I tried to leave my father, he would obliterate anything and anyone I touched. Your city would fall under his fury.”

Cyn reached a trembling hand out to me. His voice jittered when he spoke. “It will already be so.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Cyn hesitated, his lip quivering. He cleared his throat. “My father didn’t travel for pleasure.” He held my gaze for three long heartbeats before speaking. “He visited to align our kingdom with Jupiter and the other high gods of the West. We intend to work together to take down Zeus.”

I sucked in a breath so hard it hurt. “You can’t do that. He’ll destroy you. I have no respect for my father, but he’s extremely powerful. You’re talking about a war between gods. And Zeus—he holds nearly all the power of the deities.”

Hyacinth bowed his head and nodded. He laced his fingers between mine, dropping his voice to a whisper. “I know. And now you do too. It’s dangerous. But, our kingdoms grow tired of Zeus’ terror. We wish to fight for a better future. Now I’ve shared everything with you. So, I ask you for a third time. Leave the destiny that’s been forced upon you and forge a new one with me.” He swept his eyes back up to meet mine again. “Please.”

Temi walked into the light then, and we both shifted towards her. “Where is the lake?” I said. “Hyacinth could use a chance to wash up.”

Temi thumbed behind her, and I nabbed my knapsack as Hyacinth and I both strode in that direction. He smoothed his hand down his robe and cleared his throat. “I need a chance to wash up?”

I smirked. “You smell like sweat and travel.”

His eyes searched me in the moon's creamy light. “Forgive me for not packing oils and lotions when I ran after you.”

“Forgiven.”

He huffed a sigh. “You’re exhausting.”

“Yet, as you said, you came running after me.”

His shoulders dropped, and he breathed an uneasy chuckle as we reached the pond surrounded by waist high reeds, their puffy seeds and silky grasses fluttering together in a breeze. Stars stretched like we stood inside a globe, the land some small speckling compared to the vastness of the surrounding universe.

“How did Temi know this lake was here?”

I shrugged. “She’s a huntress. Water draws animals. She’s good at finding it.”

Silence swam between us again, flooding the world. Hyacinth didn’t just ask me to leave my father. If I aligned with him in this, I’d abandon all of my siblings except Temi—including Ares—any chance of a future, and probably all of our lives as well. But… Hyacinth would already be in danger. He’d already face the wrath of my father alone. I was shit for a god, but maybe me aligning with them really could help. Maybe it could spare him even. Cyn blew out a breath. “Apollo, the thing is—”

“Yes,” I cut him off.

He lifted his face. “Yes what?”

I drew in close to him, smoothing my thumb over his jaw. “Yes. I’ll come back with you. We’re probably dooming ourselves… but…”

“You’ll join me?”

I twisted up my lips. “Do you know something?”

“What?” he breathed. Crickets chirped, and the wind ruffled his coarse robe around.

“You’re a romantic idiot.”

He laughed. “And you’re a golden boy.”