Page 21 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

I fixed him with a look. “Val.”

“All right, all right. I’ll tell them the truth. Hyacinth is busy growing old before his time and doing boring royal duties.” He chuckled and gave me a mock bow. “Your Highness.”

I scoffed. “If royalty got to do as they pleased, I wouldn’t put up with your smart ass.”

He kicked his heel back against the stall and rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Cyn.”

I laughed. “See you later.”

“If you have time.” He inclined his head and strode out the door.

Yeah.

If I had time.

I blew out another breath.

6

Epiphany

I tucked behind shrubbery and sat perched on the stone lip of a windowsill. The laughter of those playing discus tangled together. They had all removed their shirts, sweat glistening over their bare chests, their shorts covered in mud and grass stains. Delon plowed into Valerian, wrapping his thick arms around him, and they hit the ground with a thud. I winced and sucked in air over my teeth.

“They’re gorgeous, aren’t they?” Luelle’s voice caused me to jump, and she grinned, shifting her eyes to the space between the shrubs. Her long, black ponytail swished over her gown.

I scratched my fingernail into the divots in the stone, etching specks of dirt out of it. “Have you ever considered I’m here to watch the game rather than the players?”

She side-eyed me and smirked, kicking her feet out and crossing her ankles. “Sure.”

I laughed. “Fine. Maybe I’m here for both.”

She leaned back, resting her head against the windowpane. “I don’t blame you.”

The game carried forward. Valerian got his hands on the discus and bent, curving his arm up with a swift move, the disc flying. Len’s shaggy brown hair jumped as he tried to grab the discus, but it sailed past him, landing on the other side. Valerian crowed, throwing both of his arms into the air, and I smiled.

Luelle turned a bracelet around her wrist. “Melanie wanted to know if you wished to discuss your gown this afternoon.”

“My gown?” I swiveled towards her. “For what?”

Her eyebrows stretched up to her hairline. “Your presentation practice dinner?”

“Oh.” My stomach swirled. “I can’t tonight. I… already promised to do something for Emrin.”

“Do what?”

I shrugged, jumping up and dusting my dress off. “You know, with Father gone, Cyn and Em are juggling a lot.”

She tapped her fingers against the windowsill. “Sometime later this week, then?”

I took several steps down the path of shrubs before turning back to her. “I have to catch up on my studies. I’ve been ducking out too much.”

She stood and crossed her arms. “Why are you avoiding this?”

“I’m not. It’s just a busy couple of days.”

A burst of laughter came from the group beyond the bushes. She frowned. “I’ll tell her next week then.”

“Right. See you later.” I stepped out of the path and around the corner of the palace, traipsing through the gardens and slipping into the stables. Horses knickered, the light growing hazy, the space warm and sweet and earthy.