Page 22 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

I walked up to a stall, and Meadow dropped her large, creamy nose on my shoulder. “I have nothing for you today, I’m afraid.”

She whinnied, and I scratched between her ears. “No, no riding either.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I’m supposed to be getting ready for my boring, adult life. Not having adventures.”

She butted against me again, and I winced. “You nosey thing. That hurts.” She huffed her warm breath against my cheek, and I patted her once more before climbing the ladder to the loft and dropping against the hay. The sweet smell of it swept around me, a beam of sunlight splashed over my form like a blanket, wrapping me in its warmth. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The hay jumped, and I scrambled up, gasping. Valerian sat beside me, crossing his legs. In the sunshine, the stubble along his jaw gleamed with highlights of auburn, and his emerald eyes twinkled. The smell of soap trailed off of him, and his hair glistened with dampness. “I’m guessing you’re hiding.”

“I’m apparently doing a shit job of it since you found me, anyway.”

He clicked his tongue and spread his fingers out over his heart. “Does your brother know you use language like that? My gods, what would he think?”

I rolled my eyes and elbowed him. “What would he think if he knew you were up here in the hayloft alone with me?”

The humor dropped from his face, his color paling a touch. “He’d have my ass.” He nudged me back. “How about we make a deal? You keep my secret, and I’ll keep yours?”

“Hasn’t that always been our arrangement?”

He grinned, cocking his head to the side. The long line of his neck stretched out, his collarbone dipping against the tan of his skin, the V of his shirt revealing the sharp edges of his chest. “So, what are you up here hiding from then, Pip?” he said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

My cheeks flooded with warmth and I ducked my head, grabbing a piece of straw to tangle between my fingers. “The usual. My future.”

He grabbed hay and began braiding strands together, bowing over his work. “What part this week?”

“It’s time for me to prepare for my presentation.”

His hands stilled. For a moment, the only sounds in the stable were the soft nickering of the horses. “Wow,” he finally said. He raised his face, his lips pinching at a smile. “Is it the dress? Having a hard time with color choices?” He whirled his hand through the air and gestured to himself. “I’m actually an expert at color palettes if you wish for my advice.”

I laughed despite myself and leaned back against my hands. “What color would look best on me?”

Valerian lifted his face, his fingers continuing to work the strands of hay. He stayed quiet for a moment, but then a smile cut across his face again. “Every color suits you.”

I rolled my eyes. “With that kind of advice, what would I do without you?”

“Suffer terribly.”

I snorted and picked bits of dust off my dress.

“Valerian,” a voice echoed up through the rafters, startling swallows that ruffled their feathers.

Val sighed. “Duty calls.” He lifted the hay, transformed into a braided crown, and plopped it on my head. “A crown for the princess.”

I chuckled. He turned to leave, but I snagged his hand, and he swept his face back around to me. We stared at each other for a minute that stretched like an eternity before I cleared my throat and dropped the warm comfort of his touch. “Thanks for coming up here.”

He dropped to a whisper and gripped my fingers again. “Anytime.”

“Valerian!”

He rolled his eyes and climbed down the ladder. “I’m here.” His voice echoed around, humming through me. “Don’t lose your ass.”

The creaking of a stall opening filled the air, the chuff of a horse’s hooves stomping over fresh hay, and then the barn stretched quiet again, leaving only gentle breathing and chirping of the swallows as they preened their feathers.

I pulled the braided crown off of my head and ran my fingers over it. Valerian had made me a thousand of those since our childhoods. I glided my thumb down the bumpy edge of it, where his coarse fingers had been. Tears bit at my eyes, and I shook them away. Foolishness. I tossed the crown behind me and climbed down the ladder.

7

Apollo

I adjusted my knapsack, tightening the straps. Temi licked her lips as she slung her waterskin around. She nodded at me, and we started out. My bow rubbed into my back, but there was no way I’d travel on foot without it.