Page 31 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

The sour pit in my stomach grew again. “After you just said you think you’d prefer it when I lie? Very well, I’m here to admire you and all your splendor before ascending to my position of authority over you.”

Hyacinth pinched his lips together. “And if I asked you for honesty?”

I leaned over my plate. “Then I would tell you I’m here for two purposes. First, to corner me into playing the role my father wishes for me, and secondly, to spy on you. Zeus finds your offerings acceptable, but just so.”

Hyacinth’s face paled. He pressed his lips together and set his silverware down onto his napkin.

I snatched a bite of the yam and swallowed it. “And feel free to eat meat at dinner. I have alternative plans for tonight. Which I hope will be the case regularly.”

Hyacinth dropped his hands to his lap, his gaze growing distant. But I finished the yams. They were quite good, actually.

10

Hyacinth

Emrin walked ahead of me into father’s office. I snapped the door shut and paced over the weaved rugs. “The bastard,” I seethed.

Emrin leaned against the desk. “What did he say?”

“He’s here to spy on us and report back to Zeus what he finds.”

Emrin fidgeted his fingers over his robe. “He was joking?”

“No. I think he was telling the damn truth.” I clenched my teeth. “What must it be like to be such an arrogant, self-indulged asshole with no responsibility I’ll only ever guess at.”

Emrin lifted a weighted globe off its stand and rolled it around in his hands. “If what he’s saying is true, then that’s—”

“A giant fucking problem. I’m aware.” I sighed. Gods, I wished Father was home.

“Surely he wouldn’t—I mean he has to know that the wellbeing of the people of our kingdom rides on what he might say.”

I shook my head. “Deities don’t care about people, Emrin. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he’d send a deprecating letter out of spite for me.” I breathed through my teeth. “I need to… take control of this situation. Him harming our people because of my hatred for him isn’t something I can allow.”

“What do you intend to do?”

I sighed and dropped against the desk beside him. “Clear my schedule some and see if I can spend time with him, I guess. Hopefully, I’ll change his perspective or at least sway him to not punish our kingdom over it.”

“How will you manage to clear your schedule?”

“I have no idea.”

“Pip and I could take over some of the work if you need us to.”

“I may have to take you up on that offer.” I drew in a breath and gestured to the stack of papers on the desk. “The work seems to grow. I don’t know how Father manages it all. And now I have this bastard god here to deal with.”

Emrin nudged his arm against mine. “It’ll work out.”

“I suppose.”

Emrin shifted his weight, crossing his ankles. “Dasson was asking after you.”

I lifted my eyes to him. “When did you go to the theater?”

“Seriously? Yesterday… Are you truly that unaware?”

“I’m sorry, Em. I’ve been busy.” I swallowed. “What was an actor doing speaking with you?”

“According to his implications, you’ve done more than speak with him.” Emrin raised his eyebrows.