Page 32 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

I sighed. “Add lack of discretion along with impropriety to his character traits.”

Emrin laughed. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Are you going to go see him?”

“Are you serious? I have”—I gestured to the desk—“more than I can manage. I don’t have time for frivolity.”

Emrin set the globe back onto its stand. “You have a right to do things for your own sake as well.”

I groaned. “Do I? That’s news to me.”

Emrin chuckled. “Let Tresson know what Pip and I can take over.”

I scratched my fingers over my brow. “I’ll work on that… sometime today.”

He patted me on the shoulder before leaving. I worried my lip between my teeth and dropped back against the edge of the desk. It seemed like I’d triggered some sort of cosmic avalanche and fate poised to drown me with more than I could handle. The harder I tried to dig myself out, the more that seemed to fall. If only Apollo hadn’t come, things might be, if not manageable, at least less detrimental.

Because Apollo brought more than just my personal annoyance. The threat of the gods hovered around him, the ability to shift their disfavor to our kingdom. I swallowed. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to find some way to get Apollo on our side, damn my own personal feelings about it.

Apollo strode down the hallway, his navy sash snaking around his form with the motion. “Apollo!” I yelled, jogging down the thick carpets to catch up to him.

The man turned, his brown eyes dull, his mouth twisting into a scowl. I sucked in a breath. “Forgive me. I thought you were someone else.”

He sighed and popped his hand up. His features transformed, the silvery glow gliding over his arms, his eyes growing golden, the outline of the muscles of his chest that peeked out above his tunic darkening. “It’s a veil,” he grumbled before snapping his hand again and the changed features returning.

“You’re going out into my kingdom in a disguise?”

He frowned. A bird dashed past the window beyond him, its gray wings glowing in sunlight. “Would you prefer for a god to walk about your city terrifying everyone with his presence?”

“Well, no.”

He rolled his eyes. “Exactly.”

Heat flushed over my cheeks, but I cleared my throat and tucked my hands behind my back. “Have you seen the atrium in the palace yet?”

“The what?”

I clenched my teeth before taking a slow breath. “It’s an open space that encompasses many stories. We have an indoor garden and several species of birds that live in it. Would you like to join me today, and I could give you a tour?”

His lips thinned, and then he barked a sharp, edgy laugh. “You’re telling me you had multiple stories of the palace built to look like the outdoors? You made others labor, so that you wouldn’t have to bother stepping outside?”

The leaves of the bush by the window fluttered against the glass panes, and I clenched my fingers into my palms until it hurt. What an asshole. How desperately I wanted to tell him to go to hell and take his arrogant personality with him. But I couldn’t do that. I had to consider my words, remain calm. I’d spent my entire life learning how to navigate politics with humans and gods alike. I had no idea why Apollo got under my skin like no other ever had, but I would find a way to manage it. “The atrium has existed for several hundred years, and my family has always prided itself on the way we treat our staff.”

“I’m sure.” Apollo smacked his mouth and lifted his chin, his eyes drifting up to the arched ceilings covered in intricate paintings. He dropped his face back down. “To answer your question, though, no. I’d rather not.”

I took a step forward, my robes swirling around my ankles. “You’re here to work with me.”

He scoffed. “I’m here as a punishment, and I assure you I’m feeling it. I have no intention of actually spending time with you.” And he turned and strode down the hallway.

I breathed through my teeth and marched back to Father’s office. How could I keep that egocentric prick from bringing Zeus’ wrath on us? Tapestries along the walls rippled with my movement as I continued striding along my path, energy prickling through me. I’d rather face a hundred meetings with the advisors than spend an hour with him, and I’m pretty sure my feelings on that were clear. I sighed as I twisted the knob and pushed the door open.

Joden stood at a window, his hands tucked behind him. Warm light glided over the waves of his dark hair. He turned, his burgundy tunic swirling, and bowed. “Your Highness.”

“Is there some reason you let yourself into my father’s office, Joden?”

He flicked his gaze in the direction of the desk and then back to me. “Forgive me, Your Highness.” He shifted his weight, his sharp nose wrinkling. “I was looking for you. The tax documents cannot move forward without the paperwork you have yet to turn in.”