Page 37 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

Several of the patrons turned towards the stage, whistling.

And my muscles eased.

The women sitting at the table with Temi clapped, their shoulders bumping into each other as they laughed, dark curls glinting in golden light. But Temi watched me. Her chin rested on her folded hands, an easy smile on her mouth.

Of all the mistakes I’d made in my life, anything that hurt her ranked the highest.

I twisted away from those thoughts and the intensity of her expression, closed my eyes, and lost myself in the music.

A few hours later, I grabbed a drink and joined Temi, who sat alone. The dining house had cleared out, and only a few conversations hummed against the low ceilings. Temi snaked her hand out and squeezed my arm. “Thanks, Apollo.”

“Anything for you.”

She blew out a sigh, her skin shimmering in the light of the candle that had shrunk into a lump. She scraped her finger across the wood grain of the surface. “What’s wrong?” she said.

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

I took a swallow of the wine, letting it dry my mouth and tingle against my stomach before answering. “What’s the point of this?”

“Of what?”

“Of being here? Of avoiding reality?”

She frowned. “You want to ascend early?”

“No. I don’t want to ascend at all. But”—I set the cup down with a clink—“dragging you to a foreign city, living a year in Hyacinth’s cursed palace, playing these games. Who am I kidding? This is miserable already. I should give up.”

She bit her lip, her face dipping into shadows. “I’ll support whatever you want to do.”

“But you wish for me to stay?”

“A year is a lot of time.”

“Not when you’re immortal.”

She swallowed. “For a mortal like me who loves her brother, that time counts.”

Another group stood and exited. The proprietor walked over and wiped their table down with a cloth. “I know. And I’m sorry. I wish I was a better brother to you.”

She clasped her fingers around mine. “You’re a wonderful brother. Maybe try enjoying this year. Getting something out of it?”

“Because I’m basically dying at the end of it?”

“You’re not dying.” She pulled her hand back and scowled.

“Close enough. And how am I supposed to enjoy it? I swear Hyacinth is practically stalking me. He will not leave me alone.”

“Well, spend some time with him.”

I huffed another breath. “I thought you suggested doing something fun.”

“No.” She cocked an eyebrow up and shrugged against her seat. “I said try to get something out of this year. Maybe you can learn from him.”

“How to be a royal pain in the ass?” I shoved my fingers through my hair. “How to walk around wearing over-the-top robes and acting like the world should bow to me because I’m pretty? No, thank you.”

She snatched my goblet from my hand and took a drink. I scowled, but she only smiled in return. “I think you’re over-simplifying him.”