Page 44 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

I stepped into the entrance of the palace, the chandelier dimmed for the night, the luxury of the room dampened by quiet shadows. I’d avoided spending time here. Avoided Hyacinth with his pompous ways and Temi with her hopeful eyes and wishful heart. Gods did I hate disappointing her. And the older I got, the more I did so. It was like a curse I lived out.

I eased up the stairs and slipped into our suite, guiding the door latch back into place and turned into the shadows of the room.

“Apollo.”

I jumped. “Damn, Temi. You scared me.”

She lit an oil lamp; the light flickered across the walls, glowing over her brown eyes. “I want to speak with you.”

I dropped beside her. “So, you just sat here waiting in the dark? Are you some kind of spirit?”

She perched on the edge of an ottoman lined with tassels, her posture perfect. “Can we talk about Hyacinth?”

I clicked my tongue. “It’s too late.”

“It would not be so late if you would bother to show up here at a regular hour.”

“Why does it matter? We all know how this year ends. I’m forced to ascend. So, why try? Why would I waste the last year of my life following a boring prince around as he does equally boring tasks?”

“Because you’re scaring them.”

I frowned. “Scaring who?”

“I was speaking with Epiphany today. They’re worried you may bring your father’s wrath onto them or the people of their city.”

“As if they give a shit about the people in this city.”

“Apollo.” I met her gaze, and she raised her eyebrows, the warm light flickering across her face, sharpening her cheekbones. “They are mortals. A year of time and you’re holding their lives in the balance—”

“I’m not.”

She grasped my arm. “You are. They feel nervous. And you know your father would level this city without thinking twice about it if they raised his temper. You’re aware of what Zeus would do.”

I swallowed. Her meaning plunked down within me, bringing up memories that ached in my brain and trembled over my flesh. “I wouldn’t hurt the people in this city. You know that.”

“You wouldn’t. But Zeus will. So, if you care about people at all—and I know you do—then you’ll play along some.”

I leaned onto my knees, and the tassels on the furniture fluttered. “You mean spend time with his royal pain in the ass.”

“Yes, and observe some official events, and write your father a nice letter about the city and their devotion to him.”

I sighed. “You’re right. Fine.”

“Good. You can start in two days with dedication day.”

I snapped up. “No. Anything else. You know I hate dedication day.”

“It would make sense for you to attend and will give you something to write your father about.”

“Temi, it’s”—I thrust my hands out—“the grossest act that represents everything I hate about the gods. All these people giving things they actually need and the way they sacrifice the animals.” I cringed. “It’s cruel.”

“Even as a huntress, I agree with that. But, you need to attend. All those people you’re worried about, they’ll suffer a great deal more if your father’s anger falls on them.”

I blew out another breath but nodded.

The day came bright and bleary. Musicians whistled and squealed their instruments. The noise pounded into my brain as the alcohol still lingering on my breath filled the air, tangy and biting. Drinking was a stupid choice, really. No amount of inebriation would make the day go easier. Thunderbolt flags in shimmering yellows hung from every building, the breeze rattling them like they might strike the city. A reminder of why I did this.

Father. A word that sank into my mind with a sour and putrid tang. I wish I had a knife that could dig it out, cut the ties to my family tree until just Temi and I stood facing the world. But, no. I was Apollo, son of the almighty Zeus. The deity above all others. The god without blemish. I clenched my teeth until it ached my already pounding brain.