Page 59 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

He smirked. “Well, I assumed you didn’t want your servants seeing you in this state.”

I grimaced and sat farther up in the bed. The gilded mirror on the other side of the room reflected my grayish coloring and dark circles under my eyes. Oh, I truly was an idiot. “Wait.” I snapped my head back up to him. “How did you get into my room?”

A grin spread across his cheeks. He raised his hand, and his looks transformed as though water flowed over him. His nose widened, his eyes changing to a deep green, his jaw thicker. I gasped. “You veiled yourself to look like one of my guards.”

Apollo changed the veil to his usual one and kicked back against his chair. “Yes. And your personal attendant and your maid. It was actually rather diverting.”

I swung my legs over the side of the bed. “That seems foolish of you.”

He rose and chuckled. “Oh, foolish is the gentlest name you’ve called me in the last twenty-four hours. What was it last night?” He tapped his finger against his chin. “An annoying asshole, I believe.”

Oh shit. I said that, didn't I? I released a breath. “Listen, Apollo—” I winced.

He stepped in closer. “May I?”

My brain ached too much to understand what he asked, but I bobbed my head. He slipped his fingers against my temple, and the throbbing headache disappeared. He tilted his face as if studying me but didn’t remove his fingers. His touch seared into some part of me I’d neglected in light of all my duties, and I suddenly became aware that Apollo was—despite being an annoying asshole—extremely attractive and extremely close to me, alone, in my bedroom. Gods, maybe Emrin was right. I needed to take care of my own needs more because the way that I reacted to Apollo verged on dangerous. There was too much at stake. I swallowed and pulled away from him. “Thank you.”

He studied his fingers for a moment like he was as perplexed by the interaction as I felt before giving his head a shake. “Don’t worry about it.” He eased back into the chair. “I’m not sure if you remember last night, but I stopped by to say sorry to you.”

With the headache gone, the previous evening came to me in bits and pieces. Oh gods. I bowed my face into my hands. “Listen, I don’t overindulge very often. That was—”

He burst into a laugh. “Trust me when I say you wouldn’t have to tell me that. It was charming, however, seeing you completely smashed.”

I cleared my throat and smacked my mouth at the lingering taste of alcohol mingling with morning breath. “I seriously doubt that.”

“What do you remember that we talked about?”

I wrapped my fingers around the edge of the mattress. “All of it, I think. You want to assist me with my work, have some fun this year, and help the people in my kingdom.” I lifted my face and smirked. “Golden boy.”

He scowled. “I would have been happy for you to forget that part. Maybe I did too good of a job drawing the hangover out.”

“Thank you for that,” I said, tapping my head, the feeling of the rough edges of his fingers lingering over my flesh still.

He shrugged and snagged his bag. “You’re back on your feet. I’ll see you at lunch?”

“Lunch?”

He grinned again. “Oh, yes, you’ve slept way past breakfast.”

I cringed as he strode out of the room. All right. I’d have some catching up to do. Again. I sighed and turned toward the mirror. I raised my fingers and traced them under my eyes. I looked as rested and fresh as I had in months.

After a shower and a meal, I took a deep breath as I prepared for several hours of meetings. Emrin and I strode into the room and found our seats. Light filtered in, making the reds of the cherry wood of the table sing with color. Different advisors spoke, their voices droning together. My rings glimmered bright sparkles over the smooth surface in front of me. I’d never gone without food. Not once in my life. What must it be like to be a child, hungry and afraid?

“Your Highness?” Joden’s voice snagged me out of my contemplations. “Do you agree?”

I cleared my throat and swept my gaze around the dozens of eyes pinned on me. “Forgive me. I lost track of my thoughts for a moment. Remind me what you’re referencing?”

Joden scowled, his sharp nose catching a glint of light. “We’re discussing the potential of cutting taxes for the traders, Your Highness, to encourage the growing commerce we’ve seen in the last year.”

I shuffled through papers in front of me. “And where in the budget do you propose cutting to accommodate this change?”

“Various places. A small amount here and there will scarcely be noticed.”

Eliga frowned. “I assure you the gods will notice any cuts to the temples. Do we wish to bring wrath upon the city?”

“The arts are always placed on the table for cutting.” Haven spread his fingers out over his own stack of papers. His curly hair trailed his shoulders as he lifted his face. “There are livelihoods that are important beyond just traders who feel like they rule this city.”

“That’s unfounded—”