Page 62 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

Apollo looked up from where he sat cross-legged on the rug, a reed clenched between his teeth, and grinned. “As I said we would.”

“And you’re going to use this opportunity to make your point.”

“Of course.” He dropped his face back to the sheet in his hand, scribbled something on it and rose, releasing it onto the pile. “That’s done.” He studied me for a moment so intensely my muscles tensed, and then he shrugged a shoulder. “You have a decent handle on this yourself.” He smirked. “For a mortal.”

“I guess we can’t all have the edge of being a deity.”

He offered a smile, but his expression darkened. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

“Does that bother—” But a knock at the door cut me off. I cleared my throat. “Come in.”

Joden opened the door, his burgundy robes swishing with the motion. “Your Highness, I was hoping to find you to discuss—” His eyes darted to Apollo, and he frowned. “Forgive me. I didn’t know you were busy.”

“You remember we’re hosting Lord Apollo, son of Zeus, for the year.”

A muscle along Joden’s jaw jumped, but he inclined his head and shifted back towards me. “Perhaps we can speak later, Your Highness, when you have time.”

“Very well.”

Joden bobbed towards Apollo once more, his features tight, before exiting the room and pulling the door behind him.

Apollo crossed his arms. “So, does he hate deities in general or me in particular?”

I pulled the reed from the inkpot and dabbed it against a cloth before placing the lid back on with a clink. “More like everything and everyone. He’s a pain-in-the-ass; ignore him.”

Apollo laughed, his eyes which had gradually brightened until they almost had a metallic glimmer across them again, twinkled. “That’s possibly the most honest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Well, if we’re going to work together, I can’t fake it all the time.”

“I like it.” He gripped his fingers into the fabric of his tunic and gave it a shake, smoothing the wrinkles out. “All right, now onto the second part of our agenda for the day.”

“That is?”

“A new experience.”

I tapped my fingers against the desk, my rings clattering. Then I lifted my face back up to him. “Have you ever played discus?”

20

Epiphany

The sky stretched an unbroken swathe of blue. Bees and butterflies hummed their way through flowers that spilled out onto the paths. Gardeners scattered throughout the space, bowing over bushes, pulling weeds. How nice it was to be outside, to be free. But that slipped through my fingers. I needed to meet with Melanie and Luelle that evening to discuss my presentation details. I’d put it off long enough.

I walked into the stable and took a deep breath of the earthy smell as I dropped back into a shadowed corner. I closed my eyes, the horses nickered and stomped, birds cooed.

“Your hiding places grow less and less creative, I must say.”

I opened my eyes and smirked at Valerian. The sapphire color of his tunic brightened the deep greens of his eyes. I glanced around. The stable stretched empty, and I jabbed him with my elbow. “It’s a good thing I’m not hiding then, isn’t it?”

“Oh”—he cocked his head—“you were napping then? Curious way to go about it, but forgive me for interrupting you.”

I laughed and brushed my hands over my riding outfit. “Maybe I was hiding, a bit.”

He kicked back against the side of a stall, crossing his arms. “Would you like to share about what?”

“Everything basically.”

He grinned. “Precisely what I hide from as well.”