Page 91 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

His expression transformed, all mischievousness and a glittering sharpness flooding over him again. “Come on. We really will have to run now. I can tell you one thing I don’t dream of, and that’s pissing off my mother by making the kitchen staff late.”

He gestured to the path, and we jogged.

But a hollow feeling ran through me, stretching out into my limbs, and sinking there.

31

Hyacinth

The morning meeting dragged by, and my body buzzed in my chair. I jostled my leg to release the energy, but it didn’t help and resulted in Emrin tossing me a wary expression, his forehead furrowing.

I focused on the topics at hand. Answered the advisors’ questions. Fielded Joden’s sharp retorts.

But my mind stayed with Apollo. His fingers gripped into my hips. His lips on mine.

I swallowed.

Hard.

The meeting mercifully wrapped up, and I grabbed my bundle of parchment, tucking them under my arm, striding out of the room. Emrin clipped alongside me. “Where are you heading to?”

I lifted the stack of papers. “To Father’s office to work.”

“With Apollo?”

I stopped walking. “Yes. Why?”

He frowned. “Is he being more reasonable?”

“He is.” I hesitated. How to explain that he was so much more than he appeared? A tree outside the window shimmied, its shadow stretching across the hallway following suit. “He isn’t as bad as he comes off.”

Emrin scoffed. “Yeah, he seemed tolerable enough when we played discus. But, something still doesn’t sit right with me about him.”

“What do you mean?”

“He just bodes bad news, you know? He’s a god. It goes with the territory.”

“He’s not a god yet,” I said, my voice coming sharper than I intended. I startled at the intensity of my own words. Emrin was right, of course. Apollo was Zeus’ son. Zeus who held our kingdom in his palm. Somehow reminding myself of that did nothing to stop the pattering of my heart when Apollo came to my mind once more. I needed to tread carefully, but Apollo wasn’t his father.

Emrin’s forehead dimpled as his eyebrows drew together. “Have I upset you?”

I blew out a breath and clapped his shoulder. “You haven’t. There’s a lot on my mind at the moment. I’m sorry.” He nodded. “If you don’t go soon, you’ll be late for your lessons.”

He bobbed his head again and turned to leave. “Em?” He paused and looked back. “Has Epiphany been attending any?”

“Yeah. She’s shown up more consistently since she started spending time with Temi than she has in years.”

“Interesting.”

He turned again, but I grabbed his arm. “Emrin, I’m not trying to be short with you. I mean… I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right, Cyn. I get it.”

He strode down the hallway, ruffling his fingers back through the waves of his hair. I sighed and turned the other direction.

Apollo waited, leaning against the wall as he always did. One corner of his mouth pulled up as he vaulted himself forward. “Morning, Prince.”

My heart somersaulted in my chest, but I scoffed as I opened the door and avoided making eye contact with him. “It’s hardly morning.”