Page 92 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

Apollo bumped his shoulder into mine, and that touch coursed through me like a running river. “Close enough.”

He grabbed a stack of parchments and dropped into his seat.

I cleared my throat, clicking the door in place. I hesitated for a moment, an uncertainty fizzing in my stomach like flower seeds bursting forth and puffing on the wind. Apollo clenched his reed between his teeth and turned towards me, mumbling his words past the implement. “Aren’t we working today?”

I slid my hands over the smooth silk of my robes. “Well, I didn’t know. I suppose… I wasn’t sure how things might be after… last night.” A rush of foolishness crept down me, and I wished I could walk out of the room and erase the previous ten minutes. I scrubbed my fingers over my face.

Apollo dropped the reed onto the desk with a clink and rose, sauntering towards me. He came close enough that his knuckles trailed over my arm, and he brushed his nose against mine. I released a breath, and he filled the space between us, his lips finding my mouth, kissing me like he grazed something ephemeral.

I parted my mouth and leaned into the kiss, my fingers trailing into his hair. Then he drew back and smirked. “Okay, we got the inevitable out of the way.”

“The inevitable?”

“Yes. We kissed. We are”—he took his thumb and traced my arm with it—“doing whatever this is. It changes things, maybe, but also it doesn’t.”

“You don’t think so?”

He hesitated, his curls gleaming golden at the ends. “I’m here for another few months and then I leave to”—a muscle along his jaw jumped, and he bowed his head—“face my fate. Whatever this is between us, we can enjoy it for now. But we both know it's temporary.”

“Right,” I whispered.

Of course, it was temporary.

Of course he didn’t feel… But he’d said this meant more to him, hadn’t he? Or had I just hoped it meant more? No. Of course not, Cyn. He’s bound to be a god. His life promised eternity, like a star that would gleam into the eons. What was I but a patch of grass that would fade before he noticed?

And that was for the best, anyway. The last thing I needed was to be romantically involved with a child of Zeus.

“Right,” I said again with more force.

“Anyway.” Apollo’s tone changed, an impishness curling along the edges of his expression. “You should be thankful I’m here. I don’t know how you’d manage your father being away and all this work without me.”

“Well, to your argument. Without you here, I’d have fewer distractions.”

He grinned and traced his fingers back up my arm again, sweeping them over my collarbone, trailing over my chest. “Is it a pleasant distraction, though, or a bad one?”

I cleared my throat and snatched his hand. “That’s yet to be seen.” But I slipped my fingers between his, letting my actions belie my words.

A knock sounded, and we both jumped. I dropped the contact with him and pulled open the door. Joden stepped in, his lips pinched. His eyes grew beady as he darted them between Apollo and me.

I rolled my shoulders back and lifted my chin. “Is there something you need?”

“Your Highness, I was hoping we could speak for a moment.”

My voice deepened. “And this is a matter you couldn’t address with me when I saw you in the meeting this morning?”

He curled his fingers together. “Well—”

“Or perhaps you feel it’s acceptable to barge into my office and waste my time as you see fit?”

His words hissed through his teeth. “It's difficult to discuss things with you, Your Highness, with so many others at the meetings.”

I clenched my jaw. “You mean others who would hold you accountable for your comments and weigh in with their insights.”

“Your Highness, I’m only considering the best for our city.”

“I’m glad as that is your role as an advisor. And your opinions are to be balanced by others, to help achieve that as well. Now”—I grasped the edge of the door—“I’m afraid I’m busy and cannot spare any more time for the moment.”

Joden’s eyes took on a glint, but he bowed. “Of course, Your Highness. Another time, then.”