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The deity cupped the side of his face, the molten gold of his eyes swirling. “I am perfection. I am everything and more. But I find myself in a bind. There are those out there who wish me harm, who have attacked me even.” He tutted. “Terrible, isn’t it? But the hate in their hearts leads them to hurt me.”

The man licked his lips, shaking. “I’m so sorry.”

“What’s your name?”

“Bobby.”

Aidan smoothed the back of his hand across Bobby’s right cheek. “You are special to me. All of my faithful are. But I need your help in such dark days.”

This was nothing short of creepy.

“Is this why the city is screaming?” the mage asked.

“Yes. Shameful heathens spill blood on the streets.”

Bobby swallowed, his eyes flicking to me. “What about the elf?”

“He is one of the worst sinners.”

Those eyes narrowed. “He defies death.”

“Yes. Terrible. Because his heart is rotted.”

Oh, I could tell you some stories, I thought.

We really needed that global spell to combat Aidan’s faith and save Silvanus.

How to get back to Glimmer City and my parents?

My. Parents.

A fresh ache danced through my skull, migrating to my chest.

Parents. Parents. Parents. Parents.

I slammed the lid on the box.

Later. Get out of this first.

Aidan dropped his hand. “His death will free me from this terrible affliction keeping me from using the full potential of power I created. I know it is terrible to abuse magic in this way, but one must take all necessary actions to defeat the darkness.”

It didn’t make sense. How could this guy profess to love Aidan but be all about twisting Aidan’s Fire?

I kept the question to myself. Really, so many fucks were not given. Let these crazy dickheads stew in their own filthy ideals. Sometimes, ignorance kept the mind out of the gutter.

“What can I do?” Bobby asked.

Aidan glanced at me, then stroked his chin as if he were a detective from a crime novel. “If we brought in a sacrifice, the city’s guardians would be on us immediately.”

Bobby sniffed. “Yes, glorious one. Yes.”

The ground rumbled from an explosion nearby.

Aidan grinned. “But their attention is currently diverted.”

He wasn’t here to think or ask questions. He knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted. It was all an act, another damn game for the games master.

“Prick,” I grumbled without meaning to.