Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161535 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 808(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
“I’m Elsie,” I say with a smile, putting a linen napkin in my lap. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m bored,” Belara declares, speaking over us. It’s a clear signal for us to be silent. Fala continues eating, unbothered by Belara’s rudeness.
Kalos sits next to me, instead of seating himself closer to Belara. The goddess notices it, and so do I. His hand settles on my thigh as if even in this casual setting, he feels the need to lay claim to me.
I’m all for it.
“We’re here,” Kalos says to Belara.
She pouts. “And late about it. We were supposed to meet last night.”
“I told you no,” Kalos replies, just as easily.
Fala hands me a plate heaping with food, her gaze tactfully averted from both gods. “Wine?”
“Maybe just juice or milk,” I whisper back. It feels a bit like we’re at Thanksgiving, eating at the kids table while the adults have a conversation nearby. She nods and gestures at one of the servants, and both drinks are brought to me a moment later.
Kalos seems unbothered by Belara’s mood. “We’re here now. Tell me what’s troubling you.”
One perfect brow arches and Belara gives her glorious hair a slight shake, as if to make it shimmer in the candlelight. “Nothing troubles me.” She tilts her head. “Why are you still here?”
“Seems rude to leave our hosts so quickly,” Kalos says, voice dry.
Her eyes narrow. “You misunderstand me. I mean you’re still here. In the mortal realm. I’m curious as to why.” She gestures at our surroundings, as if she finds it all repugnant. “Just…why?”
Kalos is silent. I eat an apple slice, watching the two gods. Fala is quiet, too.
“It’s none of your business,” Kalos says after a long pause. “Forgive me if I don’t trust you enough to let you in on my plans.”
She makes another disgusted sound and twirls one of the rings on her fingers in agitation. “Do you plan on teaming up with that bastard Seth?”
“No. Why would I?”
“I don’t know—you tell me? What other reason can you have for remaining here?”
He glances at me. “I have my reasons.”
Belara looks over at me, too. Her delicate brows knit, and her perfect mouth turns down slightly. “Speak truly, Kalos. I would know your real reason. We both know you’re still in love with me.”
I choke on my apple slice.
“You are Lies, Belara,” Kalos says over my coughing. “Everything you say is misdirection.”
“Is it?”
“Unless it’s a question, aye. I know you can’t tell the truth at the moment. One liar sees another. Even now, my tongue grows heavy every time I try to tell the truth. It is a struggle.” He reaches over and brushes his pinky finger with mine. “I endure it for now, but I do not enjoy it. Nor do I enjoy your company.”
“Lies,” the goddess announces.
“That one is all truth.” Kalos’s expression grows wintry, his body language more rigid. “We have millennia of mistrust between us. You think a few days of flirting and working together will suddenly change all that? We both know the reason you have decided to suddenly sprout feelings for me again. You want an army and you think I’ll provide you with one.”
Belara leans forward, all urgency. “You think I haven’t noticed that the whoreson Seth is targeting female goddesses? I could be next!”
“But you’re not.”
She bares her teeth in an angry snarl. “Does this mean you won’t help me?”
My nose tickles and I discreetly sniff, wondering if Kalos is about to draw on his limited powers against the goddess. But he only glares at her as if her very presence offends him, every inch the scorned ex-lover.
“Now that I have re-absorbed the Aspect of Lies, I know all his motives for working with you, Belara dear. Do you want to know the truth of it?”
“No,” the goddess says sullenly.
He smirks at her. “Let’s just say he was using you as much as you were using him. I never intended upon giving you an army. If you want an army, make your worshippers leave their comfortable temples and don armor. Spend some of the jewels they hoard and buy mercenaries. You are not helpless. Quit pretending to be so.”
To my surprise, the goddess’s mouth quivers. Her chin trembles, and she looks like she’s about to cry. It’s the most distressing sight, because even on the verge of tears, Belara is stunningly, achingly gorgeous. Kalos is being so cruel to her, too. I glance over at him, worried that he should try to be a little nicer. She’s just scared.
At the sight of the goddess’s tears, Kalos rolls his eyes in disgust. He glances over at me as if to say “do you see this shit?” when he looks at me…and stops.
My nose tickles again. A bit of wetness slides down my upper lip. I touch it, and when I draw back, my hand is covered in blood.