I smile.
They glare.
Somewhere to my left, Belladonna clears her throat.
I turn impatient and let out a long sigh.
As soon as I open my mouth, Mercy hisses, “Explain yourself.” I start to speak, but she lifts a manicured finger. “Not you.Her.”
I turn to Veil, and by the look on her face, she seems taken aback by the sudden shift of attention; then she blinks, and it’s gone. It’s replaced by a poised expression that has me grinning from ear to ear.
“I was just as blindsided as you are now,” she finally says.
“Do not presume you know how I amfeeling,” Mercy spits.
“Mercy,” I interject, my tone now a lot graver.
Her gaze cuts to mine. I know Mercy all too well; she’s boiling with rage even if her exterior appears as calm as still waters. Slowly, she leans back into her chair just as a flash of lightning illuminates the room. The thunder soon follows.
I give Veil’s knee a pat, signaling her to continue. She breathes in deeply and rests her folded hands on the table. She takes the time to look at all six of us before returning her full attention to the ruling heirs.
“I didn’t know I was the servant of the god of thievery until it was revealed to me two weeks ago.”
“By whom?” Wolfgang grits out slowly, seemingly trying to appear as calm as Mercy, but the bulging vein in his neck is giving him away.
“The Oracle,” I reply.
I hear Aleksandr curse, but I keep my eyes on Mercy, whose eyes have widened in disbelief.
“You spoke with the Oracle?” Mercy asks.
I shrug and nod with nonchalance. “I needed my suspicions confirmed.”
“How could you keep something like this from me?” Mercy seems to realize her small slip. Her green eyes slide to Wolfgang and then back to me. “From us.”
I tilt my head to the side and give her a droll look as I casually drum my fingers on the table. “You’ve been busy, love.” I flick my hand dismissively. “I’m telling you now, aren’t I?”
“Gemini told me last night,” Constantine pipes in, just as comfortable in chaos as I am. “He also told half of his circus before fucking Veil against a wall.”
Aleksandr rubs his brow in exasperation beside her, his face almost as red as his tracksuit. Wolfgang, on the other hand, blanches upon hearing this, his eyes practically bulging out of his head.
“Dimwitted twit!” he snaps. “You announced it to a handful of plebeians first before even speaking to us? This issensitiveinformation.”
“Apologies,” I say with a smirk. “It was in the heat of the moment.” Then, just to rouse them further, I add, “Belladonna also knew.”
She flashes me an appalled look, the apple of her cheeks turning bright red. “You swore me to secrecy, you two-faced buffoon!”
Constantine falls into another fit of giggles, and Aleksandr groans into his hand.
“Silence.” Mercy’s voice is like the crack of a whip, and silence returns.
Her eyes meet mine, piercing gaze imploring me to be serious. A lifetime of friendship has me listening to her wordless command.
“What did the Oracle say exactly?” Mercy asks.
“Damnatio memoriae,” I respond.
“From what I understand, my family was banished centuries ago. I only came back to Pravitia a few months ago,” Veil adds.
