Their carefully constructed facades cracked as they felt pieces of their divinity starting to unravel. The goddesses’ eyes dulled to a muddy brown as they struggled to remember their own names, their own purposes, their own beginnings. They were young gods, barely more than children, and now they felt every second of their comparative insignificance.
The council members shifted uncomfortably, sensing something was wrong but unable to comprehend the true battle of power taking place before them. My mind screamed in protest as I held them suspended in that state of existential uncertainty, burning away fragments of my own divinity to maintain the assault.
Maybe now they would finally understand how far they had overstepped. They stumbled to their feet, their immortal powers flickering like candles, though to the council it would appear they simply lost their earlier confidence. The room remained perfectly normal, the stone walls solid, the air still, but Serene and Bellatora saw the truth in my eyes as I sat calmly in my chair; they were not the most dangerous beings in this chamber, and they never had been.
Minerva leaned forward, her wizened face creased with concern. “Surely you jest, goddess. The Paramour is but a commoner, with no claim to the throne.”
“P-Pardon the intrusion, but will you not give the king a moment to speak on his own plans?” a Silk man asked, adjusting the sleeve on his tunic to keep from meeting the eyes of the goddesses.
“That’s an interesting concept,” I followed up, leaning back in my chair. “Selecting the king’s successor seems awfully invasive,” and against the fucking rules from the Fates, “Doesn’t it?”
“Oh, we don’t mean to choose for the mortal king,” Bellatora answered, her voice far quieter than it’d been before. “Only help with options.”
“Has he asked for your help?” Tuck asked, leaning forward to fill a glass of water from a pitcher on the table and slide it in front of the king. To most, that gesture would have meant nothing. A lowly man serving a king. But amongst the gods, Tuck was staking his claim over Aldus Windale. He served him. And that was that. I loved that growly bastard.
Aldus reached for the glass and took a sip, sharing a nod of gratitude to Tuck before addressing the goddesses. “I do appreciate the warning. And the work you’ve done to bring me options. I shall think on this and make a decision soon. You have my word.”
They’d lost this battle, and they knew it.
“Of course, Your Majesty. We bow to your wisdom in this matter.”
Bellatora inclined her head, her fiery hair cascading over her shoulder like a river of blood. “We shall take our leave, then. But remember time waits for no one. Not even you.”
That was a threat directed solely at me.
The heavy oak doors swung open of their own accord, groaning on ancient hinges. As the goddesses crossed the threshold, they vanished. Aldus cleared his throat and gripped the arms of his chair. When he spoke, his voice was low but firm, carrying the unmistakable tone of royal command. “My lords and ladies, I thank you for your counsel today. We have much to think about. I ask only that you look amongst yourselves and find the similarities within your own cowardice in the face of the gods that plague this realm. It doesn’t matter if you are Salt or Silk, rich or poor, fat or thin, tall or short. In the end, we’re merely cannon fodder for a war that spans lifetimes and hasnothing to do with us. Now leave me. And trust that I will not abandon you again.”
The council left in a hurry, not bothering to look back at their king as his words followed them out the door. Only when Tuck and I were left, did he nod to the guards, and the doors were shut once more. I hadn’t expected private counsel, but based on the look on Tuck’s face, he had.
“That didn’t go to plan,” Aldus said, rising from his seat. “Find my son and bring him to me. Archer Windale is the only man I’ll see sit on that throne.”
“It’ll be a hard sell, Your Majesty,” Tuck said, refilling his water.
“It won’t be hard. It’ll be impossible,” I confirmed. “Whatever sway you think you might have with him, it’s gone. It was buried in the ground the day his sister was. Your best bet is to find someone else. A cousin. A nephew. Anyone else.”
Aldus’s wrinkled eyes narrowed. “All the same, something tells me you boys might know where to find him. I want him sitting in this room by nightfall.”
With that, the king rose and walked out. I waited a few seconds before sharing a look with Tuck.
“You know he’s not going to come, right?”
“God of Knowledge,” he said, tapping his forehead. “I know all kinds of useless shit.”
14
Paesha
Standing in the kitchen, surrounded by all the sleeping people, I heard a small whimper come from within the pantry. I exchanged a look with Archer before slowly approaching, dreading what we might find. With trembling fingers, I eased the door open.
There, huddled among sacks of flour and jars of preserves, was Reuben. His wild red hair stuck out in all directions and his freckled face was streaked with tears, his eyes wide with terror as he gazed up at me.
“Reuben,” I breathed, relief washing over me because he was awake. I crouched down, careful not to startle him. “It’s okay. It’s me, Paesha. Can you tell me what happened?”
He shook his head slowly, his bottom lip quivering. “I… I didn’t mean to.”
Hedidn’t mean to? But if… “You used your magic, and it was more powerful than you thought it would be, huh?”
He nodded, eyes falling to the floor. “I tried to wake them.” Reuben’s gaze darted past me to where Lianna lay slumped by the stove. Fresh tears welled in his eyes. “The baby was crying a lot and Briony said she wished she would sleep so she couldmake dinner. And I was only trying to help. Lianna said it would be okay.”
