Page 18 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

His gaze skitters away and his jaw clenches. “The Academy of Riviere is opening its doors to more Terra sooner than usual, that should tell you that they’re in desperate need of servants.”

My irritation fades. He’s not wrong. If they’re opening their doors to the humans earlier, then that can only mean that they’ve either killed or run off the servants they had before. I turn back to the woman. “Fine,” I snap. “Nezerac, then. I want that last name.”

She twists her lips as if the decision displeases her but shrugs. “Have it your way,” she says. “If we’re going with that, then we need a recommendation. I can purchase one from a Lower God without issue, but I have to ask—have you ever actually served a God?”

I shake my head. She sighs and turns away, shuffling towards the cabinets built into the back wall. The doors clatter open as she bends over, her backside swaying with sharp jerking movements as she digs into the dark interior. A moment later, she pulls out another book and blows a layer of dust off of its surface before tossing it onto the counter towards me.

With a frown, I lift the book and read the title aloud. “The Perfect Terra: Etiquette Required to Best Serve Our Divine Gods.” This can’t be real. I prop open the cover and then blow at the second layer of dust covering the pages inside before I continue reading. “‘Always keep your eyes downcast unless you’re called. Prepare your body in regular water baths and should your God ever call upon you for night service, you must always be ready to soothe their amorous desires.’”

Regis snorts and when I jerk my head back to glare at him, he quickly turns away and covers his mouth with the back of his hand as he fakes a cough. A poor cover-up. Prick.

Turning back to Madam Brione, I set the book back down. “I won’t need this,” I say, pushing it towards her.

Without batting an eyelash, she pushes it back at me. “If you’ve never been a Terra, then you will. This teaches the best ways to deal with and handle the Divine Beings as their servant.”

“I’ll take my chances,” I snap, unwilling to pick up that offensive piece of literature again.

Madam Brione eyes me. “The Academy Terra are regularly punished for their God charges’ offenses.” It’s clear that her words are a warning, but I don’t care. Pain, I can handle. Even sex isn’t something I’m adverse to. I’ve fucked to kill before and I’ll do it again if the situation calls for it. It’s just an action. It doesn’t have to mean anything. But catering to pompous Divine creatures and licking their feet is something I won’t do.

“I’ll handle it,” I tell her.

Regis reaches forward, however, and plucks the book off of the counter. “I’ll convince her,” he murmurs to Madam Brione with his usual playboy smile. “Thank you for the assistance.”

Her expression doesn’t inspire confidence, but I don’t care. She’s not the one that needs to be confident. I am. “Suit yourself,” she finally says, nodding to Regis before casting a cutting look my way. “You wait right there. I’ll be back.”

Just like that, Madam Brione moves out from behind the counter and disappears through the door she’d come from earlier. I wait a few moments to ensure she’s out of earshot before I whip around and face Regis. “I’m not taking that,” I snap.

Regis rolls his eyes. “Stop it,” he says, holding up his free hand. “You don’t need to bring it with you, but think of it as research. Give the contents a look through.”

“It’s insulting,” I bite out.

“So?” He tilts his head. “We’ve done far worse, haven’t we?”

I … have no response to that. My shoulders droop. He’s right. “Fine,” I mutter. “I’ll read through it.” I fucking hate it when he’s right.

“Good.” He nods and passes the book over to me. I hold it in my grip for a moment, scowling down at the cover before I slide it into my bag and sigh heavily. I lean back against the counter and cross my arms again as I eye Regis and the contemplative look on his face.

“What?” I demand when minutes have passed and he hasn’t spoken.

“I’ll be staying in Riviere during the length of your mission,” he says.

A twinge of irritation slithers through me. “Why? Does Ophelia not trust me with something this big?”

He shakes his head. “No, that’s not it. You know she trusts you, Kiera, but this job is more than just dangerous to you. If you’re found out…” His words trail off but he doesn’t need to finish because I understand his meaning.

An undocumented Mortal God that’s lasted as long as I have without being caught and reported can only mean one thing—helpers. If I’m found out now, I’ll be tortured until I give up the people who knew my true identity, and the only punishment for a crime such as this is death. Ophelia, Regis, and likely everyone else I’ve ever come into contact with until this point will be found and slaughtered. It’s not just my life on the line. It’s the entire organization’s. It’s shocking that Ophelia would even allow me to take on a job like this in the first place. I suppose money makes people do crazy things, though. It’s the only reason I’m here after all—that and the promise of freedom.

“I won’t be found, and if I am, I will kill whoever discovers me.” It’s the only assurance I can offer Regis. Thankfully, my words hold truth. I’ve been trained for something like this. Ophelia made sure of that. Even if I’m taken, even if I’m found out—I’ll be able to withstand torture. I’ll keep my mouth shut or kill myself if I can’t. She’s nothing if not thorough. I offer my friend a slight smile. “You know me,” I tell him. “I can take it.”

Regis levels me with a serious look. “I know you can,” he replies, “but that doesn’t mean I wish pain upon you, Kiera.”

“It’ll be fine,” I say, reaching up to rub against the sudden ache in my chest as if that’ll make it go away. “I’ll get into the Academy as a Terra and I’ll find my target—once the client tells us who it is—I’ll get close to them and then”—I draw a line across my throat—“I’ll get out.”

“That seems too easy,” Regis huffs.

“The best plans are often the simplest,” I remind him with a shrug.

“Regardless,” he continues, “I’m staying in the area. The client still hasn’t released the target’s name. I’ll be playing Ophelia’s messenger until further notice.”

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