Page 31 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

Ruen shakes his head. “One week. No more.”

The more they discuss my possible expulsion or perhaps my own willingness to leave their service, the more it rankles me. A sensation I thought I was above now, after all of my training. It would be smarter to keep my mouth shut. That much I know for sure, yet somehow, that logical part of my mind doesn’t seem keen on overtaking the illogical part and I find myself opening my mouth.

“What do I get if I last longer than any of you say I will?” I ask.

All three pairs of eyes fall on me in an instant. Silence fills the room. I wait with my spine straight and my shoulders thrown back, showing the trio of them that I’m not afraid of their words or assumptions.

Theos is the first to crack a smile. It spreads slowly, deepening until it crosses his entire face. “Does the little mortal girl wish to play with the Gods?”

“Are you Gods?” I find myself asking. “I was under the impression that I would be serving their children. My apologies, oh Divine Ones.” I bow slightly at the waist once more. “I have come to the wrong rooms then.”

A bark of laughter escapes Kalix. “Oh, she’s a feisty one. I like that. We don’t have those here.”

“I think I’ve changed my mind,” Ruen says.

“More or less?” I ask, curious enough to lift my head and meet his gaze. Blue eyes striking like the midnight hours glitter dangerously.

“Less,” he answers.

I offer him a smile. “Then I look forward to exceeding your expectations. I’m sure if you think so little of me, they won’t be difficult to beat.”

Ruen tilts his head to the side. “I’ve never met such a combative mortal,” he comments. “Perhaps it served you well outside of the Academy, but here”—he steps closer, moving until the heat of him is damn near searing my flesh even through my clothes—“things are a bit different.”

“I’m well aware that the status within the Academy is different for mortals,” I state. “I came here despite knowing that fact.”

“Did you?” he inquires. His hand lifts, almost the same size as a bear’s paw as he touches a strand of my hair resting upon my shoulder. I keep my chin up, needing the advantage to keep his eyes locked with mine as he stares at me. “Poor little mortal,” he says, lifting that silver strand to his mouth.

I watch as he brushes the feathery tips of the end of my hair across his lower lip. “You have no idea what’s in store for you.”

Somehow, it’s his words and not those of his brothers that strike me deep. It isn’t the conversation they’d had as if I weren’t standing before them, well aware that their topic of ridicule was me. It isn’t the overtly carnal gaze of his brother, Kalix, or the obvious hints that he’d somehow been responsible for the loss of many of their Terra before, but the vague threatening promise of Ruen Darkhaven.

Regardless, I keep my gaze up. I’ve experienced torture. I’ve lived through loss. I’ve been burned, scalded, half drowned, starved, beaten, and more. I truly believe, deep in my soul, there is nothing the three of them can throw at me that I wouldn’t be able to handle.

If anything, I look forward to seeing them handle me. My lips form a smirk as Ruen continues to stare at me as if waiting for me to realize my mistake and back away. That won’t happen. If anything, my response solidifies that I am not leaving. This is my chance to attain my freedom and even if it means I have to put up with three spoiled Mortal Gods for the foreseeable future, so be it.

I continue to smile as I offer my response, “May the best woman win.”

Chapter 14

Kiera

Three pairs of scrutinizing eyes watch me with mistrust and curiosity. Mistrust, I understand. Curiosity … well, you know what they say. Curiosity killed the cat—three cats in this instance, if they hinder my progress. I force my shoulders down and my muscles to remain lax. Their gazes and attention are not something I’m accustomed to. I’m far more familiar with hiding in the shadows. Hiding in plain sight is a different skill set. One that Regis is far more suited to than I. But there’s no turning back now.

“Careful with your words, mortal.” Theos’ tone is a warning. “We love a good challenge and we have no intentions of losing.”

What a coincidence, I think. Neither do I. Instead of saying as much, though, I tip my head up, looking back at him, and smile. “Of course not, Master Theos.”

“Yet, you still wish to play with us?” The question is accompanied by the golden glow of his irises darkening and his lips twitching. The pulse of excitement within him is palpable. Kalix practically vibrates at his side.

“Depending on the reward for lasting longer than any of you seem to give me credit for, I’m fully prepared to win this bet of yours,” I inform them.

“Mortals do not take part in our bets,” Theos says.

“Is that because they are too frightened or is there some rule against it?” I ask, reaching up and tapping a finger against my chin in the way I’d seen small children do when purposefully pretending to be clueless.

The scar that cuts through Ruen’s brow tightens as his face reacts. “They are too frightened,” he answers, stepping away from me. “Usually.”

His brows draw down low over his expression and he continues to stare as if he half expects me to sprout a second head. I can understand his perplexity. No doubt the Terra they’ve experienced were a bit more reserved. A part of me is raging in caution, telling me that I should back off and apologize for my disrespectful attitude. A different part of me, however, is dancing with glee, with anticipation.

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