Page 35 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

“Who is he?” I ask.

“You don’t know?” Though his tone isn’t condescending, the shock of it rubs me the wrong way. As if it’s positively preposterous that anyone in the world would not know who this man is by the sight of his face. What I know is that Gods have many faces and almost all of them are lies.

“No.”

“That’s Tryphone!” He grabs onto my arm in excitement. I turn and look at Niall as he leans forward, eyes focused on the plaque beneath the statue. “This is the God King—a rendition of, course. No human has ever actually seen him, save for the humans who were here when the Gods first came down. How lucky are we to have an idol of him?”

Lucky? Is that what he thinks? Is that what the whole of the human race thinks?

No. They don’t. If they did then there would be no Underworld Guild. No Regis. No Ophelia. And certainly no Mortal God assassin.

Shaking away the deterring thoughts, I move away from the statue and keep walking. “I’m happy that your Mortal God is so nice,” I say, responding to Niall’s earlier commentary to quickly change the subject. “But I suggest you stay away from mine. They’re not nearly as sweet or tenderhearted. If you can avoid them, you should do so.”

“Are they truly that awful?” Niall, in his steadfastness, follows.

Awful? Maybe not. Dangerous, though? Yes. They would rip poor naive Niall apart with their bare hands and laugh as he bled out over the toes of their boots.

“Yes.” And he would do well to remember that he’d likely gotten lucky with his own charge—or she’s simply easing him into things before she rips him to shreds.

I’ve seen it far too often in the outskirts—Gods of all levels playing with humans like toys. This place is no different. The Academy is like anywhere else. Everyone is out for themselves and it’s survival of the fittest.

I cast a glance at Niall as he walks at my side. Watching him get ripped apart by the animals that are the Mortal Gods is a sight I don’t wish to see. Just the thought of it makes my stomach cramp. The other Terra were smart to avoid me. Any involvement with the Terra of three First Tier Mortal Gods might risk their own safety. I don’t blame them.

Chapter 16

Kiera

Niall and I head across the Academy grounds, pausing and bowing our heads respectfully as Mortal Gods and Gods stride by. Their gazes, however, always remain up and focused, uncaring of the lesser beings they bypass to their next destinations. Niall is enthralled by it all, turning his head at each passing God in wonder once he’s done his Terra duty of kowtowing to them.

The heavy weight of this mission is wrapped around my neck, clinging like a dying bird. It’s growing in both size and burden as it remains. If, by some miracle, this isn’t just a test schemed up by Ophelia and it’s really an actual job, I just wish the client’s target is revealed soon. Then I can find them, kill them, and move on. Being around this much Divinity is a new thing for me and not something I’m comfortable with, especially not with the ever-present responsibility I have to not just myself but everyone who knows my identity in the Underworld Guild.

“Terra!” The word is shouted from down a long corridor. A split second later, the soft whoosh of an object sailing towards me reaches my ears. Instinctively, I put my hand out, grabbing hold of the back of Niall’s shirt, loose fitting as it is, and yanking him out of the way as I stop both him and I from being struck by the bag that comes flying past my face. The bag sails towards another Terra who is too slow to react, sending both the skinny girl and her companion—another Terra of similar stature—down to the floor in a heap and cries of sudden pain. Had I not stopped and pulled Niall back, that would have most certainly been us.

“Awww, why’d you make me miss?” Turning my head at the playful, yet annoyed voice, I spot a rather tall, beefy-looking Mortal God making his way down the hall, heading straight towards us with a disappointed frown marring his otherwise perfect features. He’s tall, though not as tall as the Darkhavens. What he lacks in height, however, he makes up for in sheer width.

Everything about him is broad. From the wide expanse of his chest and shoulders to the bulging muscles of his biceps and the trunks of his thighs as he strides down the hallway, through the throng of others. The light pouring in through the doors and windows glints across the short russet strands of his hair with each step.

Niall makes a choked sound in his throat. “Th-that’s Malachi,” he stutters, his voice dropping likely in the hopes that the Mortal God won’t hear him. “Rumor has it that he’s the Messenger God’s son, but his abilities are closer to that of the God of Strength.”

The Mortal God stops before us, smirking down at me before looking at Niall and jerking his head to the side. “Get lost,” he snaps.

Niall hesitates. It’s sweet, truly. He’s so skinny and fragile-looking, but the fact that he doesn’t immediately scamper off is telling. He’s not an average kid, but likely one who’s been beaten all his life and has still somehow managed to maintain his kindness. I should hate people like that. They’re weak-willed and frustratingly kind even when it will damage them to be so. I can’t seem to hate Niall, though, not even when he frustrates me by not looking after himself.

“You heard him, Niall,” I say, releasing his shirt. “Follow his orders.”

Niall’s eyes widen as he jerks his attention from me to the man before finally nodding and hurrying away. With him now gone, I direct the full weight of my attention to the creature before me.

“I don’t believe we’ve met,” I say before executing a bow. “I am Kiera Nezerac, Terra to the Darkhaven brothers. How can I help you, sir?”

“Oh, I know exactly who you are,” Malachi states, grinning wickedly as I stand up from my bow. “Theos told me all about you.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Did he?” Curious. Very curious.

As if mentioning a Darkhaven’s name conjures them, Theos, Ruen, and Kalix appear at the mouth of the hallway several paces behind Malachi. Over the Mortal God’s shoulder, I see Theos grin my way before giving me a distinctive wink.

I see. So, this is the first test. How juvenile. I repress the urge to roll my eyes as my attention returns to Malachi. I suppose I shouldn’t fail their expectations. “Is there something I can do for you, sir?” I ask, forcing a polite smile as I clasp my hands behind me like a well-trained soldier ready to do anything and everything ordered of them.

“Yeah, sure is.” He grins, crossing his arms over his chest. “You can take off those clothes and bend over for me right now. It’s been a long time since I’ve had fresh Terra pussy. Theos has given me leave to enjoy you.”

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