Page 72 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

I shrug. “Well, she seems to have gained permission because I saw our little Terra leaving through the front gates on my way here.”

Ruen’s upper lip curls back. I do so love the way she irritates him, even if he so rarely shows it. I move away from the door and farther into the room. “You know, she’s been here for quite a while now,” I comment lightly. “And since the first week, we haven’t done much concerning the bet—by now, I think we’ve lost, don’t you?”

“Fuck the fucking bet,” Theos barks, finally joining the conversation as he whips his head back around. “Do you think everything is a game, Kalix?”

I blink back at him. “You enjoyed the bets,” I remind him. “In fact, you were all too happy to play with her, were you not?”

Theos has pushed away from the window and stalked across the room. In a single instant, he goes from still and detached to angry and practically blowing fire into my face as he grabs me by the collar. “What have you done?” he demands.

“I’ve not done a damn thing,” I tell him with a roll of my eyes. In fact, that’s what’s driving me to the brink of boredom. I’ve not played with her the way I want to. There’s been no torture. No sex. No danger. The short battle I’d experienced the day before was certainly not enough to appease my appetite. “But if the bet is over, then that must mean I can play now, right?” I eye him, waiting for his response.

Before I can get it, though, Ruen appears over Theos’ shoulder and grabs ahold of his arm. “Don’t, he’s just trying to goad you,” he says, his sneer gone as he directs his attention to Theos.

Ugh. How utterly boring they’ve become.

As Theos loosens his hold on my tunic, Ruen turns to me. “You should know better, Kalix,” he chastises, ever the elder brother as if he’s taken it upon himself to be in charge of the two of us just because his mother happened to birth him first.

“Just because I know better doesn’t mean I want to be better,” I tell him honestly. A truer statement there never was. I’m so tired, already, of all of these rules we’ve been forced to follow. If only we could break free from the chains of these Academies and their expectations. I know we could, but these two don’t seem to want to risk it. And thus, I’m forced to remain behind and follow in their footsteps. Because at the end of the day, everyone needs something to entertain them and my brothers are the sole beings that can provide it consistently. They never break, not truly. Not the way others do.

That fact, alone, is what makes me respect them. It’s what keeps me here when I’d love nothing more than to slaughter every being that lives within these stone walls and set the chains we’re bound by aflame. It’s cruel of them to take away my latest fascination.

Pouting, I stare back at Ruen. “Aren’t you curious?” I ask him. “If you just let me play a little, I’m sure I could find out why she’s so interesting.”

Ruen’s frown deepens into a scowl. “Your play is nothing but torture,” he replies but sounds more frustrated than angry.

“So?” What’s so wrong with that? “I won’t kill her if that’s what you’re worried about.” Not at first, anyway. Something tells me, even if I tried, our little Terra could handle herself just fine. In fact, she might surprise all of us and survive me.

Ruen shakes his head. “No, don’t even think it. You’ll only get yourself into trouble. I’d rather keep you here on the next break than have you stationed somewhere else where I can’t keep an eye on you.”

The comment reminds me of my time with Talmatia. Even if I don’t get into trouble, the Gods always call us for something or other. As Azai’s spawn, we’re subject to a lot of interest.

“She’s off limits,” Theos agrees.

Twisting my head to look Theos’ way, I peer at him curiously. The scent of sex. The defense of the Terra. It all clicks into place and a smile spreads my lips. “Oh, you’re foul, brother,” I say even as I bare my teeth at him. “I didn’t take you for a cheater.”

“Excuse me?” Theos stiffens, but he betrays himself when his eyes cut to Ruen for a beat before returning to me.

I don’t bother hiding what I know. My smile grows. “Tell me,” I say. “Was she any good?”

Ruen glances between the two of us. “What the bloody Gods are you talking about?” he demands.

“Nothing,” Theos claims.

“The little Terra,” I say at the same time. “Oh, how ironic.” I laugh. “You fucked her and yet you still want to protect her?”

Ruen curses. “No, Theos, no,” he snaps, turning to our brother. “Tell me he’s wrong.”

Theos doesn’t respond, but then again, he doesn’t have to in order to reveal the truth. It’s too late. He’s been caught.

Ruen’s hands clench into fists at his sides. “She’s suspicious.” The words practically rip free from his throat. “She can’t be trusted.”

“So?” I prompt, garnering his dark glare. She could be a Divine Being sent to kill us for all I care, though the likelihood of any Divine Being, Mortal God or not, relegating themselves to servitude for such a task is impossible. She’s interesting and that alone is enough to make me want to keep her.

Ruen shoves a hand through the short dark strands of his hair and grabs a chunk as if he wishes to rip them out completely. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. I’ve rarely seen him so upset and it’s amusing to watch him fight with himself. He may think no one sees it, that he’s hidden it well enough. Desire, though, is my forte. Not just sexual, but the kind of desire that rests in all souls—greedy and unholy. I see such desire in him when he looks at the mortal girl, our very own mouthy little mortal Terra.

“This was a mistake,” he says.

“What was?” I ask, curious.

---