Page 73 of A Sword of Shadow and Deceit

“Everything,” he barks out. “Letting her be a part of your ridiculous little bet. Letting her fucking stay. She needs to go.”

I roll my eyes, but before I can speak, Theos jumps forward. “You were as into the bet as we were,” he reminds him.

“But it did not include fucking her!” Ruen yells, his entire body trembling with fury.

I scratch at the underside of my jaw. “Oh, that’s right,” I muse aloud, thinking back. “It was just to see how long she’d last.” I count back the days and weeks. “Well, if you want to honor the original bet, then that means she won regardless.”

Ruen shakes his head, releasing his hair as he does so. He turns back to me. “You said she left this morning,” he says.

I nod. “That I did.”

“Did you—”

He doesn’t need to finish his question before I have his answer. “Of course,” I reply, cutting him off. “I sent one of my familiars to keep an eye on her. We’ll know where she’s been by the end of the day and if need be, I can always share senses with the creature.”

“The bet’s off,” Theos says suddenly. Both Ruen and I look to him. His face is stiff and yet there are twin spots of red over his cheeks. Ruen’s face is pinched tight, as if he wants to say something to that, but he stops himself.

“Are you saying that because the timeline for the original bet has passed or because you fucked her?” I inquire.

He doesn’t respond.

“You … did fuck her, didn’t you?” I clarify.

Still, he doesn’t say a word.

I sniff the air. “I smell sex, you have to have…”

“Gods, could you be any more fucking crude,” Theos curses.

I frown. “So, you didn’t fuck her then?” Excitement fills me. Perhaps the bet isn’t over yet then. Perhaps there’s still a chance.

“Does it matter?” Theos asks. Of course it matters. Before I can say as much, though, he flips me off and grits out his response. “But for your information, yes. I took her, or rather … she offered herself.”

More and more surprises. Tilting my head to the side, I peer at my brother with more interest. The way he avoids looking at me, the stance he takes with his arms crossed over his chest, and his jaw tight. It all speaks to something he’s afraid to show and if anyone can sniff out secrets, it’s me and my familiars.

As if he can sense my inner thoughts, Ruen’s arm snaps out and he grabs ahold of my bicep. “Don’t even think of it, Kalix.” Ugh. He always says that and it always ruins my fun. “I’ve told you she’s suspicious. We damn well don’t need yet another of us falling to her fucking whims.”

Theos’ face pales and then tightens. His irritation and hurt is nothing in the face of my fucking boredom. Warnings. Warnings. Warnings. With a grumble, I lift my arm and shake him off. “Must you destroy every semblance of amusement?” I demand.

“She shouldn’t be a source of amusement,” Ruen argues. “In fact, neither of you should be looking at her like that. She’s a Terra—meant for a job here and nothing more.”

“You just said you found her suspicious,” Theos points out.

“Yes, and as such, you both need to leave her alone,” he says. “As it seems she’s forgotten the bet, you two should as well. No more fraternizing with her. Satisfy yourselves elsewhere. Other Terra if you must, but not her. Leave well enough alone and for the sake of the Gods, don’t fuck her.”

I chuckle. “That’s ‘don’t fuck her, again’ for you, Theos.”

He shoots me his middle finger.

Ruen groans, the sound rumbling in his chest. He looks far more tired than ever before.

“Why?” I demand. “You’ve never cared before.”

“Yes, I have,” he growls. “You’ve simply never listened.”

“What if my serpent finds something today?” I ask. “What if she’s a spy sent by Azai?”

The idea must have occurred to Ruen before because he doesn’t seem all that surprised by my suggestion. His face hardens and his already dark eyes turn pitch black before flashing red. “If she is then we will give her nothing, do you understand?” He practically sneers. “Azai can perish in the fires of the Divine realm for all I care. If she’s working for him then it’s even more reason to not entertain her for a moment more.” He turns to Theos. “And that includes you. Whatever happened between you two last night, you must ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

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