Page 64 of A Reign of Storm and Madness

His scowl deepens. At this point. I think it’s permanently fixed on his face. I don’t know if I’ve ever even seen him smile. I step closer before he can say anything and lower my voice.

“I need you this weekend,” I murmur quietly. Those deep ocean eyes of his widen a fraction and I repress a snort. “For an excursion,” I say, “not for whatever you’re thinking.”

Ruen’s face goes carefully blank. Ophelia would approve, I think absently, if he weren’t a Mortal God anyway. “What day?” he clarifies.

“Sunday,” I say. “Early.”

He nods. “Meet me by the southern courtyard at dawn,” he tells me.

I open my mouth to reply, but he’s already turning and walking away. “Oh-kay,” I huff out, watching him stride off. Despite his agreement in the library to help me see my ‘brother,’ I half expected him to back out when the actual time came. Hopefully, he has a plan for this Sunday, but if not … I glance to the side, across the vast courtyard towards the front of the Academy’s main entrance.

My head tilts back and I scan the walls above the gates that lead closer to the God city, Riviere. At least two older Mortal Gods stride back and forth with weapons strapped to their hips. Yes, I think. Just like prison guards.

I blow out a breath. I always have a backup, but I’d rather not use the sewers if necessary. Those are my last resort, even if they are practically a sure-fire way to get in and out unseen. I turn away from the sight of the older Mortal Gods managing all who go in or out of the Academy grounds and head for the Terra dining hall as the bells ring throughout the campus announcing the end of the class day.

Just as I’m entering the Terra courtyard outside the dining hall meant for servants, I feel a tingle race up the back of my mind. Pausing, I scan the surroundings, passing over all the Terra in their gray uniforms as they hurry toward the open doors and the warmth and food that waits inside. The statues that surround this courtyard stand like silent guards, watching them all as well.

Drifting closer to one of Danai, Tryphone’s wife and the Queen of the Gods, as she stands with her hands lowered to her sides, but her gaze riveted on whatever is in front of her, I stop and scan the length of her stone dress. A smile threatens to break free and I feel myself softening as I spot my little spider Queen, Aranea, as she clambers around the side of the chiseled skirt.

Eight big, black round eyes gaze up at me and without hesitating I reach out and touch the top of her tiny little head. Small by comparison to me, but much larger than my other familiars. I shift closer, lowering my head as if I’m praying to Danai as I’d seen many other Terra do, blocking anyone passing by from seeing the spider.

Aranea’s mind reaches for my own and my eyes slide shut as images are passed from her to me. I’d asked her to do a search of the north tower for Kalix’s potential familiars the morning before I’d spoken with Niall. When she’d later come back with a less than helpful report on Kalix’s serpents, all of whom had slipped away whenever she had drawn near as if they could sense her powerful connection with me, I’d then given her a different task—finding out who was harassing my friend.

Dark corridors and smooth voices. Ara’s memories record the sight of two far taller Terra, one boy and one girl, hovering over the form of a smaller one, though it’s clear by the emotions she passes along with the images that she is confused by their language. The language of humans and Gods. She might understand me, but it’s only because of our connection. To this little creature, humans, Mortal Gods, and Gods are all alike. Larger life forms that threaten her very existence.

It’s the very reason she and her brethren hide, why they burrow into the ground and only come out when they feel it’s safe. It is okay to be scary if one is large, but never when one is small and easily destroyed. My body stiffens when the memory shifts and the face of the smaller Terra comes into view.

My upper lip curls back and a growl rumbles low in my throat. Maeryn and I were right. I watch with sick helplessness in my gut as Niall’s face is scrunched with confusion and resignation as the taller boy shoves him into a wall. He leans closer, hissing something I don’t hear in the memory.

After a moment, I take my finger back from the spider queen and blow out a breath, letting my growl trail off as I glance behind me to make sure no one has spotted us. Most people hate spiders and I’ve already caught enough attention as it is.

“Thank you,” I whisper quietly to my little spider queen. “Keep a look out for him, too, if you don’t mind.”

Ara doesn’t nod, but I feel the kernel of her agreement in my mind before she skitters on, disappearing around the back side of the statue and back into the shadows. Anger rises hot on the edges of her departure. I squash it, tamping it down as I turn to enter the Terra dining hall just like everyone else.

I spot Niall almost immediately, hovering at the back of the room, and when I approach, I step a little louder so that he hears me coming. His head lifts and his face brightens instantly, though the evidence of the dark shadows under his eyes remains. I offer a small smile in return.

“Evening,” I murmur as we shuffle forward, the two of us, into line as we wait our turn to approach for food.

Niall opens his mouth to say something, only to freeze as he spots something over my shoulder. A cool grin slides onto my face, replacing the smile from before as I turn and see the man from the spider’s memory. “Who’s that?” I ask Niall, feigning casualness as I peer at the tall Terra that looks as built as a bull with his wide shoulders and square head.

Niall glances at me with trepidation before he ducks his head and murmurs an answer. “Th-that’s Rodney,” he says.

Rodney. A plain name for a plain looking man. I hum in the back of my throat. “Is he the one who’s been bothering you?”

Niall’s head shoots back up. “W-what? How—I mean, no, of course not. I-I told you the other day that I was fine.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not stupid, Niall.” And I am also not forgiving of those who pick on the weak. “Why’s he been targeting you?”

Soft brown locks swipe across Niall’s forehead as he shakes his head. “H-he hasn’t—”

I sigh and turn fully, giving Niall the brunt of my dark glare. “You stutter more when you’re lying,” I tell him. “Just give in. I already know that something is going on. Answer me. Why is he targeting you?”

Niall bites down on his lower lip and for a moment, I’m sure he’s going to refuse me again, to deny what I can clearly see is fear and sorrow in his eyes. Then his eyes widen and he reaches out, grabbing ahold of my arm so fast I’m surprised by his speed more than his strength as he yanks me forward and I go.

“Whatever you’re thinking, Kiera, don’t,” he whispers to me, his voice growing higher in pitch despite his attempt at quietness.

My grin grows. “I don’t know what you mean,” I lie.

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