Page 11 of The Blood of Gods and Monsters

Azai, the Darkhaven’s God parent—Atlantean parent, I mentally correct. It will be a struggle to remember that all that I have known for the past twenty years of my life is not the truth. Yet, harder still, I believe it will be for me to pretend to know nothing.

Before the conversation can be derailed completely, I direct my attention to Caedmon and Ophelia. “Regis went on a mission and he claims to have killed a Mortal God—he said that they disintegrated when he killed them, that he didn’t know until it was too late.”

Ophelia’s expression tightens but that’s all the reaction I get from her. I’m not surprised.

Caedmon sighs. “That is another thing we will have to discuss later.”

“But you know why it happened?” I press, frowning.

Caedmon’s soil-rich gaze meets mine. “There is plenty more that you do not know, Kiera. More still I cannot tell you or risk changing the future that I foresee.”

Frustration pours through me. I’ve never been good at riddles and that's all he seems to be able to speak in. “What can you tell me?” I demand, my fingers clenching into fists.

Caedmon heaves a great breath, but before he can speak, Ruen’s hand closes around my upper arm and tugs me back. Caedmon strides around the lounge and heads for the doorway where Madam Brione still stands, her wild array of frayed curls flying in every direction.

“We need to leave.”

I ignore Ruen, pulling out of his hold despite his tone. “I have more questions,” I call out to Caedmon as he gently nudges Madam Brione to the side and peers down the hallway past the kitchen.

“When did the carriages start to arrive?” Caedmon asks her.

A flurry of movement catches my attention and I turn to watch as Ophelia moves away from the lounges and heads back into the room where I’d first arrived to find her, Carcel, and Caedmon.

“Not but an hour ago,” Madam Brione answers.

Caedmon’s features darken. “I see.” He clears his thunderous expression a moment later as he pastes a small smile on his face before looking back to Madam Brione. “I must thank you for allowing us the use of your home.”

Madam Brione blinks up at him. No doubt she’s shocked that a God would be so kind to her. “I-it is not a problem,” she sputters out a moment later.

“Then we must hurry to be on our way.” He looks back at the woman and nods. “Thank you again, darling.”

My head spins and I can’t tell where to set my eyes. Ophelia is in the smaller room, her hands scattering over the table, rifling through pages. Theos and Ruen squeeze ever closer, but Kalix’s presence is practically a shadow still against the wall. The answers I’ve received tonight have only left me with more questions. My heart pounds in my chest.

“Caedmon, we haven’t finished—” My voice is cut off as Ruen sharply pulls on me yet again, turning and twisting me behind him as Carcel reappears in the doorway leading out of the rooms. A low growl erupts from his chest as he practically pushes me against the wall.

No, not a wall, I realize as two familiar hands creep up and grab ahold of my upper arms. Kalix. I pull and tug against him. “Stop it,” I hiss. “Damn it.”

“Carcel,” Ophelia calls from the back room. “Come help me.”

Carcel shoves past Madam Brione and shoulders around Caedmon—not caring that he’s a being far more powerful than himself—as he heads towards Ophelia. A dull pounding takes up residence in the back of my swirling mind. I can’t leave like this without talking to Caedmon one on one.

“We have to go,” Theos says, echoing Ruen’s earlier words as the two look once at each other and then back at where Kalix and I stand.

Ruen’s eyes slide over me and narrow on where Kalix’s hands hold me in place before he shakes his head and turns back to Caedmon. “We’ll return to the Academy,” he announces. “If the God Council is arriving earlier than planned, we should be where they expect us to be.”

Caedmon turns away from Regis and Madam Brione, his eyes finding Ruen’s. Before Caedmon can agree or disagree, however, Kalix’s hands tighten hard enough to hurt and I flinch under the grip on my arms.

“There is something else we must do before we leave,” Kalix says, speaking for the first time since he entered.

All eyes are suddenly on the man at my back, even my own as I twist to glance at him over my shoulder. The green of his irises is nearly swallowed by the black of his pupils. Is he … angry? I don’t believe I’ve ever actually seen him angry before. Annoyed, yes. Thrilled by potential murder, absolutely. The expression on his face now is not one I’ve ever experienced and as I stare at the sharp lines of his features, the way his skin tightens over his high cheekbones, turning his face almost skeletal, I decide I never want to see him this way again. I go still, warning bells sounding in my head.

Ruen seems to understand what Kalix means though, and in a flash, he nods and is suddenly across the room in front of the doorway that leads into the smaller section at the back of the chambers where Carcel and Ophelia are.

“You,” Ruen snaps, his cold midnight blue eyes glowering at Ophelia. “You will undo the blood contract with Kiera Nezerac.”

The sound of blood rushing through my ears becomes louder than wind. Undo the contract with Ophelia? I tamp down the hope that blossoms in my chest. Shaking my head, I speak, “That’s not—” What? Possible? Important right now? I don’t get an opportunity to finish before Kalix clamps a hand over my mouth, silencing me.

“Quiet,” he commands.

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