Page 30 of The Blood of Gods and Monsters

“Yes,” the God King finally says after a long strained silence.

My breath still doesn’t release from my chest. He holds me suspended for several more moments. It isn’t until Danai’s hand comes down on his arm and he turns in her direction that the feeling of air filling my lungs returns.

“She’ll be entered into our records as a Mortal God while we await the date of the ceremony,” Danai states. Her hand leaves Tryphone’s and her gaze moves towards the end of the dais. “Until then, Caedmon, I’d ask that you be put in charge of her care. She’ll have to be brought up to speed on lessons and such.”

“I’m going to attend classes?” I blurt out the question before I can think better of it.

All six pairs of the God Council’s eyes fall upon me. I press my lips together. It’s Gygaea who speaks first. “Yes, of course,” she says. “You are a Mortal God, child. Not a human. You should be afforded the same respect.”

Respect? I slide my tongue along my upper teeth to distract myself from the caustic irritation caused by that comment. Mortal Gods are not respected—at least, not by these false Gods.

“Kiera will be prepared for the ceremony,” Caedmon states, assuring the others. “And everything else will be taken care of.”

Tryphone nods, but it’s Danai who speaks next. “We’ll have the ceremony the night after the second equinox. Spring comes soon.”

Caedmon’s lips press together, but he doesn’t disagree. He simply bows his head toward her in what I assume is both an acknowledgment of her words and an agreement.

I let my gaze rise to meet his, but just as I take a step back, unsure if I should bow first or simply leave, Tryphone straightens in his seat. “Kiera?” He says my name as his brow furrows over the slanted slits of his eyes. “That is your name?”

Frowning, I nod. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

At his side, Danai’s face pales. “Did your father choose your name?” she asks, the question whipping out of her mouth, more of a demand than an inquiry.

“I-I don’t know,” I tell her honestly. “He never said.”

The twisting violet of her gaze darkens and then she turns to her husband. “I see.” Her voice lowers. “Thank you, child. You may leave.”

I don’t hesitate or bother to ask why my name seems to be so upsetting to them. I simply curtsy awkwardly, turn, and flee the room, feeling the sharp gazes of the God Council burning into my back the whole way.

Chapter 13

Kiera

To my utter surprise, the Darkhavens ask me no questions once I return to them. Instead, they merely look me over for wounds, and when Kalix stomps forward and bends low, I nearly falter and collapse in a heap onto the floor. Thankfully, I’m far stronger than that and I grasp the top of his shoulder, growling low in my throat, ready to demand to know what the fuck he’s doing as he gathers up my skirts and lifts them to reveal…

Shit. My mouth closes with a snap. I completely forgot about the snake that he’d ordered to stay with me as I’d gone into the room. The creature slithers off my ankle into his waiting palm and then beneath the cuff of his shirtsleeve. The animal had remained steady, silent, and completely still around my ankle even when I’d fallen to my knees. With a wince, I send a silent apology to the familiar.

Kalix trails a single finger up the line of blood he reveals with my lifted skirts. It’s already dried in some areas, but in others still wet. His finger comes away red and without a word, he licks it from the digit. My lips twist in disgust but not shock. I’m learning that there is no understanding Kalix Darkhaven.

Once that’s finished, Kalix releases my skirts and then stands to take my arm. He says nothing and Ruen and Theos are like silent shadows as Kalix tugs me toward the stairwell. Together, the four of us move back through the Academy grounds until we reach the North Tower without ever saying a word.

Somehow, I feel far more exhausted now after seeing the God Council than I had after having the brimstone removed from my neck. My eyelids are weighed down by the urge to sleep—a side effect of Tryphone’s power? Maybe.

As we enter the Darkhaven chambers, Kalix releases me to go to the window across the large living space where a bird taps insistently at the glass. One of Regis’ birds, I recognize a split second later. As Theos reaches for me now that Kalix has strode away, I rip away from his outstretched hand and dive across the room to the window.

“Kalix—” I have one hand stretched out as Kalix pops open one of the panels of the windows with a latch I didn’t notice previously. The bird flies inside and heads straight for me.

Halting in the center of the room right before the fireplace, I lift an arm and the bird drops down. The animal’s wings flutter lightly against my skin as its claws bite into the fabric of my dress over my forearm. I wince slightly but pull the note I see tied to its foot.

“What is it?” Theos asks, his voice growing closer as footsteps echo at my back.

“A note,” I say, struggling to flip the curled edges open with the bird still on my arm. I lift the creature, and it climbs onto my shoulder, allowing me the space to unroll the scroll. I read the small script there.

“What does it say?” Ruen’s voice comes closer and I ball up the strip of parchment in my hand on pure instinct, hesitating to answer him.

He knows everything now—what I am, who I am, and about the Underworld—but despite that, it’s hard to ignore years of training that tell me to keep my secrets. Midnight eyes narrow on my face. I purse my lips. One second passes then two.

Theos sighs, breaking the silence. “You might as well tell us, Dea.” His words are quiet, but unyielding. He seems to be the only one of them that I think actually gives a fuck whether I want to or not. Yet, he will still demand answers.

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