Page 117 of Katya and the Young God

The runes glow a bright fiery orange for a split second, then, without even a noise, stands...

Iakov.

Katya blinks.

He’s in one of Pieter’s flannels, in one of his knit hats shoved over his black hair.

His eyes cut to her, a quick warning, before focusing on Feketer.

And he’s alone.

The guns are immediately trained on him, and he raises his hands, as if to show he’s unarmed. As if a fully powered, fully functional Demigod isn’t something to be worried about.

As if they could tell the difference.

Katya straightens, a chill down her spine. This can’t work, they look similar but not that similar, they can’t be fooled by a different Demigod —

“I wanted to see she’s alive,” Iakov says, and his voice, always close to Pieter’s, even imitates Pieter’s exact accent, but Iakov’s always been the one who’s theatrical. “Before I bring in the child.”

Feketer thumps Katya on the back, almost pitching Katya forward, not expecting the contact. “Here she is. A bit broken, but alive.”

It’s too easy, it’s far too easy, and they’re eating it right up. Iakov doesn’t even have curly hair, he’s a few inches taller, they can’t —

No one calls him out, no one says anything, and Katya feels her jaw drop. Just a few centimeters, nothing big, but...

Pieter must’ve called him in.

Pieter must’ve gotten so desperate, so upset, that he called in his brother. For them to devise this plan, whatever it is.

She swallows, hard, as Iakov focuses his attention on her.

“What did they do to you?” He asks, and he even has a rasp in his voice, his acting impeccable.

And now she has to speak. She has to speak and not give it away.

“Crashed into the truck,” she says, and her voice is reedy, and if they wanted her to act surprised or affected, they’re certainly getting it. “Is Selene okay?”

He inclines his head, and she’s human and can see the difference between the two of them and the sheer amount of power Iakov’s giving off.

He wouldn’t need the square of transportation runes, not when he’s this powerful. They must’ve put them up for Pieter, to give him a safe place to land.

“I need assurances I won’t be shot when I come back,” Iakov says, shifting his attention back to Feketer. “I’ll be weak, with both teleports, and I don’t want to end up dead.” It’s a lie, but it’s a good cover, because Pieter...Pieter would be wholly wiped out by that.

Feketer waves his hand, which is entirely a non-answer. Typical.

“No, I need you to swear. Say it aloud,” Iakov says, and it’s way more imperious than Pieter ever gets, she’s certain it’s going to give away the act, it’s so obvious. “I need you to swear you won’t hurt me, or Katya, when you have Selene.”

His face twitches, but Feketer shrugs. “I will not harm you or Katya if you bring me the child.”

“Or any of your guards,” Iakov interrupts, and if there’s one thing he is, it’s never been stupid. “Say none of your guards will either.”

“None of my guards will harm either of you two,” Feketer says, but Katya catches the undercurrent there. Feketer has another plan, some additional way of securing this, some ace up his sleeve he’s not revealing.

Iakov locks eyes with Katya again. It’d leave Pieter, if he shows up, actually vulnerable again, but...

“I’ll be back,” Iakov says, brusque. “It might take a few minutes, whoever did the rune square did it poorly.”

And with the runes lighting up again, he disappears.

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