Page 83 of Heir of Illusion

“Do you?” he counters.

I ignore the words and the doubts they stir. My gaze shifts to Baylor, still standing on the dais at the far end of the room. His blond hair has been freshly cut, the color contrasting nicely against his navy-blue suit. His eyes are swimming with self-satisfaction as he collects praise from courtiers and nobles. Hopefully, the adoration of the crowd will quell the worst of thedispleasureRemy mentioned. A frisson of apprehension skates down my spine. I can’t imagine the kind of rage Baylor would unleash if tonight doesn’t go according to his plans.

“Ah, my pet!” he exclaims as I approach.

The crowd around him parts wide enough for us to slip through. Lord Burgess, who has joined the group, sneers at me as I pass. Remy bows to the king before offering me a hand to step onto the platform. Baylor’s focus dips to my leg, where the slit parts wide enough to reveal the sheathed blade at my thigh.

He arches a brow. “Expecting danger this evening, pet?”

I force my lips to part in a seductive grin. “I never expect it, but I’m always prepared for it.”

He laughs, and the courtiers nearby follow his lead, pretending it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever heard.

“She’s so violent,” he tells them, as if the thought of me using this blade is hilarious. As the crowd continues laughing, his attention shifts back to me. He pulls me close, letting his hands drift over my exposed back.

“Things are going to change tonight, Iverson,” he whispers in my ear, his warm breath sending waves of revulsion through me. “But I promise you, everything I’m doing is for us.”

The ominous words all but confirm he’s going to announce his engagement to Bridgid. Hope sparks in my chest, and for once, the smile I give him is genuine. Taking a new wife means I might get a break from all this public touching.

“I know you will always do what’s best for me,” I force the lie to leave my tongue.

He smiles fondly, squeezing my hands in his.

A loud gong sounds through the ballroom, capturing everyone’s attention. The crowd comes to a halt, turning to face the landing at the top of the stairwell. Everyone knows what that sound means.

The Gods are arriving.

I start to move from the platform, but Baylor keeps my hand in his, refusing to let go. “Stay,” he commands.

With no choice but to obey, I wait by his side as muffled voices whisper to each other, speculating on which God is about to join us. Everyone faces the same direction, except for one person. Bridgid’s hateful gaze remains on me, probably pissed that I’m by Baylor’s side during this important moment. I swallow down a sigh, knowing that when she’s crowned queen, she will make me pay for this. But whatever she throws my way, it will be worth it as long as she keeps Baylor’s attention focused on her instead of me.

All thoughts of Bridgid are swept aside as the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I sense a presence approaching, similar to what I feel when I’m near Thorne, yet different in some undefinable way. My attention shifts to the landing, somehow knowing that’s where the sensation is emanating from.

The double doors open, revealing a man and a woman. The crowd is utterly silent as the newcomers enter the room. The man’s formal jacket is the exact burnt orange shade of his wings, complimenting his warm brown skin perfectly. Gold filigree lines his collar and sleeves, giving him an air of wealth. But unlike most of the upper class, there’s a softness to his features that radiates kindness.

The woman next to him is several inches shorter, the top of her head only reaching his shoulder, yet her presence is far more commanding. Long raven braids fall to her waist, brushing against the mulberry silk of her gown. As she approaches the rail of the landing, she spreads her gilded wings wide. The feathers are breathtaking, but they are nothing compared to the rich swirling gold of her eyes. She holds her head high as her gaze drifts over the crowd, searching for someone.

My lips part on a gasp when her attention settles on me. Amusement plays at the corners of her mouth. It feels as though she’s seeing right through me, as if every secret has been laid bare for her to peruse at her leisure. Instinct demands I take a step back, but somehow, I manage to stay still, holding her molten gaze as they begin their descent down the grand staircase.

“Selim, God of Accords,” a booming voice announces as they near the bottom. “And Cassandra, Goddess of Divination.”

As one, every person in the room drops to their knees and bows their heads. There’s a palpable sense of nervousness in the air. For the last quarter of a century, we haven’t had a single visit from any of the Gods. After Maebyn disappeared, the divine rulers of the Verran Isles refused every invitation.

Until now.

From the corner of my eye, I notice several young ladies shifting uncomfortably as they struggle to maintain the submissive pose in their heels and finery. At my side, Baylor stands proud, the only person in the room refusing to bend a knee.

“Welcome to the Seventh Isle,” Baylor greets them as they reach the dais. “We are honored to have you here with us in the Realm of Illusion.”

I’d kill to witness their reaction to his disrespect, but with my head down, all I can see is their shoes approaching us.

“King Baylor, it is an honor to be here in your beautiful realm,” Selim’s deep voice responds. “May everyone please rise and continue the merriment.”

As if his proclamation has restarted time, the crowd follows his command. Music swells once more, and the conversations that previously halted continue, though at least half the eyes in the room are openly watching the Gods.

I push to my feet as I brush out the wrinkles in my gown. When I lift my gaze, I immediately lock eyes again with the Goddess of Divination once more. There’s something strange about her presence, almost familiar. But in this moment, my mind is too jumbled to connect the fragments.

Her attention shifts to the man beside me as she addresses him in a honeyed tone. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your companion, King Baylor?”

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