Page 48 of The Anointed's Paladin

We walked in further. Nidori was right; the mirrors were arranged in paths and patterns, but not typical of a maze. Kaine loosened his grip a bit but let my tail curl around his arm as he stayed close.

“What are these for?” I asked as we had to duck through a small archway, peering up at my reflection above me.

Kaine shrugged. “Looks like a shrine to Droue. She loves mirrors and mazes and shit.”

“Droue?” I wasn’t familiar with the name.

“Goddess of movement, I think.”

“Kaine, Droue died in the last turnover,” Nidori said, fluttering back down to our level with a concerned look on her face.

“Oh. Seems like I missed that part.”

“What do you mean, turnover?” I asked.

“The last time the Gods fought. It was a big war. Pretty much all of the old Gods died. The new ones came in,” Nidori explained.

“I've never heard of it,” I said, frowning.

“Youhaveheard of it.” Kaine sniffed. “Just not the complete story. This was when Lydes sealed off Hell. Some of the other Gods didn’t agree. So, they fought.”

“I didn’t realise Gods could die,” I said, tracing my hand along one of the mirrors.

“Wait, how old are you, exactly?” asked Kaine, turning and giving me a suspicious look.

“That’s not really relevant,” I said airily. I didn’t want them finding out I was less than a tenth of their ages. Enferni averaged about two hundred and fifty, so I could feasibly be older than twenty-seven.

Kaine perked up. “Oh, it’s very relevant.” He stopped, his hold on my tail forcing me to stop too.

“Now we have to know, Talon,” said Nidori, giving me a cheeky smile that matched Kaine’s.

I contemplated lying. It was tempting. But I’d acted too suspicious now and waited too long.

“…Twenty-seven,” I said finally. How on earth could I blushso muchin the span of a few days?

Kaine’s grip on my tail loosened as he stared at me. Nidori flew into his head. His shock turned into a delighted grin.

“You’re still a baby?” Nidori said, and Kaine’s grin widened.

“I’m a fully grown adult.” I folded my arms, hoping I didn’t look too much like I was sulking.

Kaine came over and wrapped his arm around my neck, pulling me down before I could stop him and knuckling my hair. I shoved him off with a huff.

“Aww,” he said. “Our little Talon. Of course you’re all grown up.”

“Hey, if I’m a baby, that makes you an old man,” I replied, fending him off again as he tried to pinch my cheek. Nidori giggled.

“Oof. Low blow, darling,” he said, clutching his chest in mock pain. Then he straightened. “I’ll have you know, I stopped emotionally maturing at twenty-one.”

“I can tell,” I said dryly. Sadly, no one seemed to notice my magnificent jab.

“But seriously? Twenty-seven is a fully grown adult?” Nidori asked.

“Absolutely.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Nothing is forever, no matter how old we are,” I said. “We have to make the most of what we have while we have it.”

“Well said, Talon.” Nidori beamed, while Kaine mimed throwing up.

I cleared my throat, and we continued walking forward until we came out the other side. Kaine hadn’t taken my tail again after he had let go, and I found myself wishing he’d take it again.

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