Page 33 of The Oracle of Dusk

“I imagine most people who are systematically hunted down by imperial decree are going to end up that way.” Aurora shrugged. “And you seem to like at least one of them well enough.”

“Well… he also has divine eyes! Did you knowthat?”

“He does?” She turned to Silvanus. “You do?”

Today was a day of discovery then. Blessed Triad, all the things he could tell her. All the things she wanted to ask him!

“I… You seem a lot less frightened by that than I expected,” Silvanus said, staring at her like she was mad.

“But you can see the Tapestry! Do you know how few accounts of it exist? What does it look like? Have you ever encountered one of the deities there? Can you actually manipulate fate?”

“Aurora, stay away. He’s dangerous!” Phaedra pulled her back.

“So are you,” Aurora replied.

Aurora raised a brow. Phaedra could choke someone to death on a whim or shove them off a balcony without trying when she was in a foul mood.

“I can’t mess around with your soul! He can!”

While that was technically true, he didn’t seem so inclined.

“Do you plan to do that, Silvanus?”

“Only if I need to.”

“See? There! He admitted it. He can’t be trusted,” Phaedra said, gesturing wildly.

Aurora folded her arms. If Phaedra truly thought him a threat, he’d already be dead, goddess’ avatar or not. She wouldn’t try to convince Aurora of it so much as deal with it outright. When she saw a threat, she ploughed straight through it and then turned around to stomp over whatever remained. Her complaints seemed to stem from shame, as the colour in her cheeks seemed to indicate. Aurora bit back a smirk.

“Then why did you stick your tongue down his throat?”

Silvanus choked on his next breath. Phaedra’s cheeks heated further as she scowled. Aurora raised a brow.

“I was caught up in the moment. I’ve been cooped up here for three days. You know I make bad choices when I can’t move around freely,” Phaedra muttered.

“You would never be intimate with someone you genuinely thought would kill you.” Aurora poked her in the side. Phaedra swatted her hand away.

“Yes, I would,” Phaedra pouted, crossing her arms mulishly.

“Liar.”

“Villain.”

Silvanus cleared his throat.

“Can I get your solemn vows not to speak of what you see or learn here? And not to cause trouble?”

“Yes.” Aurora readily agreed. She couldn’t wait to start uncovering the mysteries of the dualist cultists.

“Ugh, so be it.”

“Good.”

There was a short pause as all three stared at each other. Aurora did her best not to tap her foot in anticipation. When was he going to begin his explanation?

“So, what’s the long version?”

“Aurora!”

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