Page 106 of Gods' Battleground

The ancient Immortal looked at the goblet his niece had handed him. “This is ill-advised,” Tessa’s grumpy Immortal boyfriend said. But he drank anyway.

Tessa went next, then Gin, then Stash, and all the way down the line of my friends in Heaven’s Army. Punch even asked for seconds.

And then it was Faris’s turn. To my surprise, my father drank without comment. Grace made a toast to my health before taking a sip.

Then came Ivy and Drake and Nerissa and Alec. Even Li joined in, though I suspect it was more of a sign of support for Nero than for me; I was pretty sure Major Heavensworn thought I was a few cards short of a full deck.

After Li, Basanti and Leila drank.

But of course Basanti had to squeeze in a snide comment. “It’s a good thing we’re all immune to most germs, Leda, because this thing has picked up a lot of them by now. And I know I saw Alec backwash back into it.”

“You’re welcome!” Alec called out, grinning.

Basanti drank, then passed the goblet to Jace.

“Well, we’ve come a long way since locking horns as initiates,” he said with slow, measured words.

“And Leda getting you all twisted up in gym ropes!” Ivy chimed in.

“Yeah, that too,” Jace chuckled, then his face turned serious once again. “You’ve turned all of our lives upside down, Leda. Some days I still regret meeting you.”

There were a few appreciative chuckles around the table.

“But I can honestly say that you’ve changed my life for the better,” Jace proclaimed, lifting the goblet in the air.

I wiped a tear from my cheek. “Thanks, Jace,” I said thickly.

He flashed me a smile.

The goblet had reached General Fireswift. He glared at it like it was filled with poison.

“I willalwaysregret meeting you, Leda Pandora,” he said, his words seething, humorless. “And you absolutely havenotchanged my life for the better. You are a nuisance who spreads chaos and mayhem wherever you go.”

And with that said, the grumpy old angel drank from the goblet. Then he passed it over to Bella.

Jace gawked at his father. “I can’t believe you actually drank.”

“It’s not like I have a choice in the matter,” General Fireswift said gruffly. “She sits on the gods’ council.”

But he didn’t fool me. Beneath all those prickles and spikes, there was a…well, a slightly less prickly center.

“I’ve got your back, sister,” Bella said, lifting the goblet.

“Me too.Sister,” Harker added with a wink.

My mind took a hard right down detour lane. “Wait, so it’s official?” I asked Bella eagerly. “It’s happening?”

Smiling, my sister wiggled her finger, showing off the very large magic rock on her ring, right next to the other ring Harker had given her.

“Whoa, Bella!” Gin exclaimed, squinting. “That gemstone is like nearly as big as your whole hand!”

“I call wedding planner!” Tessa squealed.

Bella smiled at her. “I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

Then they started gossiping about flowers and dresses. And cake. Which made me hungry again.

“Yes, this is all very fascinating,” Nyx cut in smoothly. “But could you possibly wait untilafterthe big battle to plan the big wedding? The fate of the universe is at stake, you know.”

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