Page 82 of Quarter Labyrinth

My waist collided with the table. I’d hardly realized I was walking.

Candles of varying heights perched atop the table, their flames casting a soft light. The garden around the table felt alive. Bioluminescent mushrooms glowed at the base of trees, tiny winged creatures flitted among the flowers, and the soft hum of unseen magic lingered in the air.

“Delilah sends her regards,” a voice that was decidedly not Delilah said.

I turned to find the bright green eyes of August Apothecary twinkling. He extended a hand over the table. “Sit. Eat. You’ll need your strength.”

I reached for a chair. The chairs around the table were mismatched—some elegant thrones of silver and crystal, whileothers were simple stumps covered in moss and cushions embroidered with constellations. I picked the simplest one and sat upon it, while August watched as if it were some kind of test.

I wasn’t certain if I’d passed, but he grinned at my chair selection. He picked a simpler one for himself as well and sat. He left his riding gloves on while plucking a cherry to pop in his mouth, and flung his feet upon the table.

“You’ve been fun to watch.”

I picked a slab of meat. “I don’t care for you watching me. Can you tell Delilah I said thanks for the food?”

“Noted,” August said, and I couldn’t tell if he meant about not watching me or that he’d give Delilah my thanks. “She would have come but she’s busy keeping others off your scent—competitors and stone gods alike. It’s not often that a mortal captures as much of our attention as you have, which is ironic because every single one of us passed you over when you first arrived. We thought you were nothing. Ha! Imagine that.”

He must’ve meant that as a compliment, but he had an unkind way of delivering it. I took another bite as my cheeks warmed.

“You never told me which way you’d betted,” I said, referencing our earlier meeting. He’d offered to kill each of my companions—save Clark—to settle a curiosity he had. I had to wake to deal with the fire and we never got to finish that competition.

His eyes gleamed. “Would you like to take the offer now?”

“No.”

He popped a second cherry into his mouth then spit out the seed. “Then I’d betted right.”

I was too busy inhaling everything I could to mind him. I’d be grateful to leave this labyrinth behind soon—and I’d never come back. August could bet on that. I’d bet the entire Silver Wings fleet that I’d never return to the Quarter Labyrinth. All I’d keep were these beautiful weapons and the horrible memories.

This meal would go a long way in fueling me for the days to come.

When I looked up, I found August watching me. “What did I tell you about being watched?” I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.

“You’ve got a drive I don’t see often. It’s a wonder we all missed it at first.” He let his feet drop from the table, and leaned his elbows against it. “But you’ve gotten cocky. Your little stunt with turning Leif to stone captured the attention of many Stone Gods. Combined with the bounty Leif put on you—and most doubt you’ll live through tomorrow.”

“I’ve got Delilah,” I reminded him.

He clapped, but it was mocking. “The Stone God who practically wallowed away for centuries. Congrats. You need more.”

I poured myself a goblet to toast it at him. “I also have you.”

Amusement danced in his smile.

I set my glass down. “Just tell me what deal you’re trying to make and be done.”

He looked delighted I’d asked. “You’re smarter than you appear.” Before I could absorb that backhanded comment, hewent on. “Here’s my deal. Delilah wants out, right? She’s convinced you to trade her existence for someone else, and you’re planning to make Leif a stone god?”

It unnerved me how much he knew. If Leif figured that out, he’d be much harder to trick.

I took a sip of my wine in response. I’d expected the taste to be sweet, but it was so bitter that I almost spit it out.

August’s thin lips widened. “Choose anyone else.”

Now I did spit out the wine. “Why?”

“Leif is dull.” His voice dripped with boredom. “He’s all anger and no play. When this labyrinth isn’t open to you mortals, all we have is each other, and I don’t care to spend eternity with him. Pick anyone else, please.” His green eyes burned with a feral intensity, a stark contrast to the casual way he leaned in his chair.

“And in return?”

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