Page 72 of Gods of Prey
“Is it? Because I’m just getting started.”
“Sienna,” Sebastian warns, but I’m beyond caring.
“What’s wrong, Revel? Don’t want to share stories about your time in paradise? About all the luminous beings who appreciated your...stewardship?”
The accusation hangs in the air like poison. Revel’s eyes flash with something dangerous.
“You want to know about Lyra?” he says, his voice low and controlled. “Fine. She’s brilliant. Dedicated. Kind. Everything you seem incapable of being right now.”
The words hit like physical blows into my chest. I feel my form flicker, my control wavering.
“Get out,” I whisper.
“What?”
“Get out of my sight before I do something we’ll both regret.”
Revel stares at me for a long moment, then turns to Sebastian and Jovie. “I think we should continue this conversation another time.”
As he heads for the door, he pauses, looking back at me with something that might be disappointment.
“For what it’s worth, Sienna, I never compared them to you. There’s no comparison.”
The door closes behind him with a soft click, leaving me alone with Sebastian and Jovie and the weight of what just happened.
“That went well,” Sebastian says into the silence.
I don’t respond. I’m too busy trying to figure out why Revel’s words hurt so much. Why I felt the incessant need to push him so far. And why the thought of him with someone else makes me want to tear Aurelys apart with my bare hands.
20
Sienna
The following morning, Revel returns to Sebastian and Jovie’s apartment. I spent part of the night here, then drifted around the city streets while they slept before returning as they ate breakfast. He walks past them on the couch with their training and straight to the window, where he knows I am.
I materialize, making sure I’m only visible to his eyes, then lead him onto the balcony, keeping my shoulders straight and my head held high. In truth, I’m embarrassed that I let my jealousy get the best of me, especially with an audience. Things are getting so intense as our timeline ramps up, and I feel out of control. But I’m too proud to admit I’ve made a mistake.
“The Council of Elders sent another message this morning,” he begins without preamble, his tone serious. He isn’t looking at me. Instead, he’s gazing out at the odd sunrise.
We haven’t discussed what Sebastian and I revealed yesterday. It’s obvious what his opinion is though, and I don’t feel like getting myself upset hearing about it.
I keep my voice low. “What did it say?”
“That because Sebastian hasn’t returned, they’ve notified the Divine Council of his absence.”
My blood would run cold if it still flowed. With the Council of Elders news, they’re immediately going to know that Erebus was lying. “We still have two days!”
Gods, I wish I could storm into Aurelys and rip them all to shreds. This isexactlywhy I don’t have a council to meddle in my business. If Sebastian was focused on doing his job instead of being desperate for his realm’s acceptance, he would’ve cut them all off at the knees to prove the point that he could.
Umbraeth may fear me, but they would never betray me.
“I know,” Revel says, and there’s something in his voice that makes me look at him more closely. “That’s why we need to convince Sebastian to take Jovie before the Divine Council himself. Today.”
I roll my eyes in dismissal. “He won’t listen. He keeps insisting she needs more preparation.”
Revel moves closer, and I catch his scent—something like rain and growing things, so different from the shadows I’m used to. I’ve become strangely addicted to the polarity of it.
I haven’t been able to infiltrate his dreams again. Not when he hardly sleeps and tensions have been so high.
