Page 75 of Gods of Prey
Sebastian is quiet for a long moment, studying her face. Then he nods slowly. “We do it. But we do it right. Full formal presentation, with all protocols observed.”
“When?” I ask.
“Tomorrow,” Sebastian decides. “That gives us tonight to prepare her for what she’ll face.”
Jovie throws her arms around Sebastian’s neck, relief and fear radiating from her. “Thank you for trusting me.”
As I watch them embrace, I feel Revel’s hand brush against mine. The contact is brief, barely there, but it sends warmth up my arm.
“This is the right choice,” he says quietly, meant only for me.
“I hope so,” I reply, but I’m not looking at Sebastian and Jovie anymore. I’m looking at Revel, at the way the afternoon light catches in his honey-glazed hair, at the satisfaction in his kind gray eyes at this small victory.
The argument last night was over pure jealousy. Jealousy that all those other smaller beings get to spend time with him openly while I’m stuck hiding away in his dreams. They get his beaming approval while I get nothing but resistance.
Sebastian and Jovie mumble something about preparing to leave and disappear back into their apartment. I’m too focusedon the warmth of Revel’s touch against my spectral form to hear it.
“We should prepare as well,” Revel says carefully. “The council will want to speak with us about the new arrangement.”
“What new arrangement?” I ask, though something in his tone makes me suspect I already know.
“If Sebastian returns to Aurelys with Jovie, they won’t need me in Aurelys.” He pauses, his gaze meeting mine. “We should probably figure out what that looks like.”
The implications of his words settle over me. Wherewillhe go when obligations no longer tie him down?
“That’s a conversation for later,” I manage, suddenly aware of how close he’s standing.
“Is it?” he asks, and there’s something in his voice that makes my unnecessary heart skip. “Because something tells me it needs to be had now.”
Before I can respond, Sebastian appears in the doorway again and clears his throat. “If you two are done, we have work to do.”
I jerk back from Revel, heat flooding my cheeks. “We weren’t doing?—”
“Yes, you were,” Jovie says behind him with a grin. “It’s actually kind of sweet.”
I want to deny it, to maintain some dignity, but the truth is becoming harder to hide. Even from myself.
“Let’s focus on tomorrow,” I say instead, trying to regain my composure. “The Divine Council won’t be easy to convince.”
Sebastian nods, his expression becoming serious again. “They’ll test her. Push her limits. Try to find reasons to reject her.”
“Then we make sure she’s ready for anything they can throw at her,” Revel says firmly.
As we begin planning for tomorrow’s presentation, I can’t shake the feeling that everything is about to change. Not just for Jovie, but for Revel, Sebastian, and me as well. Because convincing them to let a mortal into Aurelys is just the tip of the iceberg.
We also have to convince them not to kill us for the crimes we’ve committed to get her there.
21
Sienna
Ifind Revel on the rooftop of our apartment building later that night, a bottle of whiskey dangling from his fingers as he sits dangerously close to the edge. The setting Seattle skyline glitters before him, a poor imitation of the stars that blanket Umbraeth. His shoulders are slumped, defeated in a way I’ve never seen before.
“Starting the party without me?” I materialize partially beside him, letting the cool night air pass through my spectral form.
He doesn’t startle. Somehow, he always knows when I’m near. “Didn’t think the Goddess of Death would be interested in celebrating.”
“Depends on the occasion.” I settle beside him, my ghostly legs dangling off the edge. Thirty floors up. The fall would kill a mortal instantly, but Revel isn’t mortal, and I’m already dead. “What are we drinking to?”
