Page 76 of Gods of Prey
“Failure.” He takes a long swig directly from the bottle. “Or maybe success. Hard to tell the difference anymore.”
I understand what he means. Sebastian has fully awakened to his divine nature. We’ve got a plan set in place to return. Yet the cosmic balance is faltering more each day. Our fates still rest in the hands of gods who want to see us fall. We’ve fulfilled half our mission and failed at the rest.
“How much have you had?” I ask, eyeing the bottle. It’s nearly half empty.
“Not enough.” He offers it to me before remembering I can’t take it. A bitter laugh escapes him. “Sorry. Force of habit.”
“Must be nice,” I say, watching a drop of amber liquid roll down the neck of the bottle. “Being able to dull your senses.”
Scowling, he holds up the bottle. “With this garbage? You didn’t ever warn me how horrible mortal alcohol is.”
I huff out a laugh. “It certainly doesn’t compare to an ice-cold whispershade.”
My mouth waters at the thought.
Revel releases a disapproving sound in his throat. “It’s not working, anyway.” His steely eyes find mine, startlingly clear despite the alcohol. “My problems are still just as sharp in my mind.”
Something flutters in my chest, a sensation I haven’t felt since I was last alive. I look away. “You’re drunk.”
“Not drunk enough to forget what’s at stake.” He leans back, looking up at the sky. “A fae, Sienna? Really?”
My expression falls. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Good, because I don’t.”
Hot anger floods my chest. I knew he’d be like this, but I had hoped, deep down, that his time with us would have him see that the Divine Council’s way is not therightone. “How is this any different than Sebastian and Jovie? Relationships with a mortal are just as taboo.”
He barks out a condescending laugh. “Mortals and fae are hardly the same.”
“Then we’ll agree to disagree.” I drop my gaze to the city below.
We sit in silence, each of us too stubborn to abandon our own belief. “I’m sorry you lost him,” he finally mutters. With a teasing smirk, he tacks on, “Even if it makes you a fae apologist.”
“Thank you.” I lift my head, searching his gaze for any sign that he’s lying. To my surprise, he looks genuine. We’ll have to work on the fae aspect later.
“Do you really think the Divine Council will concede to all our wishes?”
I shake my head. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Your mother won’t let them hurt you.”
He forces out a bitter laugh. “Won’t she?”
My brows pull together in a frown. Through all of this, I’ve been certain Myelle would protect him when it came time to dole out our punishments. Have I had their relationship all wrong?
“I don’t think so.”
“She’s only one of seven. Those aren’t the best odds. If they want to ruin me, they can easily outvote her.”
“Let them, then.” I’ve never been afraid of the Divine Council. Thirty-three lifetimes of punishment have burned away any fear I might have had. “What more can they do to us?”
“To you and Sebastian? Not much. To Jovie?” He lets the question hang.
Ice forms in my veins. “They wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t they?” He turns to me, suddenly intense. “They sentenced you to fifty lifetimes for far less.”
I drift upward slightly, agitated. “They will not touch her.”
“Because Sebastian won’t let them? Or because you won’t?”
