Page 118 of Death of the Glass Angel
“You should talk to him, then.”
“Maybe.” Valkyrie smiled. “It’s not important, right now.” She stared wistfully at Gemellus’ tent before lightly punching his arm. “I won our bet. Pay up.”
“Ugh.” Talon grabbed his purse and counted out a few coins. “I can’t believe you were right.”
Valkyrie snatched the gold triumphantly. “I’ll let you get back to your reprieve.”
“Wait. Did Janus tell you about her fortune?”
Valkyrie spun around. “I thought I said-”
“I know you don’t believe it. Did she tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“She saw you. In Alfaris’ vision.” Talon closed his purse and returned it to his belt. “Standing beneath an antlered dragon. Does that mean anything to you?”
Normally, Valkyrie concealed her emotions expertly. Yet at his words, her eyes flew wide with palpable surprise and recognition.
“It does.” She admitted, glancing away. “I recall two things before meeting Dove: a blonde-haired man, and a great dragon with antlers.”
“But dragons aren’t-”
“Real.” Valkyrie finished his sentence. “I know. But that’s what I recall.” Turning around, she stalked away.
Talon leaned on the cliff, watching her go. She was right. Her woes weren’t important right now.
“Getting in some alone time?” Felsin called from behind.
Stiffening, Talon watched the bleary-eyed man approach him, who clumsily pulled his coat on before fastening his bright red scarf around his neck. Running a hand through his hair, Felsin leaned beside Talon, blinking into the glaring rays of the rising sun.
“I was,” Talon said shortly, tucking his hands into his coat pockets as the morning chill nipped at his fingers. “You need to change your attire if you want to be a fortune teller.”
Felsin settled against the cold rock. “Would you believe Janus said the same thing?”
“She’s right.”
Chatter sounded across the mountain pass. Murmurs no one but Talon could hear. Indistinguishable today. Mere noise.
Wincing, Talon studied Felsin’s tired expression. Felsin had known about Des and called her the princess’s shadow. And in confidence, Des had mentioned Felsin claiming Talon’s star cast a shadow as well. Was the fortune teller seeing the shadow of the voices? Of the gods?
“Felsin,” Talon articulated. “Des said my star had a shadow, too.”
“It does.” Felsin’s nose crinkled. “It’s different from hers, though. Yours never leads. Always trails behind, just out of sight. I thought maybe you’d be the same—that there would be two of you, but there seems to be just the one.” Felsin looked thoughtful. “Unless there is, and you’ve been hiding him?”
Talon smoothed down his vest. “My memories are intact. I doubt it.”
Felsin shrugged. “We all have secrets. Many of which we don’t even know we carry.”
“Care to share yours?”
“That wouldn’t make it a secret, would it?” Felsin laughed. “And I’ve revealed all mine. I’m not mysterious, as it turns out.”
“Neither is Des, no matter how she wishes otherwise.” Talon snorted.
“It’s kind of cute, isn’t it?”
“Don’t tell her that.”
