Page 80 of For the Love of the Gods

“I answered all of Rose’s questions,” Odell said, defensiveness peeking out of his tone.

“You did,” I agreed through gritted teeth. “But I have some of my own.”

“Ah,” Odell said, his smug face lighting with realization. It was the look of someone recognizing an ally hidden amongst your enemies. “Pine would have a lot to say about you marrying his sister. Especially for the reasons you did.”

“The Fates commanded it.” A lie, but I wasn’t admitting the truth to him.

“And how are you faring, then?” Odell asked, leaning forward towards his propped up knees. “Having the girl who killed your best friend warm your bed?”

“Don’t speak about her like that,” I snapped. He wasn’t getting anywhere near Rose if I had anything to say about it. “You’re already on thin ice, you creepy fuck.”

“Don’t evade the question,” Odell returned, coolly. “How are you faring?”

I tried to tamper my anger. I came here for answers and snapping his neck wouldn’t help me achieve that. “I’d be better if she didn’t keep as many secrets from me as she does.”

“Hm, that’s a new one for her,” Odell noted. “She was always a bright eyed child. Shared everything with her brother and mother.”

Exactly how I’d remembered her. She was five years younger than Pine and I, but she’d always seemed very bubbly. Quiet, but joyful. I’d always assumed it was an act to cover a cunning interior. “When did that change?”

“Oh, I’m not sure,” Odell said, “I would imagine after she killed Pine.”

That statement had started to shift from a fact to a reminder. “And her father. Your best friend, it seems.” Another reminder I needed.

“That has yet to be confirmed, despite my best efforts.” Odell paused, considering, then continued. “I can’t say she was entirely without reason for that one.”

“Why is that?” Pine had never uttered a negative word about their father.

“His methods of training were quite intense. Effective, but intense. Fancied pitting Pine and Rose together. He knew whoever won was better suited to sit the throne.”

My body was painfully still now.Effectiveandintensebrought up pictures of torture rather than training. “Wouldn’t it have been wiser to target me?”

“Oh, yes,” Odell nodded, like this was something he was used to discussing. “This would be after one of them ended you. Jerome was simply trying to identify the stronger of the two.”

“And you stood by and let him?” The insinuation that Pine was weak or let himself be killed grated on my nerves.

“He was the king. I was the guard.” It was the explanation of someone who was used to strict rules of authority. A way of ruling neither Rose or I subscribed to.

“A guard with an interest in Rose as a wife,” I pointed out, barely keeping my rage concealed.

Odell just nodded. “And she went and dashed those hopes by exiling me.”

“She should have done a lot more than that,” I sneered and clicked open the lock to Odell’s cell. His form shrunk even more, all of his fake bravado out the door the second a threat posed real. I conjured two Shadowwalkers, manifesting in the form of a woman about a half a foot shorter than me with long, flowing hair, to stand guard by the door.

I chuckled as I took in his quivering form then reared my hand back and struck him across the face, spraying blood over the pale gray floor.

†

A day later, I sat in my office, toying with my mother’s ring. I’d wanted to give it to Rose yesterday, but my knuckles were still split from where they connected with Odell’s harsh cheekbones. It was only in the dark of the library, where I found her at midnight, and with the distraction of me bending her over a couch that I was confident she wouldn’t see the cuts.

But I’d stolen some ointment from Raiden’s desk and the skin would be back to normal by the evening.

Raiden burst through my door seconds later and I curled the ring into my hand. The movement caught his ever-perceptive gaze and he set his boxy jaw.

“Any idea why a nurse was sent to Odell’s cell yesterday?”

“No, how weird.”

Raiden snorted, unconvinced by the lie. Especially after clocking the state of my knuckles.

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