Page 24 of Cherish

I start to remind him that I’m not the one holding up the conversation—I’ve been waiting to talk to him for a while—but in the end, it’s not worth the fight. Not if we want to get out of here with the answers we need—the favor we need.

So instead, I consider my words carefully. If I’ve learned anything about dealing with gods, it’s that they rarely like to answer a question head-on. “I wanted to know what you could tell me about the Shadow Realm.”

He lifts a brow. “You’ve been there. What more would you need to know?”

“Let’s just say, the last time I visited, things didn’t go as planned,” I admit. “But that’s why I want to know more. In case we have to return.”

“You want to goback?” he asks. He sounds amused as he scratches his cheek, but his gaze darts to my grandmother’s concerned expression.

Before he can continue, though, the Bloodletter lets out an alarmed cry.

And disappears between one breath and the next.

14

All of the Circus,

None of the Tense

I gasp at the sudden disappearance of my grandmother, but one glance at Jikan and Alistair—both still relaxed in their seats—has my heart rate slowing again. Whatever just happened, if they’re not worried, I guess I shouldn’t be, either. Although Iamquite curious.

In fact, I’d have thought Jikan had just poofed her himself, he’d been looking at her so strangely, except my grandfather doesn’t have him by the throat, demanding answers. What can I say? We’re a take-action kind of family.

“Well, that’s something you don’t see every day.” Heather’s gaze darts around like she expects someone or something to come along and make her disappear next.

“All of the circus, none of the costumes,” Hudson tells her in a soft aside. “It’s definitely the motto around here.”

“From what I understand, the same can be said about you,” Jikan answers. But it lacks his usual sharpness—probably because he’s staring vacantly off into space as he says it. A few seconds later, he snaps back to us, nodding to himself as he settles deeper into the settee.

“I do so aim to entertain,” comes Hudson’s dry response as he lowers onto a small green love seat. I watch him unfold like a lawn chair, stretching his long legs out in front of him and crossing them at the ankles as he leans back against the couch. Even before he folds his arms over his chest, I know exactly what the pose is saying—namely, that he’s as relaxed as he is unwilling to put up with any bullshit today.

It’s a good look on him. A very good look.

The sarcasm goes way over Jikan’s head, though. “Yes, well, you’re certainly not weighing your pull in that department. But what else should I expect from Goth Boy’s brother?”

His gaze slides slyly to Jaxon, who bares his teeth the tiniest bit but keeps quiet. The fear of being turned into a statue once again is obviously stronger in him than he wants to admit.

While Jikan is clearly a little disappointed that he couldn’t provoke Jaxon, in the end he just takes another sip of his mimosa. Then he focuses his direct mahogany gaze fully on mine.

“You were going to tell us more about the Shadow Realm?” I prompt, eyebrows raised.

“I don’t get your sudden obsession with that place.” He waves a dismissive hand. “But it was created as a punishment, not a vacation destination.”

“So youdidcreate it?” Eden asks, pointing at Jikan. “You can just do that?”

“I’m a god,” he shoots back. “I can do almost anything.”

“And Noromar is a punishment for whom, exactly?” I prompt again. At least he’s answering questions, so maybe this means he’ll help, with a little luck.

Well, that and a whole lot of begging. We are talking about Jikan, after all.

“The Shadow Queen, of course. Who else?” Jikan yawns like he’s bored, but there’s a watchful look in his eyes that says he’s anything but.

“But why?” I sigh, frustrated because getting a straight answer out of him is like pulling arms, teeth, and everything in between at the best of times.

And this is definitely not shaping up to be one of those times.

Alistair holds Jikan’s gaze for several long, inscrutable seconds. Some kind of silent communication is going on there, obviously, but I can’t tell what it is.

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