I nodded, even though we might be able to change things if we could find Delfai before Kolis summoned us. However, if we didn’t, and I looked like Sotoria… I said none of that. Aios wasn’t aware of that part, and if she knew that I was Kolis’sgraeca, I was sure those shadows would return. But I wasn’t allowing myself to dwell on it. Any of it. If I did, I would be a wreck.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew our attention to the doors. I managed to keep any surprise from my expression. Reaver had returned, now in his mortal form. He wore loose, dark pants and a plain undershirt and carried a roll of something white in his hands.
Blond hair hid most of his angular features as he came to where we sat, kneeling by the couch. “She’ll want her blanket,” he said in that oddly serious voice of his. A tone that seemed far too mature for a child who looked no older than ten years of age.
“That is very thoughtful of you, Reaver,” Aios said.
He shrugged a small shoulder as he draped the soft blanket over Jadis’s shoulders with my help. Once he was sure she was covered, he sat on the floor near us.
I glanced at Aios.
She grinned.
Reaver looked up at me with expectant ruby-hued eyes as if waiting. For what, I truly had no idea, and I was quickly reminded of exactly how terrible I was with children.
“Would you like something to eat?” Aios picked up a bowl of mixed fruit. “I’m confident that Jadis didn’t have her hands in this.”
I snorted softly as Reaver hesitated and then nodded. The fruit was probably the only food Jadis hadn’t had her fingers on—sticky fingers that were now wrapped tightly around myhair. “Do you know when Nektas is returning?”
“Later,” Reaver answered as he nibbled on a piece of strawberry. “I think he went to Vathi to visit Aurelia.”
“Aurelia?” I murmured, holding back a yawn.
“She’s a draken in Attes’s Court,” Aios answered, glancing at me. “I’ve met her a couple of times. She’s pretty nice.” She poured Reaver a glass of water, something he hadn’t been able to drink with Jadis chasing him around. Her eyes briefly met mine again. “I wonder if he’s checking to see if she’s heard anything about that draken who came here.”
That would make sense.
“Don’t know.” Reaver took the napkin Aios handed him, dropping it onto a bent knee. “But I think Nek is sweet on her.”
My brows shot up, at the nickname and the idea of Nektas being sweet on anyone when it was clear that he was still in love with his wife.
Aios grinned at the young boy. “And why would you think that?”
Reaver shrugged as he finished off a slice of melon. “He always smiles whenever her name is mentioned.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s sweet on her,” Aios said.
He pinned her with a very serious look. “Then why does Bele smile when someone says your name?”
I grinned as Aios’s face flushed about a dozen shades of pink, thinking of how I’d seen the two of them interact with each other. I had thought there might be something between them.
“That’s because Bele is silly.” Aios cleared her throat. “Did Nyktos go with him?”
My heart immediately skipped, andmyface felt like it was probably a dozen or so shades of red. I focused on rubbing the center of Jadis’s back. While Reaver told Aios that he’d seen the Primal outside, working with the guards, and then proceeded to ask her why some melons were sweet and others sour, I stared at the glossy, black ceiling.
Nyktos.
I repeated his name over and over in my mind, and no matter how many times I said it, the name didn’t sit right. I knew why, and it was allNek’sfault.
Because at some point, I’d started seeing Nyktos as I wanted to.
And that seemed like a problem because thinking of him as Nyktos felt wise. Less. Notmore. Nyktos wasright now, pleasure for the sake of pleasure, and that was the safest way to navigate this union with him. There was no guarantee that whatever this Delfai knew about removing the embers would work. Even so, there was still no promise of a future, not until we dealt with Kolis and restored some kind of order to Iliseeum.
And thinking of him as Ash felt too much like endless possibilities. Ash felt likemore, and there could never be more with him.
Jadis wiggled a little as my chest tightened. I asked myself for the hundredth time what exactly I was doing here, going through a questionable plan when I had a duty, a destiny. When people were dying because I was here. And if Kolis ever discovered the whole soul thing? He would do just as Penellaphe had warned.
Pressure built because I…I knew why I hadn’t made another attempt to escape. It wasn’t because I feared being caught again. It wasn’t because of the plan. It was the why behind wanting his plan to work. There were all the obvious reasons—stopping Kolis, ending the Rot, and restoring Nyktos tohisrightful destiny as the King of Gods. But I had other reasons, purely selfish ones.