“Then that wouldn’t make sense,” Casteel stated.
Seraphena nodded at him. “Exactly. What would be the point?”
I gaped at them.
“Right,” Casteel said.
“Oh, my gods,” I screeched like a large bird of prey, throwing up my hands. “Now, you two are getting along?”
Laughing, Casteel kissed me. He stepped back before I could push him away, so I settled on glaring at him.
“You’re lucky,” Seraphena said, drawing Casteel’s gaze. “You clearly love my granddaughter.” When she stepped back, the air lightened. “And you amuse me. But I would suggest you be careful with your words when around Nyktos.” Her smile was scorching. “He won’t find you as amusing.”
The look I sent Cas warned that he needed to think about what came out of his mouth next.
He inclined his head. “Duly noted.”
She eyed him for a moment longer, then stepped back. “Let’s go somewhere a little more private, just in case anyone wanders in.”
I seriously doubted anyone would happen upon us, but we followed her past the hall with the liminite statues. I eyed them warily. They appeared as they had when we entered.
Seraphena stopped in front of a door. Based on how she turned the handle, I had a feeling it hadn’t been unlocked. She pushed it open.
The air within the chamber was stagnant. A large, cherry-colored oak table was situated on a section of raised floor in the middle of the space, surrounded by chairs and framed by two iron pillars. Items were scattered across the surface. Some of the seats were positioned near the edge of the platform as if the last person to make use of their red cushions had stood in a hurry. There were far more comfortable-looking chairs with thicker padding and gilded wood finishes to the right of the table. They, too, were draped in crimson velvet. This place must’ve been used for meetings only attended by mortals. The curtain-less windows along the back wall were evidence of that.
“Thank the gods,” Seraphena muttered, drawing our attention.
She bypassed the platform, her quick steps taking her to a tall, wide armoire against the wall. The intricately carved doors had been left open, revealing rows of glass bottles and decanters.
Casteel snorted. “Thirsty?”
“I need a drink for this conversation,” she replied.
Well, that was reassuring.
As Seraphena inspected the contents of the armoire, I drifted toward the platform. A piece of parchment had been rolled out and held in place on the table with a crystal weight on one corner and a steel dagger stabbed through the other. It was a map of Solis.
I glanced at Seraphena. She trailed her fingers over the various bottles’ necks, pausing before moving on and finally settling on a squat, crown-shaped decanter. Pulling the cork, shegave the brown liquid a dainty sniff. “Sherry. Would either of you like some? Or…?” She peered at the other bottles, stretching to see the ones lined up on the higher shelves. “Or pretty much any other liquor you could desire?”
“No, thank you,” I said. It felt kind of wrong for the Queen of the Gods to serve us.
“I’m good.” Casteel turned, taking in the chamber.
“Contrary to what you two may be thinking, I don’t drink that much.” Seraphena poured some sherry. “I know that’s likely hard to believe when you’ve seen me make a run for liquor twice in only the span of a few hours.”
I grinned.
“Did you know Primals have an extremely high tolerance?” Placing the bottle down, she glanced over her shoulder at us. I shook my head. “Well, except for me since I was born mortal.” She picked up her glass and turned. “And yes, that was unnecessary information.”
My grin spread but faltered when I saw the paleness of her face.
Seraphena drew her lower lip between her teeth and glanced between us. “Gods, this is going to go over like a ton of shadowstone covered in dakkai shit,” she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. The imagery those words created caused my lip to curl.
“Okay.” She dropped her hand. “When you were with Holland earlier, did he tell you anything about your…ancestry?”
“Only that you and I are direct descendants of the first mortal created by Eythos.”
“Come again?” Casteel snagged an arm around my waist and pulled me to him.
