Daris watched the god’s profile, seeing the corner of his mouth tug up.
“Of course.”
“I would’ve stayed regardless,” Daris said. “I wish to find Sonah, as well.”
Hermes was silent for a long time after, and Daris turned his thoughts to Terena. He hoped he could get some time with her alone. There was no telling what Prince Lerek had told her about Sparta’s involvement with his… departure from the White Palace. Daris did not think for a moment their night in Pera meant she’d forgiven him for his lie of omission.
And he’d be damned if he’d let the prince find his way back into her arms.
Chapter 28
TURSK
Sonah groaned for the millionth time since they’d set out. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to riding a horse. Maybe she wasn’t built for it. Were gods even supposed to ride horses? Not for the first time, she wondered what their world was like when the gods ruled.
She glanced to her right, where Melanos rode with Bethana wrapped in his embrace. Sonah sighed wistfully as she took in the way the nymph’s head lay against Melanos’s chest, eyes closed and a small smile on her lips. Here was a woman who’d been cursed to live as a serpent for a millennium, and yet she seemed more comfortable in the saddle than Sonah.
And Sonah had spent much of the past year in one.
Sighing again, she shifted her gaze to Leander. He had a strong profile, emerald eyes narrowed and lips pinched in concentration.
The Spartans were still cautious around Leander, but Melanos seemed to have warmed to him. She’d worried she’d made a mistake including Leander in their numbers, but he’d proven himself useful, especially with his hunting skills.
As if sensing her attention, Leander glanced over at her, smug when he caught Sonah staring. Heat burst over her face and she turned away, cursing the man under her breath when he chuckled.
A hawk circled above, and Sonah lifted her chin, shielding her gaze against the late day’s sun, the bright rays filtering through the trees in a blinding brilliance of power. The hawk let out a keening cry and dipped, flying dangerously close to their horses, and she startled, her fingers fisting tight on the reins until her mount danced beneath her.
“You’ll make her rear if you keep clutching the reins like that,” Leander said softly beside her. Sonah gasped, her head whipping in his direction, and the horse responded by edging closer to his mount. He reached out, steadying her, and Sonah shivered as his earthy scent invaded her senses.
Gods, he smells good.
He looked up at her sharply and Sonah froze. Had she spoken aloud?
“Are you all right?”
Sonah nodded several times, then realized how ridiculous she must seem. But his voice had dropped, and the huskiness made her belly flip.
“Aye,” she breathed. Big mistake. Inhaling more of his intoxicating scent caused a tiny stream of drool to escape her mouth.
Gods, please open up the ground beneath me and swallow me whole!
Leander’s lips quirked up. “Lady?”
“Aye?”
“Is everything?—”
“What’s it say?” Melanos called out, jarring Sonah out of her stupor.
She jerked away from Leander and looked ahead to where Fane sat, his arm extended, the hawk she’d seen now perched on his forearm. Leaning over to Melanos on his other side, Fane handed him something.
Sonah watched Melanos’s face as he read whatever Fane had handed him. Melanos lifted his head, a scowl on his handsome face. He turned to look at her.
“The commander is with Hermes.”
“Who?” Fane asked.
“He’s the Messenger God, an Olympian,” Melanos said in a gruff voice.
