For the following query, he paused to consider why it should matter before throwing caution to the wind.“Why did you welcome me, after what Errshek told you?”
Alus took this one.“I can’t fish out deception as well as my better half.”His gaze flicked towards Arek.“But I know the Bambino didn’t tell us everything.”
Arek’s analytical silence pierced through him before his next question.“Why haven’t you recounted your version of events?”
Why hadn’t he?Arek would know if he lied or not.Saer regarded the Twins, weighing all he’d learned.He still didn’t have all the pieces, himself.He hadn’t a clue as to how Errshek found out about his relationship with Neyu, nor why he’d told their maker.I didn’t know—the first sentence Errshek spoke when Lucifer departed his body.
Even telling them about their maker’s all-encompassing threat versus Neyu’s demise alone wouldn’t convince them that Errshek had to die.He needed those answers before the Twins could be swayed.
Saer filled his lungs with a deep inhale.“Because he didn’t tell me everything, either, before he ran.”
The Twins both frowned at that.
He won his next truth.“Where is Kalia?”
Alus and Arek offered shrugs and head shakes.“Your guess would be as good as ours, Eldest.”
“Would you consider allowing Errshek to live?”Arek asked.
“No.”Saer’s succinct, mirthless response.
Neither could convince him otherwise.Nor did they have the power to force him.While Gluttony hadn’t seemed bothered or surprised by the revelation, Greed continued to disapprove with a hard frown.
He learned more of Errshek’s time with the Twins, including nuances as to why he left.“He’s the worst fighter amongst us,” Arek explained with his well-known pragmatism.“No matter if he spent centuries training, he’s not built for it, even if he isDaemoenic.He’s looking for bodyguards.Or shields.Fromyou.”
Alus flagged another serving girl to bring them a bowl of dried legumes.The lithe brunette held the dish out to Gluttony, standing too close for anyone’s comfort—anyone but Alus.The twin grinned and tugged her closer, using his other hand to curl her hair behind an ear.
Another pointed ear.
Saer narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing while she giggled and Alus kissed her high cheekbone.The twin took the finger food from her and guided her gently away.
As the female moved off, Saer shifted between heat sense to soul sight and back.Nothing else abnormal.Perhaps an unusual family trait for this village?
His musing ceased when Alus resumed their conversation, peeling the legumes and tossing edible nuggets between his lips as he spoke.“We have no interest in facing you again after our first battle in the Hells.I’ve had my ass kicked a thousand different ways, but I’d prefer if the outcome of aforementioned ass-kicking had meaning.You’d win, even against the three of us.The Bambino is desperate.”Gluttony tossed shells on the ground and offered a few of the chewable tidbits to Arek, who waved a hand away.Alus shrugged and popped them into his mouth.
While something in Saer swelled with pride to hear the acknowledgement, another piece nagged at him.“You think I’d destroy you both to get to Errshek?”
The silence held thick before Arek finally filled the void.“We have no interest in testing that theory.”
The unforgiving truth struck Saer in the ribs.
Though he didn’t argue.
The dice were put up, but the conversation went on.
Throughout the rest of the night, and even as dawn began to light the sky, they exchanged more stories, the focus on Neyu.Saer, inspired by Arek’s question earlier, returned the inquiry.“What’s your favorite memory with her?”
Only Lust had ever bested Arek during their invented dice game, and he regaled them with the tale in his usual sardonic fashion, Alus interrupting here and there with less-than-helpful but delighted commentary.
Her play had been effortless but brilliant.As the Roller, Neyu kept her palm flat on the bottom of the mug.She didn’t bother to peek at the pieces underneath.Instead, meeting Arek’s lavender eyes, Neyu made her declaration—“More than twelve points.”
“And yourface.”Alus broke in, chuckling at the recollection.“He gawped at her and said, ‘You have to look first!’She just stared at him, all business, stone-faced, and said, ‘Why?’”
Arek couldn’t read Neyu’s intent to lie or tell the truth if she didn’t know which she told.Saer shook his head slowly, appreciation and longing both in his voice.“Cunning.”
“Too clever for her own good,” Arek confirmed.“The strategy worked for her half the time, though half was better than not at all, in her eyes.I’ll thank you not to take up her mantle.You’ll have to come up with your own backdoor way of besting me.”
“Fair enough.”Saer couldn’t keep the beguiled smile out of his tone.
