“That jawline.”
“Those lips!”
Seymour might have normally been flattered to be complimented by beautiful men, but something about them made his skin want to crawl right off his bones.
Still, he approached the dais as requested but stayed out of their reach. He bowed his head politely. “Nice to meet y’all. Sorry ’bout almost hittin’ you with my truck.”
The twins laughed.
“How adorable!” Vilanos gushed.
“Such manners!” Absolis agreed. “It’s so cute!”
They laughed again.
“You really are just darling.” Vilanos flicked his hand. “Could we get you something to drink?”
Seymour flinched as one of the dancers was suddenly right beside him, holding a silver tray with an empty glass.
This dancer was a young man with a shock of red hair and delicate clown makeup that highlighted his soulful brown eyes. For a split second, Seymour swore they were solid black, but he must have imagined it.
“Uh, no, but thank you.” Seymour cleared his throat. “If it’s all the same to you?—”
“Something to eat?” Vilanos offered. “Our beloved Boozey Boots can whip up anything you’d like.”
Boozey was now on the other side of Seymour with a new tray, this one bearing an empty plate.
“No, I’m good. Full up on cookies.” Seymour patted his stomach. “I appreciate the hospitality. Mighty kind of you. But really, uh, if we could get to business? My understanding is y’all need my help.”
The twins exchanged a bored look, but then smiled at exactly the same time.
God, that was creepy.
“We need someone who has been gifted with the sight of Norbert’s fantastic creations.” Vilanos beckoned Boozey to approach. “The situation is a sensitive one.”
“It always is with family,” Absolis noted.
Boozey’s tray now held two martini glasses filled with a black sparkling liquid. He offered one to each prince and then slinked away to rejoin the other dancers.
“Our king has never married, but he took a consort many years ago,” Absolis explained. “A demigod.”
“A man of bronze.”
“A giant amongst mortals.”
“The one they call Talos.”
Seymour stiffened. “Yeah, about that. I dunno if y’all know or not, but he might be kinda sorta indisposed on account of not havin’ a head. Not sure how much help I’m gonna be.”
The twins cackled.
“He’s so funny,” Vilanos gushed.
“So cute,” agreed Absolis.
“What’s so fuckin’ funny ’bout witnessin’ a murder?” Seymour demanded. “It was not exactly a highlight of my day!”
“Because you didn’t witness a murder.” Absolis chuckled, pausing to sip his drink. “What you saw was one of his conduits being destroyed.”
