“I wasn’t going to cause an uproar about it today,” I say, removing the other. Both feet flat on the cool marble is a kind of heaven I’ve taken for granted. “I—”
A deep,familiarlaughter peals through the hall, coming from the direction of the foyer. It’s the kind of wicked, antagonistic laugh I’ve heard countless times.
“Ves?” Eve calls after me. “Ves, what are you doing?”
Voices become clearer as I emerge into the foyer.
“Sovereign Queen Vestaris is currently with other guests.”
Cyran…
“Tell her I’m here and tell her I come bearing gifts.”
I stop dead in my tracks as my eyes fall upon my twin. He and Cyran stand near the center of the foyer, beside the fountain. Eve appears beside me and pries the other shoe from my crushing grip.
“Without an invitation, I cannot admit—”
“Cyran,” I call out and his face whirls. “Please step away.”
He does not realize he’s standing before the god of death.
My feet set forward as cerulean eyes meet mine.
How is it possible for Vaelyn to look nothing like my twin I’ve known for centuries and everything like our father? Gone is his long silver hair, now short cropped and styled. Gone are the black leathers he’d wear, abandoned in favor of a fine suit in a shade of crimson I’ve grown to hate.
He appearsfae.
A glamour.
Just as Netharis used to wear.
The worst part of it all, he greets me as if he hasn’t been pulling strings behind the curtain—as if he hasn’t been using me, involving me in his schemes.
“Ves,” Vaelyn greets with a grin. He throws his arms wide. “Heavens, you look sinful.”
Not even in the hells did Vaelyn ever so openly greet me with such warmth.
I stop. More than a healthy distance away. I’ve no bloodstone dagger to protect myself against this god.
“What are you doing here, Vaelyn?” I demand, tone cold. “What do you want?”
Hurt flashes across his features.
“Is that how it is now? Vaelyn? Not Vae?” he asks, lowering his arms.
Cyran, finally understanding the situation, vanishes in a swirl of sparkling ice.
Taking a few steps forward, Vaelyn tucks his hands into his pockets as he drags his piercing stare over Eve and me.
“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” he says, his voice soft.
I feel the same. Perhaps that’s exactly what I’m looking at—the ghost of someone carried on through a bloodline.
He shakes his head in a slow, rueful toss. “A pity. You spend a fewmonths in the living realm and we’re estranged. I hoped for more from you, Ves.”
“We becameestrangedthe moment you chose to use me in your fight with the Layer Lords,” I retort.
The god of death laughs.
