“You said he said no to Mithra.”
“Same difference. Mithra ordered him to marry me and Ryder said he would never.” I curled the mug into my chest, enjoying the warmth that soaked through my shirt.
“He told Mithra he would never marry you.”
“I like how you’re catching on so quickly, and I don’t have to repeat myself.”
Point Delaney. One-zero.
His eyebrow twitched. “One feature of humanity that has never changed in all of time is their sarcasm.”
I toasted him with the mug.
“And their ability to lie.”
“I’m not lying to you.”
Than sighed. It sounded like he had run out of patience for the entire world. “You aren’t the only human on the earth, Delaney. I was speaking of Ryder.”
“He’s lying. To Mithra?”
“Are sleepovers always so mentally stimulating?”
Point Than. One-one.
“Yeah, this is about how it goes.”
“And?”
“What?” I asked.
“Do you recall everything he said?”
“Yes?”
“Did you tell me all of it?”
I hadn’t. I’d left one part out. “He said he wouldn’t marry me as long as he’s under Mithra’s command, but since Mithra is never going to let him go…” I shrugged.
“Might he be lying to Mithra?”
I rolled that around while I finished my cocoa. “Maybe,” I admitted. “He’s been so absent. I don’t really know what’s going on in his head right now.”
“You’ve asked him, of course.”
I felt the blush roll across my cheeks. “As much.”
“Perhaps you should apply more specific effort in your word choice. Might I suggest something along the lines of: Ryder Bailey, do you intend to marry me? Enunciate clearly and use careful listening skills. You must also insist on the same level of conversational skill from him. It is known as a clearing of the air. Conflict resolution. Maturity.”
“Did you just accuse me of being childish?”
“Only of being human, Reed Daughter.”
He sipped cocoa, watching me over the top of the mug.
It made sense. Ryder was no fan of Mithra. He might be lying to the deity. But I had heard his voice, the tone of it, the conviction. If he were lying, he was doing a damn good job.
“How about we watch the show,” I suggested.
