“Ihumiliated you? You humiliated me!”
“N-not purposefully.” My voice cracks. “You either trust m-m-me, or you don’t,” I say, pulling away to place much-needed space between us. “But I w-w-won’t be treated like your enemy. I told y-you I would help. Iwantto return home. Why would I risk th-that?”
He can’t answer, or won’t. In the end, it makes no difference. The sound of silence is all the same.
“I’m going for a w-walk,” I say.
“Bird—”
Brushing past him, I slam the door shut behind me.
13
IRETURN TO THE GARDEN, because the night-blooming jasmine and the star-cloaked night are content to let me be. As I enter one of the hedge mazes, I imagine it is the estate grounds I wander, tall bushes of lavender skimming my knees.
A deep ache throbs beneath my sternum. Longing? Sorrow? The palace is not the estate. It means nothing to me. And yet, I may wander without threat of the lash, or whatever harsh punishment Lady Clarisse managed to concoct. It is nice to know peace, if only for a little while.
Despite all signs of the banquet having been removed, my attempts to shunt aside thoughts of the East Wind don’t work. They never do. I fear I have confined myself in an even smaller cage. I must remain here until the tournament is complete, the East Wind’s victory claimed. And if he does not win? What then? If by some miracle I’m able to return to St. Laurent, I pray her ladyship is merciful.
“Lost, are we?”
I startle and whirl around. A curvy woman with a generous bust slinks around one of the hedges, eyeing me with a hunger that sets my teeth on edge. The goddess we met earlier today. Demi.
“I… guess I am,” I reply, taking one step backward. Leaves poke my back, the hedge blocking further retreat.
The goddess ambles nearer, still wearing that dazzling, sunrise gown. She is tall, far taller than I am, and easily overwhelms the space.“I didn’t catch your name earlier.” Her yellow eyes flash in the dark. “Eurus didn’t offer it.”
He wouldn’t have. I’m not sure why that disappoints me. “It’s Min,” I say.
“Min. How quaint.” The goddess holds out a slender hand ornamented by delicate gold rings. “Demi.”
I shake her hand. Callused, like mine. It is something I did not expect.
Abruptly, she tugs me forward, nose pressed to the crown of my skull with a deep inhalation. The hem of her sleeve brushes my arm, and I shiver. “You smell of chervil.” She releases me, head canted in interest. “What realm do you hail from, Min?”
I glance toward the maze entrance, where gloom beads along its branches, amongst the leaves. Eurus assured me I would be safe, so long as I remained on the palace grounds. Then again, someone tried to poison him tonight. “Marles,” I reply.
Lush mouth pursed, Demi picks at one long, painted nail, saying, “Lavender fields and vineyards, fresh bread and soft cheese.” The powder dabbed around her lashes has darkened them to a sultry coal. “You worship the Master of Sea and Mother of Earth, is that correct?”
I blink. “Yes. Well, mostly the Mother of Earth, as do most farmers. Sailors worship the Master of Sea.”
“You’re a farmer?” She arches a brow. “You certainly don’t look like one. Though I suppose that would explain why I smell chervil on you.”
“No, I’m not a farmer. I—” But I can reveal nothing more. I have likely said too much as it is. As Lady Clarisse never failed to remind me, silence is best.
The goddess’ mouth stretches corner to corner, seemingly amused by my reluctance. “Secreting information already? You are wise, Min from Marles. I think it’s justpreciousthat Eurus has taken a mortal lover.”
My eyes pop wide. “Lover?”
“Of course. That is why you’re here, isn’t it?” She peers at me beneath lowered lashes. “Don’t be bashful, love. If anything, you should becelebrating. The number of women who have hoped to find themselves in Eurus’ bed is many. You have accomplished what few have been able to.”
“Eurus and I are n-not, um, lovers. I’m just his assistant.”
Pleasure brightens that lambent gaze, and she tosses back her head, teeth parting around a cascade of warm, rolling laughter. “That’s what they all say.”
This conversation grows increasingly uncomfortable. Exactly what sort of numerical value doesmanyrepresent? Not that I care to part the curtains of the East Wind’s sex life. He is ageless, after all. Likely a great number of conquests. I imagine the sum to be substantial.
“So tell me, Min from Marles.” The goddess, Demi, reaches overhead to pluck a flower from the wall of interlocking leaves at my back. The bloom, doused in a beam of moonlight, seems to enlarge in her palm, the petals elongating. I stare in shock. “How is it that you have found yourself entangled with the East Wind, and during the tournament no less?”
