Topp flopped back, giving up on moving with an unimpressed sigh. First, he got shoved in a wagon full of dead people, and now he had to deal with this conniving, altruistic bitch. His green eyes stared at hers, his tone derisive. “Saved your girlfriend’s life a few days ago, which means you owe me,again. Funny how that keeps happening.”
A small hand snapped out, hoisting Topp up with surprising strength. He was looking straight into the face of Relaclave’s very own Doorman.
He smiled amicably now. “To be fair, Elysia saved her life first because we all know Beatriz is an impulsive, money-hungry idiot, butthenI helped save both of their lives. Still counts, right?”
The Doorman’s eyes narrowed, her delicate but wide nostrils flaring, clearly torn between kicking him while he couldn’t move and demanding to know what he was talking about. Face smoothing, her painted mouth set into a determined line. “Tell me why you’re here. My Lady does not cavort with the sons of other gods.”
Annoyance crept into Topp’s voice. “Because I haveanyidea what you’re talking about.” An uncomfortable pins and needles sensation flooded his limbs as the paralysis slowly dissipated. Glancing around, he questioned her roughly. “Where’s Rollickus? I know he says things, but he doesn’t mean to—you can’t hurt him. Elysia would murder us both.”
The Doorman released her grip on the prince’s shirt, striding away and settling onto the smooth light-toned wooden bench like it was a throne. “Rollickus is perfectly fine. And you know exactly what I mean, Topp Blatz. You don’t belong tothis house.”
Understanding dawned. “I’m the heir ofKava, which means regardless of where my shred of magic came from—I don’t belong to any house or religion.”
The Doorman’s gaze held a hint of laughter as if his objections were cute like a child’s. “You know that’s not how it works.”
Able to sit up, the prince awkwardly pulled at the ropes cutting into his ankles until they unraveled, coiling in a heap on the floor. Biting at the bindings on his wrists, he spoke around a mouthful of rope. “I don’t care how it works. I’ve taken no vows, completed no rites. Until then, I belong to no god or house.”
The Doorman stood, sweeping her silk magenta skirt out like a fan, golden wrist bangles chiming. “Not all of us can afford such naivete. You’ll see.”
A short man with black hair and a white linen uniform walked in and shot Topp a dirty look before speaking furtively into the Doorman’s ear. She nodded and held out a hand to the now standing prince. “Come. Rollickus is ready, and my Lady shall have her answers.”
Topp complied, knowing it was the fastest route to achieving his own ends. He’d wondered if she was religious. It seemed like every time he went to the House he’d noticed a new painting or icon that had reminded him of the goddess of pleasure. Hadn’t ever considered she was apriestessin the original temple of Aruza though.What a busy, busy woman.Incredible she’d never been caught.
Rubbing his wrists, he took his time following the Doorman, his feet striking against the cool tiles. She strolled ahead, leading them out into a room so humid his skin immediately perspired, tiny droplets bursting along his forehead. Lush greenery and bright tropical flowers surrounded the in-ground hot spring as steam rolled off it into the air.
Sun drenched the room, shining in through the glass roof that peaked above them, and sitting at the water’s edge was a shirtless Rollie. Clean and fresh in a pair of loose linen trousers rolled up above his ankles, his feet dangled into the water. He popped agrape into his mouth, almost choking when he noticed Topp. Unlike Rollie, who had apparently been given the guest of honor treatment, Topp was still in his underclothes, smelling like the dead with rope burns around his extremities.
Hacking as he swallowed, Rollie continued methodically pulling grapes off the vine and tossing them into his mouth. “How’d you piss her off already?”
The Doorman smiled, relaxing onto one of the beige cushioned lounge chairs. She gestured elegantly to Rollickus. “See? Perfectly fine. Now tell me why you’re here and we’ll see if it meets my Lady’s price.”
Rollie paused with a grape halfway to his mouth. Indignation increased his volume. “You know exactly why we’re here,Lily. And you want a price?” He jerked to standing, knocking half his grapes into the water. “I knew we should’ve started with the temple of ration and reason.”
The Doorman looked scandalized. Topp hadn’t even known her name till now. Tilting his head at her with an easy grin, he pretended to dust off his hands. “You heard the man. Looks like we’re off.”
Rollie was already shoving his blonde head through his new lightweight long-sleeve shirt, grumbling about where his books and maps were. “They better not bewet,” he groused, hair erratic and glasses askew.
The Doorman recomposed herself and swung her high-heeled sandals to the slippery floor. Crossing her legs, she exposed a slit of freshly sun-kissed skin. “It’s true then? Your father intends to eradicate magic as far as he can?”
Topp leaned against the wall near the archway they had entered through and studied her, positive she already knew what Garrison was doing. “Have you not been in Kava?”
“In and out. I oversee Kava’s temple—the House as you know it—but lately, I have been needed here at home.”
He snorted, shaking his head. “I knew there was magic involved in the House.”
The Doorman smiled lazily, accepting a beverage from a server. “Kava and its residents lost their magic. My god did not. She simply…gave us a little boost. Not much given the restraints and how wicked the fates can be when spurned, but even a little goes a long way somewhere like Kava.”
He nodded, thinking of how Elysia had responded to the House. While he didn’t fully understand her magic, it made sense that she’d been unable to resist the thrall of a house soaked in a god’s power.
Rollie marched back in with his books shoved into a lumpy drawstring bag slung onto his back, rolled-up maps poking out the top. He nearly slipped on the wet floor, but the Doorman barely spared him a glance. “Sit down, Rollie, this conversation is finished when I say it is.”
Amused, Topp walked over to the hot spring, stripping off his shirt and slowly submerging himself into its waters. Like he was going to turn down the chance to bathe in a heated indoor spring after the day he’d had.Not fucking likely.
The Doorman watched him indifferently. “So, you plan to visit the temples and what? Petition the gods you don’t believe in?”
Rollie, who had resumed his position by the water, twitched in irritation. “No, we wantyouto petition your Lady. Who knows how long it will take Elysia to find the talisman for the god of the dead. We need to involve the other gods—make them realize how easily history could repeat itself, make themwantto get involved.”
Her thumb rubbed over flawless skin. “Yes… The death voyage could take years, and Garrison could wreck the world by then.”
