Topp flung his head back, shaking water and wet hair out of his face. “Did you just sayyears?”
The Doorman tucked her smooth black hair behind her ear. “Oh, yes. Based on our records, it all depends on the initiate. The fates can be so fickle about these things...”
Rollie’s shoulders dropped, his face going bleak. “We’redoomed. Elysia is going tohatenot being in control. She’ll get so pissed that she’ll go after the fates instead of working with them.”
Neither the prince nor the Doorman disagreed. Elysia had spent her whole life under someone else’s thumb. She wasn’t going to be amenable to someone new holding power over her even if they were the ones who crafted fate itself. Topp scrubbed at his body with the hot water, ridding himself of the stench of death. Whatever the death voyage entailed, she’d likely try to circumvent it to get the job done faster.
The Doorman opened her mouth to speak when the hot spring roiled to life, churning its waters slowly at first but then picking up speed. Alarmed, Topp dove for the water’s edge, hauling himself out before he could be dragged into the current. Water boiling now, the Doorman lowered herself onto one knee, hissing at them. “Make no promises and whatever you do, donotlook her in the eye.”
Head ducked, he fought the insane urge to look. A goddess was about to emerge out of the water’s depths, and he was going to miss it. His neck ached with how hard he drilled his gaze to the floor.
Wet feet slapped closer, and Topp’s pulse grew wild.
Water droplets hit against his bare back with a sizzle. Muscles bunching, he remained bowed even as rose and jasmine stirred him to move. Long fingers with well-kept short nails trailed over his cheek. A luxurious wave of sensual power drowned him, turning his skin sensitive and blood hot. It was all he could do to bite back a groan. The fingers gripped his hair, forcing his head to turn.
Gaze on the soft stomach of a goddess, he exhaled into her grasp. The goddess of pleasure gleamed in the natural light. Waist length rippling black-brown hair and dark eyes, her naked golden skin shone as if there were specks of literal gold beneath its surface.
“You are not mine.” Her gaze shifted to Rollie. “And neither is he.”
The Doorman kept her eyes low and her voice a soothing caress. “They say they have news of the death voyage. That the king of Kava may eradicate magic before it can be completed.”
A myriad of colors flashed within the goddess’s eyes, and what Topp saw in her temper chilled him. Beyond the shining allure of her beauty was a core of ice that no touch could possibly thaw.
“He wishes to play games with my youngest brother, the baby of our family? To steal the magic we have generously bestowed upon the mortal children?” Her stunning face hardened protectively, but Topp could scent the fear beneath her bluster.
Keeping his head down, he stole a glance at the Doorman, hoping she would capitalize on the goddess’s evident concern. His gut soured when Rollie spoke around a mouthful of grape, his voice flat.
“Yourlittle brotheris the one who made a deal that gave the king the power to destroy magic.” Rollie popped another grape and the Doorman paled. The prince had grown up with Rollickus. He knew that Rollie despised hierarchy. It was one of the few things Topp had always liked about Rollie, but something told him the dripping wet, naked goddess might not understand or appreciate Rollie’s disregard for title and stature.
“His only plan for cleaning up the mess he made is through Elysia. What happens when she finds the talisman? Doesn’t sound like he even knows.”
Blatantly ignoring every one of the Doorman’s stipulations, Rollie made hard eye contact with her now. “The fates seem to care more about her jumping through their hoops than the situation up here. And has anyone considered she might purposely fail? Like, have you met her? She doesn’t enjoy being told what to do. We need another plan. A fail-safe.”
Topp’s fingertips brushed the floor as he readied himself to launch between a man who wasn’t even his friend and a goddess. This kingdom-saving excursion was going to be over before it began because Rollie couldn’t keep his fucking mouth shut.
But to his surprise, the goddess merely appraised Rollie withnew interest. She flipped her long, thick hair behind her shoulder. “You will work for me when order is restored,” she purred, one finger tipping beneath Rollie’s chin.
Rollie set down the grapes, finally looking alarmed. “Pleasure isn’t—no, no thank you.” His already sunburnt skin turned red.
The goddess smiled like sunlight hitting ice—sharp and blinding. “It is invaluable to have devotees who are immune to the many charms of my House.Andit will anger my dear sibling.”
Squeamish, but curious, Rollie looked her over as if she really were an employer for him to evaluate. Topp had to shake his head. Who knew if Rollickus had ever even been with anyone, and here he was judging thegoddess of pleasurelike he had any right.
Still blushing, he questioned her. “And what do you propose for our current problem?”
The goddess offered Rollie her arm. “Let’s walk, my pale little dove. I’m sure we can find an answer.”
Brows in his hairline, Topp finally unfurled his large frame as they exited the hot spring room arm in arm.
“Did that just happen?” His voice sounded unnaturally high to his own ears.
The Doorman collapsed to the floor, moaning. “I think I just aged twenty years—all the plants in here used to be mortals.”
Chapter 22
“Tell me,what good does it do to hate the role you have been given?”
Sylvia Reyez spoke like a philosopher rather than the head of a sprawling criminal empire. Elysia slowed upon hearing the poignant question, coming to stand beside Sylvia. Feet covered in ointment and wrapped in bandages, it had been no small feat to shove them into the leather boots she now wore. Every step made her want to break down and ask if they had a healer, but she hadn’t decided if she could trust her newfamilywith something like that. Better to wait until she was back in the Deathlands and Aidan could force Maya to be of assistance.
