Jolting, Topp spun around right as she smacked the chocolate down to the ground where it splatted against the dull white floor.
“Elysia?” The prince looked between her and the nowinedible confection, his eyebrows going up as he took in the sight of her. She knew her eyes were probably red and puffy, but a glance down informed her that her clothes and hands were covered in soot-riddled blood.Right.
She bent down, tentatively poking at the viscous red filling of the chocolate and sniffed it. “That’s poison.”
“You’re sure?” He frowned at the scuffed floor like he was still thinking about eating it.
“Positive. Smells like branson weed. I wanted to use it for Scarzan, but there was no way to cover the odor.” She stuck out her finger, and Topp ducked his head, nose wrinkling as soon as he got close.
“Gods, that’s awful.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t eat surprise chocolates when you’re a wanted prince and staying somewhere that looks like they have a protocol for murder.” Her tone fell flat, leaving the joke lifeless despite her attempt.
She kept touching her chest. But there wasn’t a cracked wooden handle protruding from her. There was only a gaping hole, slowly solidifying into something she didn’t think would ever leave so long as she lived. Still, her mouth moved, and her face creased into expressions that might as well have been painted on. A horrible pressure increased behind her eyes.
Topp once again looked cautiously at her presentation, his demeanor shifting into one she’d seen him use with skittish and aggressive animals.
“How’d you know to be here?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t. Guess I’m one and one tonight.”
He frowned, not understanding her comment. “The goddess here is weirdly protective of Rollie. Can’t stand me though. Woman acts like I pissed in her wine.”
Comprehension dawned as she looked around again, the minimalist building now making sense. “This is the temple of Ration and Reason?”
He nodded.
“Oren didn’t fill you in?”
Topp’s jaw twitched. “Was dragged to his woods for a bit, but I’ve been ignoring his summons.”
“You should let him help you. You and Rollie had the right idea, but Aidan’s got it covered now. His gambling game will rope them all in.”
He looked at her in pure confusion before a flash of something crossed his face. “That bitch of a goddess said something to Rollie about Ration and Reason needing to have a strong start.”
Elysia backtracked, knowing she was tired and struggling to make sense. “Aidan is tracking all of the most likely outcomes with his magic, and basically we’re all probably going to die, but he’s hoping if the gods watch us all stumbling to our doom, they’ll start to interfere and change the odds.”
Topp kicked at the smushed chocolate. “She just tried to kill me. How is that helping?”
She stared at the mess. “Yeah, they’re weirdly fixated on helping the mortals that belong to their houses. Could be a problem.”
“You mean to say the goddess of Ration and Reason is trying to off me because she wants Rollie to what? Be the star of this strange bullshit game?”
Elysia stepped back, leaning against one of the smudgy white walls, too tired to care if she left it even worse and smeared with blood.
“Something like that. The gods need to remember they’ll be eliminated by the fates if they can’t do their jobs…and they can’t do their jobs if there’s no magic.” She rubbed her eyes. “Gods, the fates are just going to wipe everything and start over, aren’t they? They could, you know. Erase every mortal and god and start over. They’re that powerful.”
Sighing, he sat down on the bed and gestured at her appearance. “If you weren’t here to save me, then why are you here?”
Whatwasshe doing here? Staring down at her waterloggedboots, she shook her head. “I don’t know.” Her voice was quiet, worn.
“You’re covered in blood.”
“It’s not mine.”But it should have been.
Topp had lost a sister, but it wasn’t that. It wasn’t even that he used to be the person she would show up to in the middle of the night, asking his body for the comfort that the man was unable to provide. It was simpler than that. She’d wanted someone who didn’t just know her but knew Beatriz and their life. Someone she didn’t have to explain everything to.
“I wanted to talk to Beatriz. Ineededto talk to her.” Her voice broke, as if she were begging him to believe her. Her eyes ached, but they remained dry as she stared off, away from him.
