“Walk with me? Our last meeting was cut short,” he said smoothly.
Gray had blocked us from talking to each other last time, but considering I didn’t know where Gray was and the fact I didn’t know many people here, taking a stroll with Archer didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“Sure,” I replied.
He offered me his arm, and I slipped a hand through it. Archer was dressed in blue like the rest of us, apparently not wanting to break protocol and tradition tonight.
“I’m surprised Grayson isn’t with you,” he commented.
Even though I’d been looking for him, I didn’t like the fact that Archer thought I needed Gray around.
“He’s not my keeper,” I told him.
Archer laughed and waved a free hand up and down my body. “That ward around you would suggest otherwise. He wanted nothing to get to you, but I’m surprised he’s not here himself. He seems rather protective of you.”
“We work closely together. I’m his host. A part of his team.”
He nodded. “I just want to make sure you aren’t falling for his charm.”
The comment caught me off guard.
“Relations between Gods and mortals are prohibited,” I parroted the line.
It seemed safe to feed him it. If anyone thought something was going on between me and Gray, we’d get into all kinds of trouble.
“True enough, but then again, if we were to think someone was worth the trouble… Gods are used to getting what they want.”
“You have nothing to worry about with me,” I assured him.
“Perhaps he’ll take the plunge tonight.”
“The plunge?”
We were walking along the paths that cut through the grounds. The evening was warm and there was a soft breeze. Just as with everything in Elysia, it was perfect.
Archer took a sip from his glass before answering, “Mmm. Every time he throws one of these parties, we assume he’ll do it, but we’re always left disappointed.”
“I don’t understand.”
I hated riddles and wished he’d just tell me what Gray was meant to be doing.
“A proposal,” Archer said.
“For what?”
“Marriage, of course.”
My brow furrowed, and Archer continued.
“We’re all waiting for him to ask Elva to be his wife. It’s inevitable that it’ll happen. The entire council would be only too happy to grant the union.”
My heart stopped in my chest. “Elva?”
“Goddess of death.”
“I know who she is.”
There was an ugly, raw feeling of jealousy in my chest that I tried to push down on. There was nothing to be jealous over. We had sex occasionally. We weren’t dating. We sure as hell weren’t in a relationship. He was free to do whatever he wanted.
