“I thought it would be good for her,” Dionne said eventually, jerking her chin towards me, “to have a female contact down here. I bought her some clothes and other things she might need.”
“How kind.” Archer’s words were anything but grateful.
“Thank you,” I said, struggling to get up from the bench while my hands were cuffed in front of me. “I think I’d appreciate a shower and a change of clothes.”
Anything to cut the tension. I’d caused so many arguments that my stomach soured at the thought of causing another.
A shower always calmed me, and as ridiculous as it seemed, I wanted to employ the tactic and have a sliver of normality.
Archer looked at me over his shoulder. “Of course. I’ll show you to your room.”
The three of us walked into the manor. Archer’s home was vast, just like the others I’d visited in Elysia. The accent colour was the same forest green as his aura, but there were touches of blush pink that made me curious about who else lived there. Delicate touches to the decor made it hard to believe this was solely Archer’s abode.
We climbed two flights of stairs; Archer leading the way and Dionne behind me. The formation did nothing to ease my concerns about being imprisoned here. He stopped in front of a door and pushed it open before walking inside. Turning to face me, he spread out his arms.
“I hope it’ll suffice,” he said, playing the role of humble host.
The room was larger than my living room—a beautiful mixture of green and white. A four-poster bed stood by the wall along with a dresser and vanity.
Archer stepped towards me, pulling a key out of his pocket. I jerked my hands back, and he frowned.
“I didn’t think you’d appreciate me helping you shower,” he commented, arching an eyebrow.
“I can help her,” Dionne snapped. “Get out and give us some privacy.”
Archer’s eye twitched, but he pocketed the key and shrugged. “I’ll be downstairs when you’re done. Don’t dawdle, Dionne. I have matters that need to be discussed with Quentin. I’d appreciate some privacy in my home.”
He brushed past us as he left the room, and Dionne ushered me inside before shutting the door. I opened my mouth to talk, but she put a slender black finger against her lips and pointed to another door in the room.
My shoes sunk into the plush carpet with every step I took. Dionne reached around me and opened the door to reveal a bathroom, and we stepped inside. She immediately turned on the shower, water hitting the tiles so violently that it bounced away from the floor and filled the room with noise as steam flooded the space.
“Does he know what your gift is?” Dionne asked, rounding on me.
The move was so sudden that I stepped back, bumping into the sink and wishing I’d let Archer undo the cuffs so I could protect myself. My eyes widened as I shook my head. “No. I don’t think so. He was about to ask me about it when you arrived.”
She let out a shuddering breath, straightening her spine and towering over me. “Don’t tell him. Keep it a well-guarded secret.”
“He’ll know I’m lying. It’s his responsibility.”
“You’re not fully mortal anymore. His intuition might lead him, but he won’t be able to read you. If he asks, you need to lie and say they never told you what it is.”
“Who are you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “Why should I listen to you?”
“Because if you don’t, you might end up in a worse position.”
The statement was ridiculous, and delirious laughter left my lips. “I have twelve Gods currently deciding if I should live or not. How the fuck could it get any worse?”
“I’m dating one of those Gods. I have an idea of what’s going on because she trusts me and asked me to tell you this.”
“Who?”
“Bexley.”
“Larkin’s sister?” I asked. The information was a vague wisp in my mind.
“Yes.”
“And you want me to trust her? Larkin hates me, and Hunter is counting the days until he can get rid of me.”
