The Fates weredefinitelypissed at me.
As Pia parted her lips to question it, I spoke first.
“Houseguest.” A simple explanation. One that I hoped she’d accept. I didn’t need her to believe it, just leave it be.
No such luck.
With piquing interest, a curious smile widened across her lips. “Your houseguest sounds… emotional.”
I scoffed. She had no idea.
“She’ll live,” I grumbled around the head of the cigar, pulling in a mouthful of its acrid smoke. The resulting sharp exhale through my nose forced the white plume out, reminiscent of a slumbering dragon on the verge of being awakened.?
Typical of the woman seated across from me, she saw through my clipped response.
“Now, now,Eryxander.” She rose from her seat with controlled fluidity, one typically seen amongst royals.?
I stared at her in horror, both at the use of my full name and the look in her eyes set in rich amethyst hues.
“Pia.” Her name only. A warning.
Ignoring me and with intentions set in stone, she stepped back from the table and made her way to the door that led back inside. On her way by, she trailed her hand across the backs of my shoulders as she whispered, “You always did make a horrific host.”
Shit.
The cigar fell from my fingers to the ground, rolling beneath the table to be left forgotten.
Pushing out of my chair, I beat her to the door in several long strides. I slammed my hand against the frame, barring her entry without physically restraining her.
Without so much as breaking her stride, she ducked under my arm and slipped inside. Each unhurried step told me that she had a vested interest in what was happening in that upstairs bedroom. Not for the safety of who was inside, but for whatever leverage she could wield over me.
I dropped my hand away from the frame as I watched her disappear around a corner. Caught between chasing and intervening or shameless resignation, the frustration caused my fingers to curl into a trembling fist at my side. Ultimate frustration took over, andin one violent movement, I pounded my knuckles into the frame. The resulting impact sounded like a crack of thunder.
I was the god of discord. I didn’t chase others. I allowed the chaos to come to me.
But in that moment? I did the unthinkable: I ran.
…And I hated myself every step of the way.
CHAPTER NINE
I watchedas the high heel bounced off the window and then fell to the floor with a dull thud. Not even a scratch on the glass. My shoulders slumped in defeat.?
Pressing my forehead to the bars, I let my arm dangle uselessly through the gap between two vertical rungs, caught awkwardly over the horizontal brace of the cage.
Not only was I down one shoe, but my confidence in my aim was bruised. Perhaps if I had been armed with a bow and arrows, I would have been more effective in drawing attention to my predicament. It had been centuries since I last used one, but I was certain that if I squinted hard enough and imagined the window to be a beating heart,I’dnail the shot.
Maybe.
Rare frustration overwhelmed me. I jerked my arm back through the bars and released a guttural yell. Cathartic, but useless. My hands beat against the bars, hittingthem several times with open palms before violently shaking them.
The cage held steadfast against my pathetic outburst.
“Just you wait until I get out of here!” I snarled. “I’mgoing to match you with the most nauseatingly sweet soulmate in existence!You’llbe pulling rose petals out of your ass, pissing champagne, and cryingover stuffedteddy bears every anniversary!”
I paused before adding with vicious finality, “FOREVER!”?
Every shouted word echoed in the room, the various artifacts and paintings the only witnesses to my threats.
