Just as I turned my head to look behind me, my body collided with The God of Shadows.
“Kage,” my mouth said before I had time to think about how disrespectful that was. To call a god by their first name as if we were friends could be a fatal mistake. I realized my blunder immediately, bowing my head. “My apologies, my divine ruler.”
My heart was going a million miles a minute, waiting for him to decide my fate. One look up, and I saw what looked like amusement dancing upon his smile.
“I never hear my name anymore, it’s refreshing really. I almost forgot that’s what it is. Everything is always divine this and god that. Don’t fret, child. I won’t punish you for your mistake.”
An unspoken, ‘this time’, hung in the air and I bowed again showing my gratitude.
“Would you like to dance?” He asked, though it sounded more like a command.
“I would be honored to,” I responded. When I took The God of Shadow’s hand for a second time that evening, Dex’s stare was boring into me with a simmering anger that followed us as the dance began. Oh, Dessa, what a mess you’ve gone and gotten yourself into now.
Chapter 14
Dex
She was a vision. Like a demon and angel had made a baby and the result was her. She was all parts beauty with equal parts danger. I don’t even think she knew all that she was capable of yet, but it was palpable. Just one look at her, and I could tell that she was formidable, even if she didn’t quite believe it herself yet.
The games would change that.
I’d scared her, though, I knew she felt this pull between us, just as much as I did. Maybe it wasn’t me that she was scared of, but what it meant about her. A truth in herself she wasn’t ready to face yet. That she liked this dark and dangerous part of her. I could tell she’d spent her life being good for everyone else, but down here, nothing else mattered. She had to stand on her own two feet with no one to cater to but herself. Maybe for the first time in her life too.
I could only hope that there could be a way that we both made it out of here, no matter how unlikely that might be. Nocturne was unpredictable and unforgiving. She hadn’t seen me yet, having snuck in later than I should have.
“What are they going to do with those masks?” I heard Regis asking.
“None of your business,” the Goddess of Spring replied in a chilling tone.
Eyeing the masks on top of the decapitated heads also had me wondering the same question, but the Goddess’s clipped response was telling. Clearly, we weren’t meant to know, which made it all the more interesting.
A part of me wondered if I’d be able to sneak back in here after everyone had gone to sleep. They’d told us the only way to obtain the power of another mask was to kill the wearer, but they’d told us many blatant lies that they covered up with finery and an active destruction of information. I’d learned that the Divine were more interested in serving their own interests than helping their own citizens. Transparency wasn’t something I could expect from them, and the Goddess of Spring’s curt response had me intrigued enough to find out for myself.
A loose plan formed in my mind to take those masks for myself. The three powers alone would be worth it.
It was genius really. If there was a way to obtain those mask’s powers, displaying them in plain sight like they were a sure way to make us feel like they were forever out of reach. A reminder of our insignificance.
Well, I had a feeling that I would call them on their bluff.
Odessa’s deep brown eyes finally locked onto me, and I went towards her as if pulled by an invisible string. I couldn’t help myself when it came to her. Every time she was around, I seemed to forget everything but her.
She’d been avoiding me all day and it thrilled me to know I’d gotten under her skin. What she walked in on, I hadn’t meant for her to see, but the fact that she had, that she knew the truth of how I felt about her, was in a way freeing. If only she wasn’t so frightened of her own feelings.
After a brief as hell interaction, she ran from me, right into that god’s arms. They spun around the room, dancing as if they were the only two in here.
It ate at me, watching them when I knew she belonged with me. Even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself yet, she knew it. Deep down. She had to.
Anger and possession coursed through my body like I’ve never known, until he whispered something in her ear that made her smile, and fuck. I couldn’t take it anymore. Before I knew what I was doing, I found myself tapping on his shoulder as if he were just a mortal man.
“Can I cut in?” I asked boldly.
His emerald, green eyes flashed in surprise, and Odessa stared at me open mouthed.
“Why not,” The God of Shadows replied, offering me Odessa’s hand stiffly.
It was clear he wasn’t happy being interrupted.
Odessa fit snuggly against me, her jaw set tightly as if she knew we were being watched and couldn’t say what she really wanted to.
