I move away with a snort of dismissal. He’d say that if he was lying, so I take everything with a mild grain of salt. Not that I think Kalos wants to deliberately deceive me. He might be downplaying Belara as a threat. I recognized that covetous look on her face, though. She might not want him as a lover, but she absolutely wants him to still be in love with her. It’s probably stinging her pride that he’s no longer interested.
Something tells me that Belara isn’t a goddess that takes wounds to her pride very easily. Pushing our meeting off until this morning likely didn’t help things, but I have no regrets. I feel prepared today, ready to go to battle. “Remind me, what’s our goal in meeting with her?”
“See what she wants? Soothe her if she attempts to punish the locals?”
Right. I’m reminded that Kalos isn’t interested in meeting with her, exactly. He’s more interested in keeping me happy, and he knows I won’t be if Belara throws a tantrum and razes the nearest village. I’m struck with affection for him. My prickly, apathetic, clever lover. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a good man?”
“Ugh. No.”
“Well, you are.” I beam at him.
“Don’t let that get out or I’ll never hear the end of it.” Kalos gets to his feet and offers me his arm. “Ready to confront the pettiest creature in a dozen realms?”
“Ready,” I agree. This will be fine, I decide. We’ll flatter Belara a little, listen to her without promising anything, and head out, back to Omos’s monastery and back to work on my book, if that’s all right with Kalos. He’s been a little cagey about what comes next, but that’s the Aspect of lies settling into his skin. We’ll take it day by day.
As long as we’re together and he’s safe, that’s all that matters.
Downstairs, Belara and her Anchor are already occupying the dining hall. I can hear the clatter of utensils as we approach. The hall is long and narrow, with several candelabras set into the wall to provide light, as there are no windows on this side of the house. It doesn’t matter that the room is dark, because Belara seems to glow from within, she’s so radiant. Her scarlet hair shimmers, the perfect waterfall of it pooling at her dainty feet. She wears a filmy peach dress with no sleeves, the only straps holding it in place a few artfully placed silver chains. Earlier, I’d felt like an elegant princess in my heavy brocade dress with the puffed sleeves, and now I feel like a frump. Ugh, I hate her.
Seated next to her at the table is the younger girl I’d seen her with yesterday. She can’t be much more than twelve, I don’t think, and there’s a youthful sweetness to her round face. Her dark skin is perfection, her thick curls elegantly pulled into a jeweled net, and her dress looks very similar to mine. The expression on her face is friendly as she regards us. An array of food is placed on the table in front of her, all half-eaten. She grins at me as we enter, forking an entire silver-dollar-sized pancake into her mouth.
“Looks like you have to share now, my darling,” Belara says in a sweet voice. “Make a plate for our friends, won’t you?”
“Of course,” the girl says. She indicates I should sit next to her, probably so we can share the food. Kalos pulls the chair out for me. I sit down in the spot at the other Anchor’s side. My mouth waters at the sight of all the food before us. Ham, bacon, slabs of chicken breast, fresh fruit, toast, pancakes, berry tarts, and a variety of cheeses are spread out on a wooden platter. As I sit, she leans over. “My name is Fala.”
“I’m Elsie,” I say with a smile, putting a linen napkin in my lap. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m bored,” Belara declares, speaking over us. It’s a clear signal for us to be silent. Fala continues eating, unbothered by Belara’s rudeness.
Kalos sits next to me, instead of seating himself closer to Belara. The goddess notices it, and so do I. His hand settles on my thigh as if even in this casual setting, he feels the need to lay claim to me.
I’m all for it.
“We’re here,” Kalos says to Belara.
She pouts. “And late about it. We were supposed to meet last night.”
“I told you no,” Kalos replies, just as easily.
Fala hands me a plate heaping with food, her gaze tactfully averted from both gods. “Wine?”
“Maybe just juice or milk,” I whisper back. It feels a bit like we’re at Thanksgiving, eating at the kids table while the adults have a conversation nearby. She nods and gestures at one of the servants, and both drinks are brought to me a moment later.
Kalos seems unbothered by Belara’s mood. “We’re here now. Tell me what’s troubling you.”
One perfect brow arches and Belara gives her glorious haira slight shake, as if to make it shimmer in the candlelight. “Nothing troubles me.” She tilts her head. “Why are you still here?”
“Seems rude to leave our hosts so quickly,” Kalos says, voice dry.
Her eyes narrow. “You misunderstand me. I mean you’re stillhere. In the mortal realm. I’m curious as to why.” She gestures at our surroundings, as if she finds it all repugnant. “Just…why?”
Kalos is silent. I eat an apple slice, watching the two gods. Fala is quiet, too.
“It’s none of your business,” Kalos says after a long pause. “Forgive me if I don’t trust you enough to let you in on my plans.”
She makes another disgusted sound and twirls one of the rings on her fingers in agitation. “Do you plan on teaming up with that bastard Seth?”
“No. Why would I?”
