“Soren is after Ash, but if the Council intervenes and protects the demigod, scrutiny will be directed to us by those who oppose his very existence. The child’s death is what deities are waiting for—what theywant. And protecting him is a confrontation that you do not wish to deal with, seeing as we have new faces among our members, one of which is the mother of that child.” He smiled bitterly, shaking his head as he gave her a repulsive once-over. “Your dedication to ignorance is outstanding—a tiresome quality you seemed to have carried with you from your mortal life into the divine.”
“And what of you? I am doing all that I can to hold order amongst our kind, and you are set to destroy it, like you do everything else. It is why Cassius is no longer here, why he must live his days as a mere middle god.” Resentment and enmity spewed from her like a foaming tide. “Because ofyou,” she saidas she jabbed her finger into his chest, “I no longer have my confidant.”
Acacius nodded in a slow, lethargic motion, the pain of her jab numbing through his chest like poison.
Cassius, the more level-headed of her brothers, the dependable and sensible one, was no longer there with her.
Up until now, it had only existed as an insecurity of his that developed back in his mortal days. As a child, he’d noticed the way Iliana regarded Cassius with respect as her equal, and he’d despised how she neglected that sentiment to him, always making him feel inferior to her.
Acacius used to compare himself with Cassius—even tried to be more like him—excelling in everything he did, perfecting everything he touched. It was a miserable, losing battle that Acacius did not allow to follow into his divine existence.
And yet, here he stood, in front of his sister, who thought less of him than Cassius for simply being. Even after all these fucking years, she still detested his nature.
“I see.” Acacius said, voice small and contained. He stepped back. “I am only here as a member of this Council because I died that day alongside you two.”
Iliana’s rage settled into a remorseful frown as she took in the hurt on Acacius’s face.
She extended her arm. “Brother, I?—”
Acacius took another step away, rejecting her comfort. “Consider your feelings on the subject heard, Iliana. I will deal with Soren on my own.” He turned to leave and then halted, looking at her one final time. “You will not punish Naia or Ronin for protecting their child. As a founding member of this Council, I forbid it. Youwillgrant them that.”
Before she could dispute, Acacius disappeared from her hall, bound for Augustus.
30
ILLUSIONARY
Marina
Snow collectedon the rooftop like a thick, crystalline blanket. Fat flakes continued to dance down from the monochrome clouds as Marina peered out across Hollow City, a momentary glimpse of stillness against her drumming pulse. She could hear the caw of a bird, a crow or starling, in the distance.
Like every time they’d met before, Soren waited for her, arms crossed in his black coat, looking out into the city. His mind probably ran wild with more secret schemes.
At the sound of her heels, he acknowledged her with a look over his shoulder. “No Nina today?”
She’d used minimal glamor, dulling her divinity enough to blend in as a mortal. In her final moments with Soren, as his friend, appearing in her disguise asNinadid not feel right.
“No.” She did not reciprocate the playful ire in his tone as she came to stand beside him, peering out at the vast view of the city. “Update?”
“I haven’t spotted another Daemon.” Snow collected in his dark hair and over the fabric of his mask. “How did it go when you tracked it down?”
He knew the answer, and yet he asked as if he did not, so convincingly. She had never met a better liar.
“The Daemon is dead.” She fixed on the falling particles slowly drifting from the sky. “The Blood Heretics caught it.”
Soren studied the side of her face, snow sticking in his dark hair. “They were patrolling down Tempest awfully heavy, but I managed to slip through to the other side of the city where I found a few witches undercover.”
She turned to him then. “And?”
“What do you think?” Soren’s eyes drew into what she knew to be a smirk under his mask. “They’ve been eliminated.”
“Hm.” Marina pushed out the sound, unable to find it in her to praise him. All she had to do was keep him talking, keep him on the rooftop.
“You seem worried.” His gaze softened and he lightly nudged her arm. “Hey, I promise we’ll keep the kid safe. That’s why I am here.”
His deceit raked like claws down her chest, a new ache that she wasn’t sure she could handle.
Her jaws flexed.
