Rylo scoffed and took the gun out of Morgan’s hand. He let a bit of his essence shine out of him, bringing light to her darkness. Slowly her shadows began gathering back into her, prancing around Rylo as they skittered out of sight. “I do apologize. I didn’t understand it had a finite number of uses. But you don’tneed thisto keep you alive. You have yourself. All those spells you’ve been memorizing, and these dancing shadows.”
Rylo raised a shining hand up to her remaining shadows and they extinguished the light coming out of his black veined hand.
“Honestly pet, you have all you need to protect yourself right here.” Rylo brought his hand up, pressing it to her forehead.
Morgan nodded. She looked across the cavern at the others. They seemed to be busying themselves with making a new fire and avoiding her and Rylo’s interaction. Which was just fine. Ever since he scooped her up and flew her out of the party, everyone had treated her like some sort of pariah. Even Susan assumed Morgan was lying when she said she only shared a bed with the Sun King.
She didn’t like it, everyone assumed that she was sleeping with Rylo to get some sort of special treatment. They’d already assumed the same about her sister, so why not think Morgan was doing the same thing? She wanted these folk to see her for what she was. A woman who had her own strength and power without needing to sleep with a king to get recognition.
Maybe she should call in one of her favors and make him share that there was nothing happening between them. No, that would be a stupid use of her favor. She wanted to use it for something that would make a difference. In the end, it didn’t make a difference what his citizens thought of her.
“Care to share what is racing through your beautiful mind?” Rylo asked, a bright dimple showing on his cheek.
Morgan murmured the enchantment and sifted through the void, looking for a way into his mind. There it was, bright and bold. She slid into his mind like sliding into a comfortable sweater.
Want to know the truth or should I tell you a lie?
The corner of Rylo’s mouth twitched. “Tell me what I want to hear.”
Morgan raised her eyebrow.I was thinking of that kiss we shared the other night.
Rylo leaned in, his lips caressing the curve of her ear. “Lies, pet. I can smell when you are aroused, and you are not thinking about something that arouses you.”
Morgan wrinkled her nose, pulling back from those perfect lips of his. “That is disgusting and invasive. And fine, I was thinking about how I’ll make you the next deceased king on my list. As you pointed out, I don’t need a gun to do it.”
Rylo let out a loud, long laugh. “Oh pet, I love how lies slip off your tongue so effortlessly. Do try them on the King of Goldoth. I have one more thing for you before we arrive at Onyx Caverns tomorrow.”
Rylo pulled out a sparkling necklace set with yellow stones on gold. She spoke into his mind, not daring to say what she realized.One of the Divine Five?
Rylo gave a tiny nod. He lifted the gems, gesturing to Morgan’s neck, and she nodded in agreement to let him place the jewels on her.
He reached around her throat, moving her long, dark hair to one side as he let his fingers linger in the silky strands, then he clasped the necklace around her throat, letting it rest against her chest. Slowly, he traced the path the necklace took down her neck, across her shoulder, and to the divot between her breasts before he traced the jewels up and around her neck again. Rylomoved Morgan’s hair back into place and looked at her with sparkling eyes.
The jewels felt heavy on Morgan’s chest. She’d read in a book that deep magic carried a heavy burden, but Morgan didn’t think the book meant it in a literal sense.
“Does it call to you? Can you feel its power?” Rylo asked.
It has a heaviness that goes beyond its weight. I’m not sure how I’ll draw the deep magic out of it, but I’ll experiment with it.
Rylo’s voice was low, like he wanted the information for Morgan’s ears only. “It can mask your goddess mark, but you should let it show. I want to show off what a prize you are.”
Morgan rolled her eyes. “I’m not a prize or a possession.”
“Not to me you aren’t,” Rylo said, stroking his long finger across her cheek.
I’m thinking about how I’d like to slice into your soft throat again.
“No, I don’t think you are,” Rylo said, leaning back on the ground, wings flattened under him. “Get some sleep, Kingslayer.”
Kyla
Kyla had never seen Garnel so despondent. Although they hadmoved into her mother’s former apartments and had ample space, Garnel hardly left their bed. The house arrest, while a light punishment for stabbing a goddess, was eating at Garnel’s soul.
She couldn’t get him to work past the guilt he had for threatening his own life with his senseless attack. Kyla understood that he was incensed when he realized what the goddess had done to her, but it wasn’t like the goddess had actually harmed her. It was all instinct, and one that could have been avoided.
Garnel was on his side in bed as Kyla prepared to leave their apartment. His shirtless back revealed the healing scars from his self flagellation. Although she tried to heal them with salves, Garnel had been insistent to see through his punishment for his reckless behavior. She gave him a quick peck on his forehead, but he didn’t respond. Down their bond Kyla felt how he struggled with self-loathing and doubt.
“I love you, Garnel. Only two more weeks and you will be free.”
