Page 106 of The Gods Forbid

“It’s not the same as you and Reyna,” I said quickly, even though the words felt like a lie on my tongue. He and Reyna were literally Fated, upsettingly in love, and perfect for each other.

Sebastian and I were … none of that.

We couldn’t be.

Adrian opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “It’s nothing more than a crush. It’ll go away.” Another string of words that tasted bitter. Adrian’s raised eyebrow made panic burst through my chest. I was barely able to think about what would happen when these six months were over, let alone think about someone else knowing I might be struggling. “The important thing is that he’s doing what he can to repent. I would really appreciate it if you gave him grace.”

“I’m trying,” Adrian said, sounding exacerbated. “He was my friend. It’s not easy for any of us, but you’ll have to excuse me for trying to sort through the fact that he almost killed my wife, tried to overthrow me, and he—” Adrian cut himself off, but waved in my general direction.

I didn’t know what that was supposed to mean. “Well, do better. Or do you want Dominic after you for ruining his wife’s brunch, too? I have no problem helping him plot against you.”

That sobered Adrian, the blood draining from his face as he fully realized what had happened, the truth cutting through his lingering fear and anger. “I will be nice.”

“You sure you’re capable of that?” I couldn’t help but tease. Needling my older brother never lost its charm.

Adrian nodded, placing his hands on my shoulders and physically moving me back towards the house. “No forks will be used for murder and I’ll keep the comments to a minimum. That’s the best I can do right now, all things considered. I’m still not convinced I shouldn’t kill him for—”

He cut himself off, but I couldn’t tell if it was for self-preservation or because he was hiding something. I couldn’t pay any mind to it because my stomach was all of the sudden very upset I neglected to eat anything before this.

Adrian and I walked back into the house, and I felt relief flood my limbs when the entire table was immersed in casual conversation, only paying us easy smiles as we moved to sit back down. The plate in front of me was steaming, looking seconds off the stove instead of sitting there soaking up the cold.

“Sebastian used that sun hands thing he does to warm the food,” Rose explained, nodding at Sebastian in gratitude. I forced myself to smile graciously at him, though I was feeling equally annoyed I’d never seen him do that trick.

Conversation picked back up, enough that it gave Sebastian the opportunity to speak quietly between us, just for me. “If you hadn’t been keeping me such good company in the kitchen, maybe I would have had an opportunity to show you that trick sooner.”

Oh, he thought he was hilarious, didn’t he? “You just lost book privileges for a week.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

Dominic cleared his throat loudly, making me realize everyone was—once again—staring at us.

“Sorry,” I said, while I kicked Sebastian’s leg under the table. Unfortunately, he took that as an excuse to steady my leg by placing a hand on my knee, which made me feel like breaking something.

“Well, as I was saying,” Rose drawled, though her smile was entirely warm, “I think that it’s going to be Jason and Thalia first.”

Daphne shook her head. “Lia is seconds away from getting married.”

Lukas coughed into his hand, like the thought of disagreeing with his wife was making him ill. “That’s not what I heard. I was told they were about to break up.”

Daphne whipped towards him, “What? Who told you?”

“Quinn,” he answered, plainly. Even as a god, it was odd to hear them all chat about the others like they were friends, rather than the most powerful beings on the planet. Gossiping about Lia—the Roman goddess of the forge—and her Greek counterpart, Quinn. Discussing whether Jason—the only god of wine—was going to get married to one of Rose’s oldest friends, like that wedding wouldn’t be the most sought-after party in years, like it was just a passing thought.

Though Reyna was just as famous as the gods sitting at the table, I wondered if she ever thought this was oddly mundane.

Dominic pointed towards Lukas with his fork. “I heard that, too.”

Adrian winced. “Dominic is right, though I heard it from Lia, not her girlfriend.”

It was Reyna’s turn to look at him with bulging eyes. “When?”

Adrian tapped his hand over his heart. “Tattoo.” Lia Vulcan was responsible for most of the tattoos inked into the gods’ skin, and my brother’s newest addition had been working in his wife’s name into the mass of tattoos covering his body.

Reyna’s eyes went soft, melting as her gaze dropped to his hand.

“Luce would know,” Sebastian cut in gracefully, also seamlessly interrupting a moment where I thought my brother was about to flip the table and kick everyone out for a moment alone with Reyna. “They’re closest to her.”