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I open my mouth.

Nothing comes out.

Her lips curve into a sad little smile.

“That’s what I thought.”

* * *

We sit on the couch twenty minutes later.

Calla has tucked her legs beneath her, and I’m attempting to explain three thousand years of divine betrayal without revealing how thoroughly I’ve disgraced myself.

It’s not going well.

“The War of the Forgotten was not what mortals believe,” I begin.

She raises an eyebrow.

“Considering mortals don’t seem to know it happened, I’d say that’s a safe assumption.”

I give her a look.

She smiles.

“Sorry. Continue.”

I lean back.

“Before the war, the divine realms were governed by an ancient order. Every god possessed a dominion. Sleep. Dreams. Death. Vengeance. Wrath. Power. Terror. The sun and many more.”

“Like departments in a really dysfunctional corporation.”

I consider this.

“Yes. Except our disputes occasionally destroyed cities.”

“Sounds like corporate America.”

I laugh despite myself.

She grins.

“There he is.”

“Who?”

“The arrogant bastard I’ve been falling for.”

My chest tightens.

Falling for.

She says it so casually.

As though she’s not just reached inside my chest and seized something far more valuable than my immortal heart.

I clear my throat.