Page 10 of Gods of Prey
“Please, Revel. You know you can call me Sienna. And let’s not waste any time pretending to be friends. Tell me everything you know about my brother’s absence.”
3
Sienna
Most think Aurelys is a place straight out of a dream, but I find it to be lacking any real allure.
At first glance, the realm of Life unfolds as a vision of paradise. Golden spires pierce the azure sky, their surfaces shimmering with ethereal light. Lush gardens bloom with flowers of impossible hues, and melodious harmonies drift through the air, soothing all who hear them. The very atmosphere seems imbued with serenity, inviting weary souls to rest and rejoice.
Yet, beneath this veneer of perfection lies a carefully constructed illusion. The radiant structures are but facades, where impressive exteriors mask a lack of substance behind. The harmonious melodies are orchestrated distractions, designed to lull visitors into complacency. The vibrant flora, while captivating, are synthetic, lacking the fragrance and vitality of true blossoms.
Or maybe, I'm just not meant to be enthralled with it all.
I step through the veil between realms, the familiar ache of transition rippling through my essence. The cold shadows of Umbraeth dissolve around me as I materialize in Sebastian’s study in Aurelys, and I immediately squint against the brightness.
Everything here is too much—too vivid, too warm, too alive.
I hate it.
Sebastian’s home has always been the opposite of mine in every way. Where Umbraeth embraces the cool comfort of shadows and quietude, Aurelys assaults the senses with its perpetual golden light and the constant hum of life energy.
I find Revel standing beside a young maid propositioning him with flowing auburn hair.
The maid jumps back as if burned, her eyes widening in terror as she takes me in. “My...my lady,” she stammers, immediately dropping into a deep curtsy. “I didn’t realize?—”
“Leave us,” I command, not bothering to look at her. Her lord has already dismissed her, but she ignored his gentle tone.
She doesn’t need to be told by me twice. As she scurries past me, I catch her name from her fleeting thoughts—Lyra. A relatively new addition to my brother’s household staff. Interesting that she’s already so comfortable.
When the door closes behind her, I turn my full attention to the man standing in my brother’s study like an impostor.
Revel. Sebastian’s so-called best friend and second-in-command. The interim God of Life in my brother’s absence. And the apple of Myelle’s eye.
My least favorite person in all the realms. This exact moment is why I’ve dragged my feet about propositioning him to enter the mortal realm with me.
“You took your time,” he says as his golden eyes assess me with their usual arrogance. “I summoned you hours ago.”
“I’m not one of your servants to come running at your call,” I reply, moving deeper into the room, closing the distance between us. “And I certainly don’t appreciate being summoned to this...place.” I gesture vaguely at our surroundings, at the ever-present light that seems to seep from the walls themselves.
He shifts on his feet, and I’m annoyed as always that he’s taller than me. In my realm, I can adjust my height, my appearance, anything I wish. Here, I’m constrained to my true form—still imposing in my own right, but lacking the advantage of towering over him as I’d prefer.
Revel doesn’t have any imposing features. He just is, and somehow his mere presence is enough to garner respect. Soft, honey-glazed waves ripple atop his head and a permanent copper tan marks his skin. White robes leisurely drape across his body, covering the parts that matter while leaving almost nothing to the imagination. His wings are made of translucent amber with golden veins running throughout, catching and refracting light in hypnotic pattern.
He looks soft and fair, like he was born to rule Aurelys.
The only feature that gives him away are those striking silver eyes—a mirror of his mother’s. They glow in contrast to all the gold adorning his body to distract from the truth. But the truth is always right there: A reminder that while he’s been tasked with overseeing the realm of Life, the Fates once had other plans for him.
I doubt I’m the first to wonder what those would have been if Myelle hadn’t intervened.
“Sebastian didn’t return,” he says without preamble.
I keep my face carefully neutral. “I’m aware.”
And what are you planning to do about it?
“It’s nearly been a week since your mortal deaths.” Revel moves around the desk, putting distance between us. “He should have returned immediately. Where is he?”
I shrug, examining my nails. “Perhaps he needed extra time to recover. Our last life was quite unpleasant. Mommy Dearest sure did a number on us this time.”
