Page 93 of Gods of Prey
I smile, genuinely touched by her devotion to my brother. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
“Probably not,” she agrees with a laugh. “But love isn’t about deserving.” She turns to face me more fully.
I immediately sense where this is going and try to deflect. “The flowers here are actually souls in transition. Did you know that?”
“Don’t change the subject,” Jovie says, grinning. “What’s going on with you and Revel?”
I roll my eyes, trying to appear nonchalant. “Nothing is ‘going on’ with me and Revel.”
“Right.” Jovie’s voice is heavy with sarcasm. “That’s why you two can’t be in the same room without generating enough tension to power Seattle.”
“That’s called mutual irritation,” I counter.
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” She nudges my shoulder. “Come on, Sienna. He’s offering to leave everything he knows to ‘help’ you.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, which is ridiculous because I’m thousands of years old and shouldn’t be capable of blushing like a mortal teenager. “He was drunk when we spoke about our feelings. It didn’t mean anything.”
I leave out that we did a whole lot more than just speak about them. She doesn’t need all the sordid details when I can’t figure them out myself.
“Alcohol doesn’t create feelings, it just reveals them,” Jovie says. “Plus, I’ve seen you two argue. It’s like watching lightning strike over and over.”
“We’re opposites,” I say weakly. “Life and Death don’t mix.”
“Don’t they?” Jovie gestures to the garden around us. “Looks to me like they’re two sides of the same coin. Inseparable.”
I float up off the bench, needing some distance from her too-perceptive gaze. “It’s not that simple.”
“It never is,” she agrees, watching me hover. “But I’ve learned something important from all this madness with Bash. Time is precious—even for immortals, apparently. Why waste it denying what you feel?”
“Because I’m the Goddess of Death,” I say flatly. “I’ve spent a long time being punished for thinking I could have something for myself. For putting my desires above my duty.”
“Then it’s about time your punishment ends and your life gets handed back to you. It’s time that you start doing things for yourself.”
“You’re relentless.”
“One of my better qualities,” she agrees with a grin. “Now, spill.”
I puff my cheeks and blow out a breath, floating slightly above the bench again. “What is there to say? He’s insufferable. Self-righteous. Annoyingly principled.”
“Handsome,” Jovie adds helpfully. “Devoted to his friend. Willing to defy the Divine Council for what he believes in.”
“Whose side are you on?” I ask, but there’s no heat in it.
“Yours,” she says simply. “Always yours. Which is why I’m pointing out that the way you look at him when you think no one’s watching isn’t how someone looks at a person they despise.”
I’m saved from having to respond by a distant chime—the Divine Council is ready for us to make our declarations. We both turn toward the crystalline chamber, tension returning.
“Whatever happens in there,” Jovie says quietly, “thank you for being my friend.”
I reach for her hand, squeezing it gently. “If they grant you immortality, we’ll have eternity to be friends.”
“Is that a promise?” she asks, rising from the bench.
“It is.” I hover beside her as we begin walking back toward the chamber. “And if they don’t...well, I am Death. I have certain privileges when it comes to souls I care about.”
Jovie laughs, the sound bright against the solemn backdrop of Nytheris. The entire divine realm seems to be holding a breath in anticipation of our ruling.
She has no idea what I’m about to do. I’m sure it’ll break her heart when she figures it out, but I hope she’ll realize that it’s all for her. “I can see why Revel fell for you. You’re kind of amazing, Sienna.”
