I thought of what Nektas had shared about Nyktos convincing Kolis that he was loyal. “Exactly how nice will we have to play?”
“You will do whatever Kolis demands of you,” Rhain stated, speaking for the first time. “No matter how distasteful or vile you find it to be. There will only be a few things that Nyktos can refuse on your behalf.”
Pressure settled in my chest. I started to ask what sort of things, but I fell silent at the way Nyktos’s features turned stark. Reaver nudged my hand, drawing my attention. He bumped his nose against my palm once more. Swallowing, I ran my fingers over his forehead, mindful of the small bumps that had sprouted along the crown of his diamond-shaped head. One day, they would grow into horns larger than my hand, if not half my arm.
“That means no threatening to cut his eyes out and feed them to him when he inevitably angers you,” warned Rhahar, the smooth, rich brown skin of his cheek gleaming under the sconce he stood by.
“How did you hear about that?” I exclaimed.
“Everyone has heard about you threatening Attes.” Nyktos smirked.
“He actually told Theon and me on his way out that day,” Lailah said. “He was rather amused by it.”
Theon frowned. “And kind of turned on by it,” he said. A low rumble radiated from Nyktos as the air charged. Theon held up his hands. “Sorry. Forget I mentioned that.”
I stared at Nyktos, using every ounce of willpower I had not to say anything. The utter audacity of him being angered over another person being attracted to me—no matter how bizarre that attraction was—when I wanted to set the settee I sat upon on fire because of what he had been doing with Veses on it…
Nyktos’s gaze flickered to mine, the pulse of eather brighter. I held his stare for a moment and then looked away. My attention collided with Rhain’s. He watched us, his lips drawn in a tight, thin line.
“When are you all leaving then?” Saion asked, rocking back on his chair as he planted his boot on the edge of the desk.
Nyktos knocked his foot off the table. “After we return from Irelone and have removed the embers.”
I stiffened, my hand stilling.
“Got it.” Saion lifted his chin. “We’ll hold it down here.”
“Wait,” I said. Reaver turned his head toward Nyktos. “We don’t know how long that will take.”
“We know where to start looking for Delfai,” Nyktos responded. “And we will take however long is necessary.”
I glanced at Nektas. The draken said nothing as he tried to tuck Jadis’s foot under the blanket. “How long did it take before Kolis grew angry when you last delayed in answering a summons from him?”
Nyktos said nothing.
Irritation rose as I glanced around the room, my hand sliding along Reaver’s back. “How long?”
Everyone studiously studied the floor, the ceiling, or one another. Everyone except Rhain. “Less than a day.”
“Fuck,” Nyktos growled, pushing off the desk as he turned to the god. “Normally, I expect that shit from this one.” He jerked his chin.
“Hey,” Ector grumbled. “I kept my mouth shut this time.”
Rhain didn’t back down, but he did take a step back. “She should know what the delay will cost.”
“Pretty sure he wanted the exact opposite,” Bele murmured. “Either way, we’ve got it covered.”
Theon nodded. “That we do.”
“No,” I said.
Every head turned to me—even Nektas’s and Reaver’s. But it was only Nyktos who spoke. “Sera—”
“No,” I repeated, and Reaver rose onto his haunches, eyeing the Primal. “I don’t want to be a part of whatever Kolis will do in retaliation for us not answering his summons in a timely manner.”
Eather seeped into the skin of Nyktos’s cheeks. “You are more important than—”
“Don’t say it,” I warned as he took a step forward. “The—”
Reaver expanded his wings, startling me. I leaned back as he stretched out his thin neck and lifted his head.
Nyktos drew up short as a low rumble radiated from Reaver’s chest, and smoke wafted from his nostrils.
Stunned, I stared at the small draken. My gaze flew to Nyktos, then to Nektas, who had started grinning. “Ha!” I exclaimed, reaching down to pat the top of Reaver’s head. “That’s a good Reaver-Butt.”
Reaver hummed as he eyed Nyktos. He made a low, chattering sound.
“Man,” Theon drawled, his mouth twitching as if he fought and then lost the battle to hold back a laugh. “That’s kind of wrong.”
“It’s the embers,” I guessed. “He’s probably responding to that.”
“No, it’s you.” Nyktos looked at me. “He’s protecting you.”
I frowned at the back of Reaver’s head. “You’re not going to do anything to me.”
Nyktos sighed. “He knows that, but he’s just letting me know that he doesn’t appreciate me upsetting you.”
I snorted. “Well, he’s going to be busy letting you know that, then.”
Someone, and it sounded like Aios this time, laughed under their breath. Reaver settled beside me, draping his head over my knee again. This time, he didn’t need to nudge my hand. I got to petting him.
“You can stop grinning anytime now,” Nyktos said without looking at Nektas.
“I know,” the draken replied, still smiling.
“We answer his summons,” I said, looking up at Nyktos. “We don’t wait. We take care of that first.”
A muscle ticked in Nyktos’s jaw. “Then we leave within the hour.”
Aios had followed me to my chambers, offering to help pick out the appropriate attire.
“Is what I’m wearing not appropriate?”
“It is.” Her back was to me as she flipped through the garments in the wardrobe.
“But?”
“But Kolis will think you too casual,” she said, and that was the last thing I was worried about him thinking. “And he would see it as disrespectful.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “It seems like he sees many things as disrespectful.”
“He does.” Aios pulled out a deep crimson gown that Erlina had made. I had glanced past it when going through the clothes. Not because it wasn’t beautiful but because I wasn’t sure where or why I would wear something so elegant. “This will do.”
Seizing on irritation instead of focusing on the rapidly building dread, I took the gown and, with Aios’s help, changed into it.
“It’s beautiful on you,” the goddess murmured, toying with the chain around her neck as she stepped back.
“Thank you.” I ran my hands over the velvet and lace. The gown was tailored perfectly, hugging my breasts, loose at the waist, and tight at the hips. There was no fear of falling out of it with the neckline that swept around the back of my neck and draped over one shoulder. A fine layer of lace had been stitched over the bodice and hips, and there were slits on both sides of the skirt, something that had to be the style in Iliseeum and was of benefit to me as I strapped the sheath to my upper thigh.
“You’re so much like Bele,” she remarked. “Stashing weapons here and there.”
“I wish I had more than this.”
“As do I.” She smiled tightly as she glanced at the closed chamber doors. Nyktos had said he’d come for me when it was time. Currently, he remained with the others, going over things for when he was gone. “Hopefully, you won’t be there long enough to worry about any other attire.”
My heart skipped, and I didn’t want to consider the possibility that this wouldn’t be an in-and-out journey. Or the oath Nyktos had made.
Or what terrible things Rhain had spoken of.