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“You were present when Nyktos came to Cor Palace and asked permission to take Seraphena as his Consort,” Kolis said, and a jolt of surprise went through me upon hearing him say my name. He hadn’t since I’d told him I was Sotoria. “Did I give my permission?”
Kyn raised a brow as he took a drink. “No.” He glanced at me then, his handsome features apathetic. “You did not.”
I took in a small breath as my stomach clenched. Of course, Kyn would lie, but it was yet another shock for some damn reason and sent hot, pulsing anger through me.
“So, as you can see, she is no Consort.” Kolis nodded at Kyn. “Thank you.”
Kyn bowed curtly, the twist of his lips mocking as he turned, drinking deeply from his cup.
Bastard.
“Then is she here until Nyktos is released?” Keella asked.
Kolis chuckled. “She will not be returning to Nyktos.”
His statement felt like a blade to the chest, causing the glass in my hand to tremble.
The Primal goddess said nothing for several moments. “So, she is here of her own free will?”
A moment passed.
My heart sank because I sensed what was coming.
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
Keella’s gaze shifted to mine, the eather in her eyes swirling while Kolis’s stare drilled into me. I wanted to scream, “No!” But the deal…Ash’s freedom. The taste of vomit filled my throat as I said, “Yes. I’m here by…by choice.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I never knew a half-truth could feel as bad as taking a blow to the chest.
But I did now.
“Has that addressed your concerns?” Kolis asked.
Tension bracketed the corners of Keella’s mouth as she gave Kolis an abrupt nod. “Thank you.”
I watched her step back and turn, my shoulders slumping under a sudden wave of exhaustion.
“Keella?” Kolis called.
She stopped, facing us again. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
“It seems you’ve forgotten the oath you made to me. Question me again, and you will find yourself in the Carcers,” he warned in that soft, breezy voice of his. “Do you understand?”
Keella inclined her head. “Yes.”
“Good.” Kolis leaned back, finishing off his drink.
The Primal goddess sent me one last look and then turned, drifting back into the small crowd. I didn’t know if she believed me. I doubted it.
Still, the half-truth burned the back of my throat.
The same servant from before returned to refill Kolis’s chalice from a decanter. She left again, but this time as she headed toward the door, she didn’t make it out into the hall.
One of the unknown gods seated on a couch snagged her by the waist. She was barely able to keep hold of her woven tray and decanter as the god pulled her onto his lap. He said something to her, and she gave him a short nod before placing the tray and bottle on the floor.
My eyes narrowed as his head disappeared into the crook of her neck. A second later, her body jerked, and the one painted wing I could see contorted in pain.
“What are you doing, so’lis?” Kolis asked quietly.
“I’m not…” I trailed off, realizing I’d leaned forward, preparing to stand. Stomach twisting, I watched the painted wing smooth out as she relaxed in his arms. I forced myself to sit back. “Are the servants Chosen?”
“They are.”
So I’d been right when I suspected that when I’d been here with Ash. Aware of Callum and Elias standing close, I asked, “Are they also a part of the refreshments?”
“Sometimes,” Kolis answered idly.
The fire of anger flushed my skin as I watched the god’s hand slip from her hip to delve between her thighs.
I glanced away, finding that Attes had moved to speak to Keella, who I assumed had left. They stood toward the back of the space, their heads bowed and close together. Their conversation appeared…tense. I saw that Kyn was at one of the chairs situated near the pillars, a drink in hand.
Glaring at me.
I ignored him, my attention returning to the alcove and the servant still held in the god’s grip. My jaw started to ache.
“I can see that displeases you.” Kolis sighed. “They are Chosen, so’lis.”
Yes, what I saw displeased me.
Him continuously calling me his soul also displeased me.
“They are to serve me and my gods. Sometimes, that is by serving them drinks. Other times, it is by them…being the drink.” He laughed, clearly enjoying what he believed was a clever joke.
Dear gods. I didn’t know if I would be able to quell my temper and remain a blank canvas until Ash was freed. Because I saw red.
Which meant I wasn’t exactly blank.
“Is that what she chose?” I asked once I knew my voice wouldn’t betray my nearly all-consuming desire to commit bloody, violent murder.
The brief humor vanished from his tone. “Nearly all their choices were made for them from birth.”
My head snapped to the side as I looked up at him.
“I see I hit a nerve,” he observed dryly, glancing toward the servant. “She seems to be enjoying herself.”
The woman strained against the hand between her legs, her eyes closed, and her lips parted. “That means nothing when a bite can bring unwanted pleasure.”
His gaze slid back to mine. The golden flecks had stilled. “I feel as if this has more to do with us than them.”
My back stiffened. “It doesn’t.”
“Lies,” he murmured, sipping from his chalice.
“Okay. Maybe it does a little,” I said. “But that is irrelevant. She was simply walking past him, and he grabbed her. Then bit her. She may have no choice in how she serves the gods, but they could be less cruel, could they not?”
“We all could be less cruel,” he said, the gold begi
“I know.”
“Here, they may be spoken to and touched.” He dipped his chin, a faint grin appearing. “Even fucked.”
I really wished he’d stop saying that fucking word.
“You see a victim,” he said, and my lips pressed together. “I see someone who is starved for what has been forbidden to them their entire life.”
I looked back at the god and servant as her soft cries of climax burned my ears. None of the others paid them any attention. Mainly because several of the gods, including Kyn, now had company.
“What you must think of me…” he said, causing my focus to snap back to him. “I don’t blame you for it. I’m sure you’ve been told many half-truths.”
I took a sip to stop myself from saying something ill-advised. The liquor turned out to be some kind of mulled whiskey, but the hints of apple and ci
“The Chosen do have opportunities here,” he continued. “They are offered the choice to shed their veils and serve those within Dalos and in other Courts.”
My brows knitted. “Versus what?”
“Versus Ascending,” he said. Before I could jump on that, he went on. “Her name is Malka, by the way. And his name is Orval.” As he spoke, my focus shifted back to the two. The male lifted his head from her neck, licking blood from his lips. “They are known to each other.”
This Orval leaned into her, speaking into her ear. Malka smiled and looked as if she laughed.
“Known to each other quite well,” Kolis added as I watched the Chosen swat at the god’s arm.
Orval kissed her cheek and then released her. Standing, she straightened her gown.
I exhaled roughly, unsure if I could believe what I saw and heard. Though even if it were true, did servants have a choice? In the mortal realm, they did in some households. In others, even if it appeared they did, they really didn’t.
“And if they weren’t known to each other?” I asked as Malka slipped out the door. I caught sight of a long, darker hall.